Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Ads on December 24, 2017, 09:08:12 AM
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If I were manager, which I am not, I'd fight fire with fire and let superior quality take effect.
Three words would adorn my tactical white board: press, press and press (without the and natch).
The full backs, De Laet and Taylor would have higher starting positions.
Elphick (nose held) would start (gulp).
Onomah and Angela would be tasked with aggression and told to alternate in attacking the box and press g right onto their number 10. If they should happen to leave one on him, oh well. I would tell them to lay a glove or two on their deep lying play maker. If he has two touches of the ball without being lamped we're not working hard enough.
I'd play O'Hare and Grealish and Adomah and tell them that formations are for defending and we won't be doing much of that. I'd have the full backs angrily shake their fists at them should they think of letting poor little Hogan be more than 10 yards from any one of them.
But I'm not and who knows. Tough game. Hope we win, we certainly need to.
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well to rescue anything from this dismal month of results we need to win our two remaining games. One against Boro who will probably be experiencing the new manager bounce just when we turn up (3 points behind us and yet they have no problem getting rid of their manager. Higher expectations than us?), and this one. My head says nailed on draw but with the big Terry sized hole in defence that's recently opened up, you wouldn't bet on it. Time to ditch the Bruce tactics and play a style of football that suits the available players? nah, not gonna happen. 1-1
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At the moment, can't see anything other than a home win 2-0.
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To put it bluntly, we’re all over the place at the moment. A draw would be a good although perhaps, unlikely result.
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I suppose I should be used to the traditional holiday collapse by Villa, but I admit am such a sucker I always go in THINKING we will perform well for a change. Sadly this season looks no different than the previous god knows how many.
Probably due for a nice turgid 0-0
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If we can avoid the 3-0 mauling we took there last January it will be an improvement.
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Regarding the Christmas period, I posted on a here a week or so ago that I thought we'd draw the Sheffield Utd and Boro games and win down at Brentford and I still think we will.
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1-2 to the Villa. Then follows a 23 game unbeaten run & automatic promotion finishing 2nd.
........Well I can dream can’t I?
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17-0.
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3-1 Brentford.
They just have our number at this level. Look at our three performances against them since coming down here.
Woods will look like Pirlo again no doubt.
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A game year in year out we should win - however will take a draw now.
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Well at least we're away so ive got an excuse not too go and watch the ritual Villa boxing day loss.
2nd game in 3 days and after a shit 80 mins yesterday lets play some youth and some players in their correct position (yes Elphick) and have a go.
....as Bruce never said/says/does :-X
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Hate playing these lot, they always Brazil us. Last Jan was just embarrassing, having given them more money earlier that day than their entire playing staff cost, we let them tickle us on the pitch after doing it off the pitch with Hogan's fee.
I think we'll get another crappy draw at best.
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Brentford will play us off the park and the mood in the fan base will explode once more
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Expect to be passed off the pitch again. Would happily swop managers after the game.
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They'll Muller us. They have the hoodoo over us and - last season aside - Boxing Day in recent years has been tragic for us.
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So much negativity on this thread. What's wrong with people? 2-0 Brentford.
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0-2
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3-3
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4-1 Villa. Got the Barnsley sense about this. Our bad run after all is 1 defeat and 2 draws so far. Usually it's getting drilled 4, 5, 6 or 7 over recent years.
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Bruce needs to put O'hare in the starting line-up. Why is he so cautious? If Bruce does go, I'd like to see Dean Smith in as a replacement.
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Johnstone
De Laet, Chester, Elphick, Taylor
Jedinak
Onomah, Hourihane
Jack , Adomah
Hogan
41221
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If I were manager, which I am not, I'd fight fire with fire and let superior quality take effect.
Three words would adorn my tactical white board: press, press and press (without the and natch).
The full backs, De Laet and Taylor would have higher starting positions.
Elphick (nose held) would start (gulp).
Onomah and Angela would be tasked with aggression and told to alternate in attacking the box and press g right onto their number 10. If they should happen to leave one on him, oh well. I would tell them to lay a glove or two on their deep lying play maker. If he has two touches of the ball without being lamped we're not working hard enough.
I'd play O'Hare and Grealish and Adomah and tell them that formations are for defending and we won't be doing much of that. I'd have the full backs angrily shake their fists at them should they think of letting poor little Hogan be more than 10 yards from any one of them.
