Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on September 12, 2018, 06:30:39 PM
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Saturday 15th September
17.30
Ewood Park
Oh. Goody. Villa are back.
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Bruce will have all his new attacking talent available. So he'll go 5-4-1 with Bjarny and Whelan both playing DM to protect the shite defence, and try to nick a 0-1 defeat. We'll lose 0-2.
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0-2. We go again.
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Steve has got to think carefully about this game, he must not attack and play into this good teams hands, surely he should put Abraham on the bench till about the 67 minute then we may hit them on the break, keep Jedinak at CB with Whelan and Bjarnason in the centre so we have plenty
of options, see you all there
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Sad, but I quite enjoyed having a week where I didn’t have to think about Villa. Our best chance of winning is to attack them.
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Steve has got to think carefully about this game, he must not attack and play into this good teams hands, surely he should put Abraham on the bench till about the 67 minute then we may hit them on the break, keep Jedinak at CB with Whelan and Bjarnason in the centre so we have plenty
of options, see you all there
(https://media.tenor.com/images/43d1d7cf7bcadd847172124dbf7334a5/tenor.gif)
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3-1 loss and Bruce will be gone by Monday lunchtime
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0-2 Villa win
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2-2 draw. Sadly, Bruce to stay for another week.
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1-1
A stay of execution for yet another week I'm afraid...
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Crap defence, the likelihood of players being played out of position inevitable and no one to turn to if things go south.
Bruce has had 2 weeks to look at free agents and he's done fuck all. You need a solid back line to succeed in this league and we currently have a giant sized colander.
He's royally cocked it up, lost the plot to boot and should walk ASAP.
Blackburn 3 Villa 0
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I've been having a pleasant time, the last couple of weeks. 😔
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3-3 - lots of attacking & no defending.
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2-0 to them.
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1-3 to the Rovers. Bruce comes up with yet more bullshit after the match. Club feel sorry for him and give him a new 10 year contract.
I've just woken up, sweating. It was just a nightmare (I hope)!!!
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Them 3 Us 1
If someone else was in charge we'd dick them 4-0.
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1-1. Bland, disorganised football.
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More rope for Bruce. 2:0
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Fake noose.
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Defence all over the gaff, a goalkeeper that's scared of the ball, a dinosaur in charge.
3-1 to them.
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Wholesale changes are an absolute no-brainer for this one. Sticking with anything like the same XI that played at Bramall Lane would send an atrocious message to his squad-players and put his own neck on the chopping block (even more than it already is).
Adomah should be back in contention and Bruce would be crazy not to play him (given how he responded to being left-out of the team at the same stage of last season). Abraham is fresh from scoring for the U21s midweek and should definitely start IMO. I'd shift Jedinak back into midfield (with both Whelan and BB blowing hot and cold so far) and bring James Bree into the right-back position with Tuanzebe alongside Chester. Therefore;
Nyland; Bree, Chester, Tuanzebe, Hutton; McGinn, Jedinak, Grealish; Bolasie, Abraham, Adomah.
That would hopefully leave a bench of;
Moreira, Hourihane, Elmohamady, Bjarnason, El Ghazi, Kodjia, Hogan.
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Nyland
Elmo Tuanzebe Chester Hutton
Grealish Whelan McGinn
Kodjia Abraham El Ghazi
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Wholesale changes are an absolute no-brainer for this one. Sticking with anything like the same XI that played at Bramall Lane would send an atrocious message to his squad-players and put his own neck on the chopping block (even more than it already is).
Adomah should be back in contention and Bruce would be crazy not to play him (given how he responded to being left-out of the team at the same stage of last season). Abraham is fresh from scoring for the U21s midweek and should definitely start IMO. I'd shift Jedinak back into midfield (with both Whelan and BB blowing hot and cold so far) and bring James Bree into the right-back position with Tuanzebe alongside Chester. Therefore;
Nyland; Bree, Chester, Tuanzebe, Hutton; McGinn, Jedinak, Grealish; Bolasie, Abraham, Adomah.
That would hopefully leave a bench of;
Moreira, Hourihane, Elmohamady, Bjarnason, El Ghazi, Kodjia, Hogan.
