MikeMcKenna

I agree but it doesn't necessarily mean that Bruce knows how to fix things.

It is depressing. Despite a very good run of results, we have rarely looked convincing this season. It is too early to hang Bruce out to dry but he hasn't managed to make this team click and we are now no further forward. Hopefully we will sign a couple of players this month but imho we are destined to spend at least one more season in this league as I cannot see us getting in to the play offs now. Next season the euphoria of Xia taking over will have faded, he may not be prepared to keep investing and the real danger is that we will implode again. When will this nightmare end?

Very sad - he gave us some great times :-( RIP Graham

I accept that midfield is our key problem, but given our abundance of strikers the fact that we have only scored 26 goals is still ****!

The gloss will wear off very quickly if we don't get several players in during January and start to fade.

Gave Bruce credit in the past but today is also down to him. Shocking starting line up!

Doesn't surprise me given how poorly we are set up today

This is a weird league with everything to play for. I wouldn't count anything out.

TRO I do not think your analogy quite works. 'One flat tyre' suggests we are one sided or off balance. Sticking with the auto theme, I would suggest that our problem is more akin to a misfunctioning gearbox. Gear one (the defence) is generally OK with the odd mishap, however gears two and three (defensive and attacking midfield) are not in sync, meshing or changing up efficiently with the result that we often slip out of gear and do not get to gears 4 & 5 (attackers) smoothly enough :-) We have a habit lately of over either, over revving or stalling :-) brummm brummm!

Clearly SB has improved us. But we do not have a 'team', whereas Leeds, Burton and others before them do. Too many of our players are 'fancy dans' acting as individuals when a simple ball to a team mate would be more effective. Our lack of teamwork allowed Burton to outplay us at times even though we got a result. In the first half tonight I thought our passing improved significantly compared to the Burton game. But in the 2nd half we reverted to type again as 'individuals' either tried to dribble their way out or made stupid wayward passes. At times it looked like Leeds had 1/2 extra players. They knew we were rattled, their confidence increased and so did their team play. We are not an affective 'team' but given the nature of some of our players I don't know whether SB can do anything about it.

Wow lots of Paparrazi here today. Snapping all over the place ;-)

