Villarocker

You all forgot about Agent Baker! He will do something in this game that leads to either a goal for Villa or he will get sent off. Our ex defenders are kind like that Get in there lol

That's the first of the 3-0 victory I predicted pre-match. Just another two guys and then the Villatalkers can, in future, refer to me as The Oracle

Get your money on a Villa 3-0 victory today guys. The start of a new year - start of the new Bruce - The Master Tactician.

Now where's that Kenneth Williams gif?

Now Villa keep on winnin' Stop the hysterical whinin' We are, we are, we are Aston Villa Do do do do, do do do do, do do do do...

I've got a slope that's available for free if anyone is interested.

The "style" of football we play is generally boring and dour. Surely our players are capableof better? I believe they are because the build up to the goal against Brentford included some lovely football. I would love to know what Bruce days to the players before they leave the changing room. It must be something like: "Johnno big lad, make sure, as soon as you get the ball, you slow it down a wee bit before kicking it long towards Keinan" "Kee, try to hold it up son and wait for the cavalry to arrive" "Alby and Snoddy, make sure you give Tayls and Elmo plenty of cover and you two, don't go running past the wingers as I don't want them breaking on us because Jimmy and John or Mile don't have the legs to cover for yers" "Connor and Josh, same to you boys. I know yer like scoring goals but remember to keep your discipline lads and hold that position deep to cover Jimmy and John or Mile" "Remember boys, keep it tight and try yer best to take yer chances if and when they come our way - good luck all"

Its on the Official site mate.

On the official site Bruce said Elphick played well considering he wasn't going to be playing yesterday but then Whelan got taken sick so he called Elphick in. That suggests Whelan would have been DM with Jedinak again playing CB.

This is Steve Bruce Just keeps grinding out enough to keep those pesky protest banners away.

Bruce's comments are not accurate on the OS. He thinks the fans are angry because of a poor 45 minutes at Brentford? Is he stupid? That is such a dumb thing to say and will only alienate fans more. Steve - for the record - the fans just want you to stop boring them with performances against teams around us where we largely know before the game that your negative tactics and team selection will probably lead to defeat or, at best, a draw. Also, you now worry me even more if you really do believe that we played "very well" today. I didn't see the game but listened to the commentary and we seemed like we were poor, especially in that first half. Victory apart, if that performance really does "delight" you, you really do kill any hope that I will ever see Villa enjoy a comfortable or emphatic victory with you as manager. Your style of football might get you victories against the average teams in this league but you have a long way to go to get me - and many others - to believe that you can get us victories against the leading teams in this league and get us back I to the Premier League.

I don't understand Bruce. In his own words he said that Elphick has had a tough time since joining us. In these last performances the guy hasn't seemed to put a foot wrong. Yet, against Brentford he was subbed so that Jedinak could make way for younger legs in midfield with Jedinak going into the back four, just a few days after gifting two goals to Sheffield United - strange decision. Bruce then admits that he was going to continue with Jedinak and Elphick wasn't going to be playing but was then called upon because Whelan - another error-strewn player recently - was taken sick. I agreed with Elphick being dropped last season because he made too many errors. But, he doesn't deserve to be brought in to play well and then be dropped straight away because of others who have also been guilty of making errors.

Nope but stranger things have happened.

Great post Mark. You see the same as most mate, the win is one thing but the type of football we play leaves every game in the balance. We simply do not play well enough to see us win a game comfortably and we go into every game with being confident of a win. Bruce will get plaudits if he gets us up, mainly because so may of us doubt he can manage it. I want him to succeed and want him to prove me wrong. I just doubt he can get us getting any form of decent football though - no matter whether he does or doesn't get us promoted.

Let's be fair to Bruce and the team for one moment, despite the fact the football is dour, we are level on points in 6th, are only 7 points off second and, have a new first team coach that might bring about a change in style once he has had a few weeks here. Also, we've got players to come back and play most of the top teams around us at Villa Park where we - the fans - have a chance to be the 12th man and make the important difference. That's the positive side of things. My only hope is the football style can change enough to get us wins against the big boys as well as the also-rans. If it does, Bruce can stay as long as the victories keep coming.

The only time I will be hysterical during Bruce's reign at Villa is when we win a game comfortably whilst playing decent football. I'd be f###ing ecstatic if that ever happened!

How nice of Nathan Baker to duck under the ball to let that Wolves player score the winner I hope he plays the agent role against us on Monday night!

I was thinking today, I wonder if anyone ever tried to convert Hutton to a defensive midfielder? He has bags of energy and aggression need for that position plus he is two-footed and is better defensively than he is going forward.

Wasn't it yet more dross today? Sounded terrible on the radio commentary and seemed like we only improved after Grealish replaced Onomah, which is a bit of luck for Bruce. Fair play to the team for winning - I didn't expect anything from that game - but, the football still needs to improve if we are to have any chance of getting out of this league.

Surely Davis and Taylor have to be injured? No way you would drop Taylor and if Davis isn't injured you're killing his confidence by not having him on the bench at least. I understand Whelan being dropped completely though. But, to pick Onomah over Grealish is insane.

'Boro have kept 4 clean sheets out of their last 5 so I don't think us playing conservatively and trying to snatch a goal will not work today. I think we need to try to take the game to them and get them on the back foot and to do that we need to lose Jedinak and Whelan from the team and play younger, more dynamic footballers in there. I'd start with: Johnstone Elmohamady Elphick Chester Taylor Hourihane Onomah Snodgrass Grealish Adomah Davis Subs: Steer, Hutton, De Laet, Jedinak, Hogan, O'Hare, McKirdy.

Villa have won 3 and drawn 1 of their last four games at 'Boro. Bruce has been to 'Boro 9 times as manager - losing 8 and drawing 1. Pulis has never lost at home to Villa as a manager - winning 5 and drawing 1. 'Boro have won 4 of their last 5 home games and didn't concede in any of those victories. The loss was 0-3 against Derby. Villa have no win in their last 5 games. So, as a club we have a good record at 'Boro but our manager has never won there and their manager has never lost a home fixture against us. They are doing well at home whilst we are struggling to win. The stats alone make me feel like the best we will do is get a draw however, with our recent form, I think we are staring defeat in the face unless Bruce can conjure up something special. I reckon we will lose this 1-2 or 0-2.

You would have to fancy Sheffield Utd to beat Bolton at home today and, Leeds to win away at Small Heath. If the best we do at 'Boro is get a draw that leaves us 5 points outside the play-offs, with Preston and 'Boro between us and 6th with the likes of Fulham, Ipswich and Brentford breathing down our necks. The next fixtures will cause a few teams to falter because they are playing each other - Derby v Sheff Utd, Fulham v Ipswich, Preston v 'Boro. However, we play the in-form Bristol City. If we could win these next two fixtures there is a chance of us sneaking back into that 6th spot by the end of New Year's day. However, if we draw or lose them we could be upto 9 points adrift. If we do find ourselves 9 points adrift with 20 games to go, I cannot imagine many, if any, wanting to keep our manager.

He's recently been training with top players and coaches so will have a clear knowledge of training methods from last season's Premier League winning club.Maybe he would change our coaches and training methods?

Is there any chance John Terry could manage us through to the end of this season on a caretaker basis? With the comments from Bruce in the press about what a great example he sets and how he'd make a great manager etc maybe the board will give him a shout as player manager? Cheaper option plus see what he is made of to see if they can fast track him into his first managerial role?