But I'm not and who knows. Tough game. Hope we win, we certainly need to.
A lot of what you put there is how I want to see us approach games. What I don't get is how you can put something like that whilst also thinking that Bruce is the right manager for us or is doing a good job.
As for the game I'm really not sure, given the way they've mugged us the last few times it's hard to be overly confident but I actually think we'll sneak this one 1-2 and it will earn Bruce yet another stay of execution.
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2-0 I'm afraid and will this be the turning point for Bruce, Boro' and Wednesday pulled the trigger yesterday,so Bruce needs to turn things around very quickly or January it'll be ta ta.
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I actually think we'll sneak this one 1-2 and it will earn Bruce yet another stay of execution.
He has a habit of delivering whenever his job is on the line.
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We’ll get done. 3-1 to Brentford. He’ll then blame the the fans for panicking. Wanker.
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At best I expect us to draw. It'll be the same old crap, sitting too deep, playing for the draw, hoofing the ball up to the striker and giving the ball away cheaply. I'm getting giddy with excitement.
To better things...I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and it's been fun riding the Villa roller-coaster with you all.
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If I were manager, which I am not, I'd fight fire with fire and let superior quality take effect.
Three words would adorn my tactical white board: press, press and press (without the and natch).
The full backs, De Laet and Taylor would have higher starting positions.
Elphick (nose held) would start (gulp).
Onomah and Angela would be tasked with aggression and told to alternate in attacking the box and press g right onto their number 10. If they should happen to leave one on him, oh well. I would tell them to lay a glove or two on their deep lying play maker. If he has two touches of the ball without being lamped we're not working hard enough.
I'd play O'Hare and Grealish and Adomah and tell them that formations are for defending and we won't be doing much of that. I'd have the full backs angrily shake their fists at them should they think of letting poor little Hogan be more than 10 yards from any one of them.
But I'm not and who knows. Tough game. Hope we win, we certainly need to.
A lot of what you put there is how I want to see us approach games. What I don't get is how you can put something like that whilst also thinking that Bruce is the right manager for us or is doing a good job.
As for the game I'm really not sure, given the way they've mugged us the last few times it's hard to be overly confident but I actually think we'll sneak this one 1-2 and it will earn Bruce yet another stay of execution.
There's many ways to approach a game. Just because I would set us up one way doesn't mean it's the only way.
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If I were manager, which I am not, I'd fight fire with fire and let superior quality take effect.
Three words would adorn my tactical white board: press, press and press (without the and natch).
The full backs, De Laet and Taylor would have higher starting positions.
Elphick (nose held) would start (gulp).
Onomah and Angela would be tasked with aggression and told to alternate in attacking the box and press g right onto their number 10. If they should happen to leave one on him, oh well. I would tell them to lay a glove or two on their deep lying play maker. If he has two touches of the ball without being lamped we're not working hard enough.
I'd play O'Hare and Grealish and Adomah and tell them that formations are for defending and we won't be doing much of that. I'd have the full backs angrily shake their fists at them should they think of letting poor little Hogan be more than 10 yards from any one of them.
But I'm not and who knows. Tough game. Hope we win, we certainly need to.
A lot of what you put there is how I want to see us approach games. What I don't get is how you can put something like that whilst also thinking that Bruce is the right manager for us or is doing a good job.
Because that's his opinion. It's as simple as that really.
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Christmas truce between Paul, Ads and Clampy! Enjoy, fellas.
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Christmas truce between Paul, Ads and Clampy! Enjoy, fellas.
Bah Humbug!
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How the hell have we arrived at a situation where we are even contemplating the remote possibility, still less the fair likelihood, of losing to sodding Brentford?
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Bruce needs to put O'hare in the starting line-up. Why is he so cautious? If Bruce does go, I'd like to see Dean Smith in as a replacement.
Why oh why do people think Dean Smith is the answer? Villa fan apart, what exactly are his credentials?
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4-1 Villa. Got the Barnsley sense about this. Our bad run after all is 1 defeat and 2 draws so far. Usually it's getting drilled 4, 5, 6 or 7 over recent years.
They are a much better team than Barnsley I'm afraid.