El Ghazi for Adomah and I agree. Far too sensible though and too many players in their correct position.
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If he continues with his weird obsession of playing players out of position, we'll get turned over. If he does the opposite we may actually play well and win.
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It's not just putting players in the correct positions that's going to magically turn us in to world beaters though is it? Although that would help. Having a discernible plan on how to approach a game in an attacking way would help, players knowing what they are supposed to be doing as part of the bigger plan. Even should a left back be left back and right back be right back they will still playing generally the same way we do, disjointed rubbish, just more organised at the back as they have experience in what is needed.
All in all Bruce is no good and needs the tin tack.
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It's not just putting players in the correct positions that's going to magically turn us in to world beaters though is it? Although that would help. Having a discernible plan on how to approach a game in an attacking way would help, players knowing what they are supposed to be doing as part of the bigger plan. Even should a left back be left back and right back be right back they will still playing generally the same way we do, disjointed rubbish, just more organised at the back as they have experience in what is needed.
All in all Bruce is no good and needs the tin tack.
Agreed. Leeds have more of a game plan and style of play after two months with Bielsa than we have after two years of Bruce. Nobody knows what our 'style' of play is.
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I reckon we will get a 1-0 win.
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....................Nyland
Tuanzebe Abraham Chester Jedinak
....Elmo Grealish Whelan Kodjia
....................McGinn
....................El Ghazi
We haven't tried this yet, must be worth a go!
Oh, another loss!
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Wholesale changes are an absolute no-brainer for this one. Sticking with anything like the same XI that played at Bramall Lane would send an atrocious message to his squad-players and put his own neck on the chopping block (even more than it already is).
Adomah should be back in contention and Bruce would be crazy not to play him (given how he responded to being left-out of the team at the same stage of last season). Abraham is fresh from scoring for the U21s midweek and should definitely start IMO. I'd shift Jedinak back into midfield (with both Whelan and BB blowing hot and cold so far) and bring James Bree into the right-back position with Tuanzebe alongside Chester. Therefore;
Nyland; Bree, Chester, Tuanzebe, Hutton; McGinn, Jedinak, Grealish; Bolasie, Abraham, Adomah.
That would hopefully leave a bench of;
Moreira, Hourihane, Elmohamady, Bjarnason, El Ghazi, Kodjia, Hogan.
El Ghazi for Adomah and I agree. Far too sensible though and too many players in their correct position.
The only reason that I'd start AA over El Ghazi is that he tracks back more diligently. Despite scoring, El Ghazi struggled with this at Sheff Utd. Early days, I know, but I get the impression that he's going to much more effective when we're on the front-foot in home games, rather than battling away games.
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Or.................
Moreira
Chester McGinn El Ghazi Jack
Kodjia Bolassie Hogan Abraham
Tuanzebe Jedi
There, that’s pretty much everyone successfully out of position, except for Moreira and by the way he’s played so far, he looks like a natural left back.
That’s wor Chumpionship for yer ...
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You could be right Russell, it's early days as you say, but I hope El Ghazi isn't another Gil type player.
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I’ve ballsed up there- I’ve just remembered Chester was a more than competent RB for a season at the stripes. Swap him and Jack over.
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2-4
could happen
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I've gone for a Villa win as like night follows day, whenever Bruce's job is on the line he pulls off a result.
2-0 Villa
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Until we sort out our defence and goalie:
3-1 Blackburn
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We lose heavily. At the final whistle Savo Milosevic runs out of the Villa end towards Steve Bruce and spits at him, it misses.
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I know it’s gojng to happen but I’m going to be so angry when come 16:30 I see Jedinak at centre back again 🤦🏻♂️
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I went for a Villa win. But had there been a 'To Be Honest A Haven't Got A Clue How This One Will Go' option I would have gone for that. Maybe we could include an 'abstain' option in future.
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3-0 Villa.
Barnsley of 2018.
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3-0 Villa.
Barnsley of 2018.
A clean sheet with our defence, now that is ridiculous!
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think we will win this one. 0-2
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No faith in his team selection or tactics. 1-2 loss.
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We don't keep clean sheets. They have a couple of injuries but Bradley Dack is a very good player and will score at least one of their goals. I said 2-2 earlier and will stick to that. Grealish and Tammy for Villa.
