Villarocker

Our player of the season by a distance.

How much have they won in that time? Now, I know it's a lot more than Villa but for the wages and money they pay to and for players you would have expected them to have won more. I'm sure their fans would say the same! I'm pretty certain that Arsenal fans would rather have 30% possession and win 6 in every 7 games.

There is an extremely bad worse case scenario to our run-in. We win 6 games and fail by two points to make the play offs. The 2 points dropped being a draw with SHA. Now that would hurt!

Listen, I was dead against the dream of the play offs after that disastrous run we went on but, there's no doubt that we could win all our last games if we keep our confidence going. Then, it all comes down to two other clubs imo - Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday. Fulham have incredibly tough away games at Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, Norwich and Huddersfield. Have two winnable home games plus us. So, if they were to win both of those other home games plus draw at Sheffield Wednesday that would put them on 71 points. We win all ours then we have 75 points. It then all comes down to whether Sheffield Wednesday can take a further 11 points from the other 18 possible. Ordinarily, judging by the fixtures, you would say yes they can. But, they are on a terrible run of form. Basically, we need to win all our games, hope Fulham can't win away and, that Wednesday continue on this bad run.

It really doesn't bother me that he plays for the Villa. In fact, if Coleman had done the same to Taylor I wouldn't have said that he meant it either. Another factor here is the way in which Coleman went for that challenge. He blasts at the ball without any show of trying to cross or pass it, just a blasts at it with full force. That could easily have been Taylor nicking it away and Coleman smashing Taylor in the back of the calf. Like I said before, it was all about timing. Taylor was late to the challenge and Coleman suffered as a result of it.

To be fair, I wouldn't mind getting Katie Taylor in the ring!

Seriously, I can't believe the reaction to Taylor for that tackle. If Coleman got up and walked away from it nothing would have been said about it. But, because of the injury people have gone mental about it like Taylor is some kind of new Roy Keane, a player who definitely went out to injure other players. Taylor went for the ball but Coleman was too quick and more aggressive than him. It is as simple as that.

If you watch that tackle you can clearly see that Coleman went for the ball with a lot more momentum than Taylor and that's why his leg is broken. That's not a slight on Coleman but a fact. Taylor is clearly in the wrong for having his foot up so high and missing the ball but it's Coleman's momentum that cost him. That's not excusing Taylor or laying the blame at Coleman, of course. Just saying that these things happen in contact sports when people collide at full speed.

To be fair, both players were full-blooded into that challenge. Taylor was reckless and was too slow into the challenge, which resulted in Coleman getting in first but, unfortunately, took full force of the challenge from Taylor. It looks a terrible injury and I truly hope that Seamus Coleman makes a full and speedy recovery and is able to continue his career the way it was going because - and I mean this sincerely, not because of tonight - he is one of my favourite modern-day footballers. He plays full-blooded and seems to play his heart out every game. Hopefully, that level of spirit will help him through this terrible injury.

4 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat = 15 points and a top 10 finish.

One thing is for sure in my mind, Sheffield Wednesday have imploded and I think their place is up for grabs. Obviously, because of their position, Fulham look good for the final spot. Unfortunately for Villa, we have wasted our chance with that poor run after Christmas.

we need strength in depth to challenge next season. imagine losing Kodjia for any amount of time? We can't rely on Gabby or RHM. Will McCormack return? Will Hogan avoid injury? I would definitely like to see us go after another forward, if only on loan until January or something. We also need strength in the centre of defence as well as two keepers. I think we can bolster the midfield simply by getting Veretout and Sanchez back!

Looks like Mrs Bruce likes her meat well done!

It's hard to compare a player who has ended his career to a player that is still in the prime of his. JK could fire Villa back to the Premier League next season, be the top scorer, get snapped up by Chelsea and win many trophies before his career is over and eclipse what Yorke did so comparing them now isn't fair. Before that gets shot down please bear in mind that Victor Moses will probably be a Premier League champion this season!

One of our success stories this season.

Bullshit this is! He is greedy, can't pass, doesn't see his teammates and should be sold to anyone who offers us anywhere near what we paid for him. By the way, did I mention he will be fans' player of the season and players' player of the season? Acknowledge the fact that this guy is this season's shining light - PLEASE! PS: This isn't aimed at you Keyblade!

I reckon we'll be on top for most of the first half but still go in 0-0 at half time after failing to take our chances. Second half, Wednesday will come out with more of a threat and we'll spend most of the second half camped in our half of the pitch until Wednesday eventually (inevitably?) get a goal from a set piece with around 15 minutes to go and then we will throw on 3 subs chasing a goal and get countered for Wednesday's decisive second goal at the end.

That's unfair on Kodjia. He's scored goals out of nothing at times. Bruce let Gestede, Ayew and McCormack go in January and replaced them with one forward. We needed another addition as our only other striker options were Kozak (always injured), Gabby (always out of shape or just goal shy) and Hepburn-Murphy (inexperienced and stalling on a new deal). Rhodes was possible on loan and should have been brought in to 1) Add to our attacking options and 2) Keep the first team strikers up to their game.

When was the last time we played well for a full 90 minutes? Go in level with Villa and you've got a great chance of beating us.

Coulda shoulda doesn't cut it though. Derby battered us and should've had a penalty. Bruce is the manager and has to find a way to get goals out of other players because we are a team relying heavily on one man to score right now and without him we'd be relegated this season.

That bench appears to be the weakest for a very long time. BUT, I'd be happy to see the kids get some time if they're up to it.

There's no doubts that we should be a better team with Lansbury, Hourihane and Jedinak in midfield. That in itself should secure that we play better, attacking football and also look solid at the back. If we're still being put under the cosh towards the end of this season we need a change of manager, in my opinion. For me, Bruce's biggest failing so far has been to not bring in cover for defensive midfield. We badly missed that when Jedinak was out yet him being out injured was hardly a surprise. We needed suitable cover and by playing Lansbury there we didn't have it plus we nullified a good attacking g option in midfield.

Yet, if we had not won any of them, or say took less than 3 or 4 points from them, almost everyone would have been calling for him to be sacked.

I don't think it was "decent" but more like expected. Derby have been struggling for weeks, Bristol City have struggled for ages too and Rotherham are in league one already. Plus, those results have coincided with the return of Jedinak. I fear those results may not have been the same if the Jedi was still injured.

JE certainly has a point about the playing style. For me, it's only the facts that he's had to use RDM's players plus his own have yet to settle that I've given him time. I've been neither here nor there regarding whether Bruce should be sacked but, if we aren't playing decent football and beating teams with more comfort in those last few games of the season, I would be leaning more towards us looking for someone new to take us into next season.