Here is the Grealish interview with Henry Winter in The Sunday Times. I assume as i am a Times On Line member I can post if credited and linked. MODs please delete if I am wrong http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-did-bad-stuff-but-i-was-young-i-want-to-be-a-role-model-now-m3rtbvrjr subscription only JACK GREALISH INTERVIEW ‘I did bad stuff but I was young. I want to be a role model now’ Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish tells Henry Winter he wants to erase his wild-child image and help his club win promotion and earn a full England call-up 25.11.2016 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish. Bradley Ormesher/The Times see story Henry Winter.TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD It was only when Jack Grealish returned to Bodymoor Heath for pre-season training that the human cost of Aston Villa dropping out of the Premier League fully sunk in. Familiar figures were missing, victims of post-relegation budgeting, life in the Sky Bet Championship dawning painfully. “I didn’t really realise last year how much it affects everyone else,” Grealish recalls yesterday, sitting in the canteen at the training ground. “Then you come back in the summer, look for somebody and it’s: ‘Where he’s gone?’ ‘He’s been sacked.’ ‘You’re joking?’ It’s horrible. It makes me even more determined this season.” Grealish, 21, is immediately likeable, frank about mistakes that have seen him splashed across newspaper front pages, and equally open about his England ambitions. He’s chatty, more thoughtful than depicted and Villa through and through. Cut Grealish open and he bleeds claret and blue. “I was four when I got my first season ticket. I had my first trial at Villa at five. I started doing well at Villa when I was six or seven,” he says. “My dad [Kevin] is a mad Villa fan, went to the European Cup final in 1982, and has come to every game of mine, whether it was Cardiff when I was seven or eight, or now. He travels everywhere. He loves it. His son playing for Villa!” And playing well at times. The technique is undoubted, the consistency unrequited. In the 2015 FA Cup semi-final win for Tim Sherwood’s side over Liverpool at Wembley, Grealish paraded his skills, his socks rolled slightly down to keep those tiny shin-pads in place, dribbling irrepressibly at Liverpool’s defence. Grealish can play in the hole or out wide. “He likes to play off the front,” said his manager, Steve Bruce, yesterday. “That [in the hole] is where Tim liked me to play,” Grealish adds. “But I was more of a winger growing up. I looked at Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, the best players in my position. But if I wanted to choose, it would be No 10. But at the moment I’ll play wherever I’m put, whether on the wings or in midfield.” He just wants to be on the pitch. “Playing for Villa, especially in front of the Holte End, is unbelievable. I love walking out and just looking at the Holte End. It just helps me so much with the fans roaring us on,” he says. That is why relegation caused him such anguish. He’s a Villa fan. “I need to spend time on my own if Villa have lost,” he says. “It’s hard to deal with defeat. Last season, I was definitely feeling it even more. I could see the way the club was going from November. I had a gut feeling that we were going down, and for me that was horrible, being a Villa fan. We couldn’t win, I wasn’t playing well, wasn’t happy. It was obviously tough, especially for me as a Villa fan.” Grealish is well known for being pictured passed out on holiday in the summer of 2015 Rémi Garde had already gone, Roberto Di Matteo came in for this season, and soon floundered. Bruce’s arrival has brought Villa stability. Some old-school Championship nous has brought hope. Bruce was downstairs in his office, preparing training, and also getting ready to meet Villa’s new owner, Tony Xia, who had dropped by and was waiting in the canteen. Xia is far from fluent in English but even my short conversation with him revealed the sharpest of minds of this Chinese businessman. He’s wealthy, recently negotiating a billion-pound deal, and when the EFL sought proof of funds to support Xia’s takeover, it was politely shown details of one of his accounts, apparently holding £200 million. “The chairman has come in, invested well, and been a good part of the success recently,” Grealish says. “Under Di Matteo, we were just lacking confidence. The new manager has come in and restored so much confidence into the boys. If you watch us now, the confidence is there. Same players but it’s such a different mood. I’ve played under a lot of young managers, Shaun Derry at Notts County [on loan], Rémi Garde, Tim Sherwood, Di Matteo. Steve Bruce is the best manager I’ve played under. He’s so experienced.” The upbeat Grealish has straightforward targets. “Promotion definitely. Automatic, definitely,” he says. Villa are 16th, 13 points off second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, so the play-offs are more realistic. “We are five points off the play-offs [sixth-placed Norwich City]. But we have 29 games left. For all the boys in the changing room, when we talk about it, going up in the top two is definitely doable. This club is Premier League — look at the facilities. Everyone knows how big Villa is. We need to do whatever it it takes to be back there.” Villa play Cardiff City at home today when the Grealish family will again be out in force. “I’m grateful for that support. I wouldn’t be here without them. Mum and Dad made so many sacrifices for me when I was growing up. It’s not just for me but for my little sister [Hollie] as well, growing up with cerebral palsy, so it’s been hard. “She’s just turned 13. She’s definitely a character, always smiling,” he says. “She doesn’t really come to matches; she gets a bit bored. She always says to me when I get back home: ‘How did you get on today?’ I still live at home. I don’t want to move out yet. I still get my food! I’m such a family person. I have two brothers and two sisters. Grealish is well known for involvement in any Villa community or charity projects helping children, as is his father sorting out shirts for local good causes. “My little sister has a few disabilities, so when I see what it means to her when she meets people who are her idols it makes me think,” he says. “It puts life into perspective that there are kids out there who idolise me, so why not give some of my time to go and make their day?” This is the other Grealish, the one the public tends not to see so much. The perception is more formed by images of him inhaling nitrous oxide in 2015, and a couple of overindulging clubbing stories, most recently as September. “When I first broke into the first team, it was hard,” he says. “A few months before that, when I hadn’t played a game, I was just a normal lad, just Jack, and I could go and do whatever I wanted and no one would say a word. “But as I started playing a few games, and did well in the Cup semi-final, I found it difficult. I thought I was still Jack. I thought I could still go to these places, go out and do whatever but I couldn’t because everywhere I went people were just trying to stitch me up. I kept being in the papers for the wrong reasons. “I can’t live like when I was 17 or 18. That’s part of growing up. I’ve seen it happen with quite a few other players. But I want to be a role model for kids, and be successful. I’ve done bad stuff in the past. I was young. I’m still learning now. Next time I’ve got to be a bit wiser.” Scrutiny intensified when the Solihull-born Grealish chose to play for England over Ireland, after formative years spent in the FAI system and also playing Gaelic football, even turning out briefly at Croke Park. “I wasn’t really into other sports growing up but I loved Gaelic,” he says. “You can play football in it; you don’t just have to have the ball in your hands, you can just run with the ball [kicking or soloing]. “But when I was 13, Villa told me I need to stop because it’s rough. I still played now and then until I was 15. It helped me develop. When I was young I was always playing above my age but I struggled physically. But getting kicked around at Gaelic, getting shoulder-barged, it helped.” His footballing career was accelerating, alerting the FA and the FAI. “When I was 15, I went to England trials and I collapsed,” he says. “I was just nervous. I don’t usually get nervous but I collapsed. I told them I was fine. I was desperate to stay on but they said: ‘No, you’ve got to go home.’ Grealish goes out of his way to help good causes at Villa “Then Ireland called me up. I played with Ireland, loved it, loved all the lads, the coaching staff, and you get treated well. England didn’t call me so I carried on playing for Ireland. But a year later England called me. Kenny Swain rang. I said: ‘I’m enjoying playing for Ireland.’ So I stayed there. But the older I got, I put things into perspective. My grandparents are Irish. But I’m English, I was born here, my parents were born here.” Roy Hodgson called, and Grealish committed to England, becoming a part of Gareth Southgate’s under-21s and playing in the Toulon tournament last summer. It was a fillip after relegation. “Gareth said to me, in a nice way: ‘You haven’t really justified your call-up.’ I hadn’t had the best of seasons. ‘Yes, fair enough.’ ‘But I’m going to take you and give you a chance.’ I was so happy,” he says. “I did all right there, got two goals and an assist.” A wonderful photograph exists in the FA archives of Grealish in the middle of Southgate’s jubilant squad, celebrating the trophy. “As soon I came back, I said to Dad: ‘Gareth’s such a good manager’. Because he’s not long stopped playing [a decade ago], he understands man-management very well,” he says. “Our team was so together, and that’s partly because of Gareth. He gives all the boys confidence. You can see the England first team doing well under him [during his four games as interim manager]. I hope he does get the England job because he’ll be good for the country. I’m trying to keep my place with the 21s, hopefully go to the European Championships next summer and then try to get into the first team. I feel in the future I can go and play for England. That’s definitely my target. That’s my dream.” Grealish wants to join the new England under Southgate. “I look at all the young players, John Stones, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling,” he says. “I know Dele [Alli] very well. I knew him from when he was at MK Dons; Dele’s gone on to big things — I hope to do what he’s done.”