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3-0 Villa.
Barnsley of 2018.
A clean sheet with our defence, now that is ridiculous!
Not really. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/09/16/barnsley-0-aston-villa-3moneyball-like-miseryball-tykes-hammered/
“I’ve heard I’m a dinosaur,” said Bruce, aware of the social media response to seven points from seven games before they arrived at Oakwell.
Déjà poo.
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Villa being Villa and the torment of being a Villa fan being as firmly established as it is we could win 5-0 then have a six match losing streak but rational evaluation says a 2-0 defeat and our new owners behaving like new owners not warmed over Lerners and Xias.
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Hopefully the two week break and Bolasie and Abraham coming in might spark us into life a bit because Bruce quite rightly won't survive too many more results and performances like the Sheff Utd one.
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I want a Villa win but I'm not confident of getting it. Win, lose or draw I want Bruce out. Its more than likely we're going to concede, so we're going to need at least 2 goals to gain 3 points. Putting hope in our new loan signings is fine but remember Bruce is still managing them and he is as likely to ask them to remember their defensive responsibilities in our own half as he is to ask them to bomb down the touchline and get crosses in for either Kodjia or Abrahams.
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Nyland
Hutton
Chester
Tuanzebe
Elmo
McGinn
Thor
Grealish
El Ghazi
Abraham
Bolasie
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1-1 draw :-\
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Nyland
Elmo Chester Tuanzabe Hutton
Bolasie Grealish McGinn El Ghazi
Kodjia Abrahams
FFS try something positive
I would imagine very few changes at the back - it is almost like he is now being stubborn and will not do what everyone suggests
1-1 and he will think a decent result
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The OS has got this game as being this evening at 5.30pm! I assume that's incorrect?
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A 1-1 victory - there or thereabouts.
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Abraham is starting but Bolasie isn’t. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kodija playing wide left and El Ghazi wide right.
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Nyland
Tuz Chester Jedinak Hutton
Whelan
mcginn grealish
Ghazi Kodjia
Abraham
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LOL^
We'll probably win, granting Bruce yet more time. We'll be in this league next season if he stays. Three years wasted I reckon.
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1-2 - Come on Sebastian!!! ROAR!!
Or something like that.
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Come on Villa, I don't want the beer to be the best part of the day again !
I'm going for 2-0 Villa.
Adomah scores the opener and runs back to the bench to give Bruce the finger. His brother spontaneously combusts. Alan Hutton dribbles from the halfway line with 5 minutes to go, is fouled in the box, takes the penalty himself and scores from a rebound after the goalie saves. Runs to the crowd and strips naked revealing a massive tattoo of the badge on his torso, clearly happy to take the inevitable booking.
If Carling did Villa games .......
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1-1, If they're up for this they may scrape a 2-1 win, they hold the birth below us so I would imagine Blackburn at home will expect all the points.
C'mon Villa show some metal and hammer them.
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*berth
**mettle
*** BE/Legion, ye should be on top of this.
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I went for a villa win- just checked odds on goal.com
Blackburn 2.7-1
Villa 2.63-1
Draw 3.25-1
Villa narrow favourites.
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Well sneak a win and he'll stay in a job.
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I think you may be right.
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2-1 defeat
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Need to win.
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He needs to bite the bullet and get Jedinak away from centre half. We can debate Axel’s readiness to play centre back all we want, but there is absolutely no way he is worse, or will have a more detrimental effect, than Jedinak.
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Another day, another debacle.
2-0 to Rovers.
He needs to go!
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We'll win 1-0, then he'll tell the media how hysterical the supporters are.
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How many will Mr Pudgy play out of position today?
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I think today could be the last match of Steve Bruce's reign as manager of Aston Villa. I predict we will score, but our shambolic defence will continue and we will lose 3-1.
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Both teams looking to come back after 4 - 1 beatings, providing Abraham gets the service, reckon we might just nick it. Hopefully Bolaise will get some game time.
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Have we ever played well at Blackburn? I feel like we're always awful there. This is a tough game; they've started okay after storming to promotion, so they're not in the habit of losing. Bruce will pick the usual lot in the usual places. If we roll up our sleeves and give it a go - which is all you can ask, apparently - we should sneak a draw.
