Villarocker

Post of the year for me, that ^^^^

I'll tell you what gets in the way of most professional sports men and women - the other half and parenthood. I remember the days when I loved watching snooker but got bored of it because Steve Davis won everything. He got married, became a Dad and then starting being beatable. Along comes young Stephen Hendry who too becomes unbeatable. A marriage and fatherhood later and he becomes beatable. Look at the relationship problems Gabby Agbonlahor has had, together with how many children he's fathered - including having a sick child - and you can see why his career halted and went backwards. Too many off-the-field problems have led to him not fulfilling his potential. And, before people say he's always been bang average, please remember that top defenders of his time have commented how they hated playing against him. I am not too sure what happened with his child that was sick but, I recall Juan Pablo Angel's first season being pretty poor and that being mostly put down to the fact his son was seriously ill. These things would affect any person's life, regardless of profession. I'm not defending the guy, just saying. Let's face it, he chose to bed the girls and not take precautions!

If the Premier League is as strong as it was last season? Well, should we return, and we will at some point, with the spending power of our new owner we will be stronger too - don't you think? I think you failed to remember something very important before making that post; our new owner does actually give a shit and he's interested in our football club and making it successful again. A major factor when comparing previous seasons to those ahead of us.

TWD is the best show on TV imo. I dislike horror/gore movies but love this show because it drawers you in to how you would feel if you were the character on screen. It's clever TV and people who complain are clearings in the woods because they must know what to expect from the warning signs and opening credits. If you are scared or shocked - don't watch!!!!

He's not an arsehole, just the stuff that comes out of one

Draw 1-1 Attendance: 24,092

I'd give a 58 year old Weller a START over Westwood any day!

Possession football is good when you have players who can 1) Handle the pressure of wanting/having the ball and, 2) Having players who can make possession count for them - for example, the way Liverpool bring the ball out of defence and want players to come on to them so that it creates space in the opposing half etc. Villa do not have players with the confidence to do either of the above, let alone have players who have shown they have the ability to. Look at the Preston game for instance; Jedinak passing through our own defence to their forward to score. Westwood not being able to make a simple 10 yard pass to a teammate and instead dwelt on the ball and lost possession, resulting in another goal for Preston. I'd rather our players have less possession in our own half and more in the opponents half. If that means hoofing it up to the big men and getting players running off them so be it, that'll do for me. I hate watching tippy tappy crap that means the whole of the back line plus the midfield have touched the ball but you still haven't crossed the halfway line. It drives me mad! I think scrambling football is more exciting and combative and if Bruce's style is that way then that will do me just fine.

Maybe he's already benefitting for having a manager who was a top defender himself?

The new Messiah? Just saying! Please please can we give this man chance to do a job here. I didn't want him but he's here and done better in three games than I envisaged anyone doing in 6 games so let's allow this fella time - he's earnt it!

Ive liked everything that Brucey has said so far and have grown to like the idea of him being our manager. I really hope that the players work hard and perform for him/us because I think that he could really do well for us long term with the support of the fans and owner. Bruce obviously loves it here and I love the way he refers to his time managing the unclean as "seven years down the road". I lol'd when I read that

That Blues team was shite tonight and Brucey was there watching them. They'll have to break up their back four too and they've lost when doing that only once this season. I've got this feeling that tells me we'll turn the noses over and that will be the turning point for our season.

I bloody hope so and then we can go to the sty and run up our hat-trick

I am positively predicting a 1-1 draw tomorrow with a sub appearance goal for McCormack.

Got to be Amavi now and might as well just let the lad be and give him the shirt full time. He can only get better.

Didn't do Leicester any harm last season so why should it bother anyone? I agree with you mate, let them have the ball, we're safer that way!

Bruce is a former Birmingham City manager, who was unpopular with some when appointed. So, with that in mind, the article covers its own arse but yeah, I see what you're getting at.

It's happening lol

Before this game kicked off I took a look at the odds on Kodjia scoring anytime and a 1-1 draw. The odds were 18/1 but like a moron I didn't stick the fiver on it. Honestly, this team is almost nailed on every game for a 1-1 draw.

Villa were 2 v 1 against McCleary when he ran through for their pen. There's no way he should have gotten there first but did so and and then Cissokho tried to tackle with his left foot instead of his right - obviously because he hasn't got the talent to use his "other" foot - and he made what looked like it could have been a foul. Their player has his pen saved - could the keeper have pushed it wide? - and then their striker heads it back over the keeper into the empty net. Alan Hutton was the man lining up alongside their goalscorer whilst the pen was being taken but he couldn't be arsed to follow him in to the box and try to prevent him scoring. = Terrible defending all around - again! Listening to the coverage and they have said all along that Villa are pressing high up the pitch. All adds up to us fading badly at the end and Reading pummelling us into submission as we concede a late losing goal.

I wonder why there's no McCormack? I reckon there might have been a few choice words said between him and Kodjia during or after Saturdays game. Yes, Kodjia could have squared to McCormack in the first half but then we had a break after that when McCormack had a simple forwards pass available to Kodjia to set him free and he didn't give it. If there is something going on because of that they need to cut it out because we can't afford that kind of stuff when we are in our current position.

We will have a great chance, next season!

Personally, I see every Villa game the same way - DRAW. Is it just me or have Villa seemed to be draw specialists over the last few year? Seems like we've had more draws than Cheech an Chong!

Good post DDID. I wasn't the biggest fan of his appointment but I can't find fault with anything he's done so far. Even if the selection of Richards is critical, who knows what he had seen in training that made him think the choice was right? I'll wait until February time before I start to judge him because that midfield he's been left with would make the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho look clueless.

I think Bruce will play three at the back with Amavi and Bacuna as wing-backs tonight. I also think that he will play a more solid looking midfield of Tshibola, Jedinak and Ayew with a front two of McCormack and Kodjia.