wilko154

Anyone think he will give players another chance? The likes of Gabby, Richards, Hutton, Lescott

Best appointment we could have made at this level. Proven record of getting clubs out of this division which is currently our main objective. I think a large section of Villa fans are currently in denial of the situation out club is currently in. Looking ahead to next season in the Premiership or 5 years pushing for Champions League is just stupid at this stage.

I am also at a loss as to how discussing the bookies favorite to become our next manager can be termed a 'wank fest' If this is your idea of a wank fest you have some serious issues...

Haha I hope that by the end of the season I can believe that again!

We aren't bigger than those clubs at all. We are just the last of those clubs to have been a Premiership club and so at the moment we still have a large fan base around us. If we were to finish in the bottom half of the Championship this season that will change as those teams have found out in past years. We have a great history, but for the past 5 years we have been a shambles.

Or maybe the team has been set up so poorly tactically that he has not yet been able to show us the form he is capable of... Well that is what i'm hoping anyway

Offering Bruce a contract to the end of the season would be ridiculous and be an arrogant move by the club We are in no position to be arrogant at the moment Our only aim at this time should be getting back to the Premier League, anything beyond that can be worried about at the time. But if Bruce can get this team promoted this season he would have us playing some very good football to close the gap and maintain the form until the end of the season. In that case he should be given the chance to continue with the team in the Premier League.

I think Sanchez had the same problem Jedinak is now experiencing. Not enough players being around him in the middle of the park to play the simple 5 yard ball to and so he was being tackled or playing hospital passes that were intercepted. Exactly the reason we need to play 3 in the middle with two wide men so there are plenty of options for the defensive midfielder to give the ball to. If we can fix this problem for Jedinak this season then I'm sure Sanchez could come back and play the same role for us as he is doing in Italy.

Let's be honest we could hire Mourinho, Klopp or Guardiola and there would still be some people unhappy with the decision.

It always amazes me how in a players absence they suddenly become the player we desperately need... He wasn't very good last season, and wouldn't be very good this season. Nothing to see here...

Does anyone know if Bruce has a preferred formation or style of football with his teams? Purely on the basis of him being current favourite. He's not one for the 4-2-4 or 4-1-5 is he?

Steve Bruce for me, we need an experienced, uninspiring manager this time. We are in no position to be hiring young managers and trying to turn them into the next Guardiola... we are also in no position to be giving it the 'Lets take Bruce and just sack him next year when we are back in the Premiership' This season is all about getting promoted, if Bruce can do that for us then we should let him continue in the Premiership (if we get back there) and see what he can do. I think some people forget how far this club have fallen over the last few years with the managers names being suggested...

Would MON come back? I would take him in an instant We need a proven manager in, no more young managers trying to make a name for themselves. Someone with a tactical plan that he can implement and stick with until it works for us instead of changing it week in week out in the hope that something happens.

The same amount as the other 10 players on the pitch... nothing

4-1-5 is absolutely laughable, that isn't even a formation, he's just made it up Got to go...

It won't be long till we give someone a good shoeing... Right? Guys???

Play 3 in the midfield and we have a chance of winning. Play 2 in the midfield and we will eventually get overrun and concede once we are in front

The problem with this is Jedinak can't even pass the ball in midfield let alone from defence.

The issue isn't with the strikers, it's the formation RDM is playing them in. Just sticking 4 strikers on a pitch doesn't mean you will bang in goals every week. Also we have a ridiculously weak midfield and have had this problem for the last few years. The more midfielders we have on the pitch (three in the middle), the more chances our strikers will get. Then in January we need to be strengthening the quality of centre midfielders we have. If RDM can get this formation correct this weekend and we get a win then we need to continue with it and we will be fine. If he carries on chopping and changing then we are going to struggle until January comes around, by which time we are out of the promotion race.

Gollini Richards Elphick Chester Amavi Tshibola Jedinak Westwood Ayew McCormack Kodjia

The problem in the last few seasons has been that our players were not of a high enough quality for the league they were in, especially last season... This season is different, we have some of the best players in the league. RDM needs to get his tactics right to get us winning games again. For me its blindingly obvious that our midfield is too weak, the best way to fix this is add an extra man in there to sure it up. 4-3-3 using inside forwards or wingers in Grealish/Adomah/McCormack/Ayew. 3 in midfield in Westwood, Jedinak & Tshibola. I just don't understand how he can't see this

People have been saying this for weeks now...

Every game its a different team with a different formation, the bloke is clueless. Why did he not just start the team that ended the last game so well and work from there?! Why shoehorn Grealish straight back into the team. He needs to go after Preston if we don't take the 3 points, we are the absolute laughing stock of English football once again.

The problem with starting McCormack is that we then have to accomodate him in a number 10 role, this leaves us playing two in the midfield and results in us getting overrun. After we have a few wins under the belt then maybe we can start playing that way but at the moment we need to sure up that midfield If he can play left or right side or up front with Kodjia moving out right then we should play him as he is one of our best players. But as we have found out lately playing players out of position doesn't work.

I think Bacuna at right back has been absolutely solid so far, granted in midfield he is poor. He's been reasonably solid defensively and links well with Ayew going forward when Ayew is played down the right. If he can work as well with Adomah then its a bonus for the team. Throwing Hutton back in would be ridiculous in my opinion. Richards should be the backup right back until next season when De Laet is back, just don't let him anywhere near that centre back position...