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3 - 0 win and Bruce safe for another week, but that's just the way its going to be until, he starts putting square pegs in square holes.
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3 - 0 win and Bruce safe for another week, but that's just the way its going to be until, he starts putting square pegs in square holes.
I'd be quite happy with a 3 nil win every week, but I get what you mean.
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How many will Mr Pudgy play out of position today?
FYI, I am not picking the team
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For anyone who's missed it ,Villa Rule Europe, Sky Sports Football, precedes the game this evening.
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1-4
Bruce in!, what’s all the fuss about
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For anyone who's missed it ,Villa Rule Europe, Sky Sports Football, precedes the game this evening.
That’s makes it even more painful watching us playing in the second tier third season running.
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We'll win 1-0, then he'll tell the media how hysterical the supporters are.
Reading all these posts, he would not be far wrong would he, ffs the seasons just started, if ya read the posts from this time last season its the same. ok we got beat in the play off final, but jesus Christ 1 lost league game in the first 6, it's all doom and gloom ;D ;D ;D
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For anyone who's missed it ,Villa Rule Europe, Sky Sports Football, precedes the game this evening.
That’s makes it even more painful watching us playing in the second tier third season running.
Not even with the mind set of trying to dominate a poor second tier.
Sorry I forgot all the other teams are out to beat us, that's the championship for you.
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They won't like that sort of attitude on here Scamps.
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They won't like that sort of attitude on here Scamps.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I'd suggest Bruce would be best served in going back to the old guard today. First and foremost we need a shape to the team that's been missing all season. Really don't rate Axel at all but at least by playing him centre half instead of Jedinak we can play a much higher line.
---------------Nyland
Elmo, Chester, Axel, Hutton
----------Jedinak, Hourihane
Adamoah, Grealish, Bolasie
--------------Abraham
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We'll win 1-0, then he'll tell the media how hysterical the supporters are.
Reading all these posts, he would not be far wrong would he, ffs the seasons just started, if ya read the posts from this time last season its the same. ok we got beat in the play off final, but jesus Christ 1 lost league game in the first 6, it's all doom and gloom ;D ;D ;D
Yeah those draws against the bottom 2 teams were great results!
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We'll win 1-0, then he'll tell the media how hysterical the supporters are.
Reading all these posts, he would not be far wrong would he, ffs the seasons just started, if ya read the posts from this time last season its the same. ok we got beat in the play off final, but jesus Christ 1 lost league game in the first 6, it's all doom and gloom ;D ;D ;D
Yeah those draws against the bottom 2 teams were great results!
Who can quibble about a few slip ups when you're treated to such attractive, free flowing football.
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ye well beating Wolves last season scoring 4 did us no good either, its where we finish not where we are now, 6 games in, come on Brucie shove it up em all, because we all know if we get promoted then you will be the best thing sinced sliced bread, fickle times at the MIGHTY VILLA
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I don't think you've been watching and I don't think you know what fickle means either.
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ye well beating Wolves last season scoring 4 did us no good either, its where we finish not where we are now, 6 games in, come on Brucie shove it up em all, because we all know if we get promoted then you will be the best thing sinced sliced bread, fickle times at the MIGHTY VILLA
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
You are absolutely right it is where we finish and nothing about our football last season or this season gives us any justifiable belief that we will finish in the top 2 positions. That's despite having arguably the best squad in the league.
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All that matters is were you start the next season. And under Bruce it keeps being division 2.
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Rovers will score inside 5 mins. We'll huff and puff before equalising in the 50th minute. A raft of substitutes will see hogan up top on his own before we concede in the 89th and 94th mins. Alternatively, we'll be thereorthereabouts.
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Ok Chaps, You tell me when you got rid of Bruce who the hell is gunna do the job any better, and give you lot free flowing attractive football and lead this best squad in DIV 2 to the promised land.
?????? :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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Read the site Scamps, it's all here.
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Kodjia, Tammy, Bolasie, el Ghazi, Jack and McGinniesta better all be in the starting line up. We will absolutely thrash them if that's the case. If both Elmo starts outside and Whelan is in the middle I give up.