Played well at Norwich. Romaine Sawyers hit a lovely defence splitting ball to Vibe to finish off. Would imagine Hogan was replaying that 100s of times thinking of better times in his career!
In our present state we might nick a goal from a set piece but we will struggle to keep a clean sheet.
As ever I'd be happy to be proved wrong.
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How the hell have we arrived at a situation where we are even contemplating the remote possibility, still less the fair likelihood, of losing to sodding Brentford?
It happened very convincingly last season (the day we signed their main striker for 12m of course) and we've been no better in the two home draws against them.
Regardless of the size of their club they've given us many difficulties since we've been down here and I don't see it changing on Boxing day.
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They're still a mid-table 2nd division side. Let's not exaggerate it.
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I would love to see us rock up there and win 3-0 with them barely having a shot on target and 40% possession. We know for a start the possession thing won't be happening as that's not how an SB team plays.
There are no games for past reference when we've gone to a top half club and convincingly won. Burton and Barnsley are clubs who could get relegated this season quite easily so there's a big difference to Brentford in terms of quality from back to front.
Actually I just remembered Preston, fair enough as they're just below us in the table but they did have their first choice back 4 injured and we did at least capitalise on that. Can't think of any other examples.
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I went to the Brentford home match this year and yes they should have been out of sight but after the match their fans were expecting a day like we are expecting on Boxing Day. Just shows how pessimistic we are as fans.
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I went to the Brentford home match this year and yes they should have been out of sight but after the match their fans told me they had been expecting a day like we are expecting on Boxing Day. Just shows how pessimistic we are as fans.
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They're still a mid-table 2nd division side. Let's not exaggerate it.
We might get a draw then.
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Well our inept leaders comments regarding Hogan and Brentford have pissed of the locals, so they are going to be well up to ramming those words down Bruces throat. We will be chasing shadows all game, wondering how they manage to pass a ball forward and make space to move into. Brucie's doffers to lose this one 3-0, and the good Doctor thinking of an alternative place where he would like to place those new chopsticks he had for xmas!
Hum bug to it, roll on the World Cup...
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Well our inept leaders comments regarding Hogan and Brentford have pissed of the locals
Has it? It doesnt sound very likely to be honest.
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People seem to fall over themselves thinking that talking about the opposition means they'll suddenly become unbeatable. If that was the case Burton would be romping away with the league.
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Well our inept leaders comments regarding Hogan and Brentford have pissed of the locals
Has it? It doesnt sound very likely to be honest.
Not so much the player, but the bit where he said they are happy to just avoid relegation every season. Not gone down to well with some of them lol.
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I can only see a defeat coming, sadly.
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I reckon we will click for this one and piss it.
Fuck em, we're the Villa.
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Bruce needs to put O'hare in the starting line-up. Why is he so cautious? If Bruce does go, I'd like to see Dean Smith in as a replacement.
Why oh why do people think Dean Smith is the answer? Villa fan apart, what exactly are his credentials?
Well, without Recon and Bruce and Wyness and money and recognised players, he manages to force-sell the good players annually, yet play football-on-the-floor for a team that is easy on the eye and safely surviving in div 2 annually.
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3-1 Brentford.
They just have our number at this level. Look at our three performances against them since coming down here.
Woods will look like Pirlo again no doubt.
Both games last season the ginger Pirlo bossed the midfield. Is there any chance Bruce will come up with a game plan to reduce his influence? If he don't and the wee ginger fella picks us apart again it will confirm to me what I already suspect. That Bruce is a chancer who just can't do the job he's paid to do.
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0-3 away win. Merry Christmas!
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Bruce needs to put O'hare in the starting line-up. Why is he so cautious? If Bruce does go, I'd like to see Dean Smith in as a replacement.
Why oh why do people think Dean Smith is the answer? Villa fan apart, what exactly are his credentials?
Well, without Recon and Bruce and Wyness and money and recognised players, he manages to force-sell the good players annually, yet play football-on-the-floor for a team that is easy on the eye and safely surviving in div 2 annually.
Yes but other than that 😊....
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Christmas truce between Paul, Ads and Clampy! Enjoy, fellas.
I wasn't being critical at all, i just think it's interesting to see ads suggest a gameplan that's nothing like Bruce delivers.
I want to see us play that way which is why I'm critical of the way Bruce sets us up which in turn causes all the disagreement.