1st 20-30 mins he was getting skinned, 2nd half he got better.

As I have said a few times, GA's past behaviour was appalling and at the time I thought he was finished, but I can see a lot of AVFC fans who are slagging him now having to eat their words. McCormack was terrible yesterday and GA could easily take his place and start to scoring again. if he can click again it will be to the benefit of the club. He will always be as thick as two short planks but he scares the living daylights out of Championship players. Even if he only comes off the bench he can and will make a difference. i think we should just enjoy the run we are on and forget the past. As the song says 'don't look back in anger' - enjoy!

Fitness does seem to be an issue. However IMO confidence is a bigger one. That comes with results and players always find plenty of energy when their heads are up.

Mark, I think few of us expected him to be involved this soon or even much later. He seemed totally washed up/unfit and completely out of sorts not that long ago. I have no regard for him as an individual but would be more than happy if he has seen the error of his ways and wants to prove himself again. We need all the help we can get at the moment. A fit and firing Gabby could get help us get into the play offs. I frankly cannot be a***d with the all the slagging. Grealish has only been around for five minutes, acts like a clearing in the woods, yet is hero worshipped - I give him the benefit of the doubt also. if Gabby cracks on, gets things together maybe he can bang in a few goals off the bench. It's his last chance at AVFC and only he can make it happen. If not bye, bye!

I support AVFC. Frankly it is pathetic to talk about "Gabby supporters/sympathisers" It isn't an US and THEM situation. Hopefully everyone here wants the club to do well and if he can be made useful, so be it.

If Gabby can prove himself again i don't see what the problem is. We need all the help that we can get. I am not his greatest fan, but if he can recover some of his past form he will potentially cause havoc in this league. I get the sense that Bruce will not tolerate his previous attitude/behaviour. If he can make Gabby spark again it can only be good for the club. If a former Blues Manager can be welcomed, surely Gabby can be welcomed back?

We were lucky. But two wins, two draws is a very good start for Bruce.

Great that a lifelong Villa fan scores in the derby :-)

We have to have players that work really hard and get stuck in in the Championship and I doubt that Grealish knows how. I was one of his biggest fans when he broke through but sadly it all went to his head when he became billy big bollox. There is no doubt he has talent but it isnt enough without effort and commitment.

Agree. Gardner, still hasn't got massive confidence but he is growing all the time. He is prepared to run with the ball, something Westwood hates doing. Gardner still looks a shadow of the player he was as a kid but can come good. Westwood has had his time and never did.

I am no fan of Bacuna given his comments before, but I actually think he did what was asked of him for the last two games and did it well. His job is clearly to harry high up the pitch to force errors and worked his socks off in both games.

I within 20 yards of Bruce at VP and I think he seems to be more than "geeing up". On Saturday he was constantly reminding players about their positioning. I noticed at Reading how he got very worked up when one of our players failed to press when he could and was signing to him and others. He had a go at Gollini on several occasions for not kicking out accurately. I don't know about the general point of a manager of having a strategic view from the stand. I would think there must be someone (maybe more than one) in the stand relaying information - Bruces 2nd (?) seemed to be getting a lot of information via his ear piece. My sense is that SB is very involved on the touchline beyond "being visible"

Wasnt his biggest fan but there is no doubt in my mind that the two wins are down to SB. Yes, Fulham had plenty of possession but like Reading in the week, we keep them for the long period in the 2nd half holed up at their end of the pitch. SB has clearly got our work rate up. It doesnt look pretty but it will do for now. Wins breed confidence!