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I don't think you've been watching and I don't think you know what fickle means either.
Ive been watching for 45 years, and yes I have seen the good Villa sides and Bad Villa sides and this may be hard times but not all this is Bruce's fault, he came in when this team was on its way down much much further than we are now.
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Villadelph how often do we actually thrash anyone, even though we have the capability to do so.
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I don't think you've been watching and I don't think you know what fickle means either.
Ive been watching for 45 years, and yes I have seen the good Villa sides and Bad Villa sides and this may be hard times but not all this is Bruce's fault, he came in when this team was on its way down much much further than we are now.
So when Bruce says "I'm not really into tactics," alarm bells are not ringing?
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Not really, we got to the play off final last season with a bloke who dont really do tactics, that aint bad then is it. and this seasons only 6 games in so it remains to be seen if hes right or you lot are
:D :D :D :D :D
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Let's see what team selection Bodger Bruce can come up with today.
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If failing to promote us twice isn't bad I dread to think what is.
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Villadelph how often do we actually thrash anyone, even though we have the capability to do so.
Now more than ever. Plenty of skill and finesse footwork to do the job today. Bolasie and el Gahzi on either side, Jack and McGinn in the middle, and Kodjia with Tammy up top.. that could do a serious job in this league. I think they'll will force a new brand of football on Bruce. He's really just a long ball cheerleader anyway.
Goals over defensive reassurance for me. Can't stand Elmo, Whelan and Jedi keeping us on the back foot at all times.
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Not really, we got to the play off final last season with a bloke who dont really do tactics, that aint bad then is it. and this seasons only 6 games in so it remains to be seen if hes right or you lot are
:D :D :D :D :D
For the amount of reckless money we spent while doing it though.. I could've gotten them up. On paper we were way too good to miss out.
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Villadelph how often do we actually thrash anyone, even though we have the capability to do so.
I think they'll will force a new brand of football on Bruce.
I admire your thinking.
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Nyland
Hutton
Chester
Axel
Taylor
AEM
Mcginn
Jedinak
Adomah
Grealish
Abraham
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Villadelph how often do we actually thrash anyone, even though we have the capability to do so.
I think they'll will force a new brand of football on Bruce.
I admire your thinking.
We can only hope..
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Having to build a new team every season takes some doing to get promotion, I'm sure he would have wanted to keep most the players from last season then add a couple, it's not that easy when ya got all that ffp shit in the background, I just think he's getting too much stick for things that are not all his fault.
yes some of his selections make ya shake ya head, but the man is giving all he can and I take my hat off to him for what he has done with a club that was moving in the direction of a Leeds united.
Thats all i have to say, im off to another site now, closing my account.
Too negative here for me
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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It's a football forum not an airport, there's no need to announce your departure.
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COME ON THE MIGHTY VILLA,
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Not really, we got to the play off final last season with a bloke who dont really do tactics, that aint bad then is it. and this seasons only 6 games in so it remains to be seen if hes right or you lot are
:D :D :D :D :D
Imagine where we could have got to with a proper manager. You and Bruce may think it was hysterical this time last year but ultimately we were right, plain and simple. We didn't look like a team that would be consistently good enough to go up and we didn't. We seem to be worse off this year with a makeshift defence and a couple of flappy keepers to last us until January yet here you and Bruce are again to dismiss it as hysterical. We're probably right again, and you are probably a bit dim.
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Not really, we got to the play off final last season with a bloke who dont really do tactics, that aint bad then is it. and this seasons only 6 games in so it remains to be seen if hes right or you lot are
:D :D :D :D :D
Imagine where we could have got to with a proper manager. You and Bruce may think it was hysterical this time last year but ultimately we were right, plain and simple. We didn't look like a team that would be consistently good enough to go up and we didn't. We seem to be worse off this year with a makeshift defence and a couple of flappy keepers to last us until January yet here you and Bruce are again to dismiss it as hysterical. We're probably right again, and you are probably a bit dim.
And you'll stop saying things like that.
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Well its a better team setup, players playing in correct positions.
I feel a bit sorry for Kodija just being dropped, but it is the Bruce way.