That said Merry Christmas everyone.
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Lets make sure Their Manager is on Our Team Bus as newest recruit.
Bruce has work to do at Sheff Wed or Boro
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Lets make sure Their Manager is on Our Team Bus as newest recruit.
Bruce has work to do at Sheff Wed or Boro
You mean a bit like when we asked for and eventually got Lambert in the game at Norwich? That worked out well.
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Desperately need 3 points from 4 will Bruce target this game?
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Lets make sure Their Manager is on Our Team Bus as newest recruit.
Bruce has work to do at Sheff Wed or Boro
You mean a bit like when we asked for and eventually got Lambert in the game at Norwich? That worked out well.
Can we not just leave him there? I honestly think we'd be better off not replacing him than keeping him.
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Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!
Happy Boxing Day I hope. Will be watching us on me hols.
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Really hope I’m wrong but a draw at best in this game.
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Brentford forums all seem, and it's fairly universal, that we win get done 3 or 4-0.
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Will take a draw here.1-1
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I think there are a lot of bruised arses in the Villa squad. Would not be surprised to see us win this one.
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Afraid i'm not to hopeful of a result tonight. Mentally they will be in a much better position than us and that is some part down to how Mr.Bruce approaches matches.Brentford will be looking to win and we'll be looking at not loosing. There in lies our problem.
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I was going, but now can't due to illness.
Expect a thumping 3-0 away win and thank me later.
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I'm well but not going either.
Villa to win 2-1.
Ohhhhh Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle etc etc
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Just watched highlights of our 3-1 win over West Ham, Boxing Day 1991, after it popped up on my Facebook feed from VillaBoy - that guy has great videos of the Villa every day.
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I'd go...
-------------------------- Johnstone -------------------------
De Laet -------- Chester ---------- Elphick --------- Taylor
--------------- Hourihane --------- Jedinak ----------------
Adomah ------------------ O'Hare ---------------- Grealish
---------------------------- Hogan ---------------------------
No doubts he'll pick the usual:
Johnstone
Elmohamady
Chester
Jedinak
Taylor
Hourihane
Whelan
Snodgrass
Grealish
Adomah
Davis
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Just watched highlights of our 3-1 win over West Ham, Boxing Day 1991, after it popped up on my Facebook feed from VillaBoy - that guy has great videos of the Villa every day.
Are they the full 90 minutes ? I may put one on at 7.45 tonight.
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I really want him to give a couple of the talented kids a shot. Freshen it up. He won’t. Either way we need to be aggressive and disciplined. Show attacking intent and calmness in closing down their threat. They play some decent stuff so we have to be aware of that. I said a loss earlier and I still think that because Bruce I believe will play too conservatively and that will invite trouble. Here’s hoping I’m entirely wrong.
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I am totally confident that Bruce's team selection and strategy will ensure we do not take 3 points at mighty Brentford.
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Agree with the above 100%. We are the easiest team to defend against, have a slow midfield and a toothless, almost non existent attack.
Defeat
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We'll lose I expect.
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We will go there more worried about not loosing as usual i expect ,but i fear that is exactly what will happen 2-0 home win
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2-1 to us. Can see it being a hairy night! Chester and Davis.
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We’ll be defeated.
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Just win the game, please
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Just win the game, please
That's what Smith will say to Brentford. Bruce will be " just don't loose the game please ".
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We’re out of the play offs with Shef U winning. We have to go for a win.
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We need to win tonight, we're currently down to 8th now.
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Out of the playoffs, over the next month should be a sackable offence.
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Disgraceful stat:
The Villans have won one of their last 21 away matches on Boxing Day (D7 L13), a 2-0 win at Derby in 1999
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We’re out of the play offs with Shef U winning. We have to go for a win.
That should sting SB into overseeing a dynamic attacking performance tonight then.
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We’re out of the play offs with Shef U winning. We have to go for a win.
That should sting SB into overseeing a dynamic attacking performance tonight then.
LMFAO as the kids say
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Don't fancy our chances tonight.
Got a bad feeling about it.
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Entering the new year around midtable should be the end of Bruce. If the chairman is the ''winner'' he claims to be then being in that position is wholly unacceptable.
I see these next 7 days as the death throws of Bruce, he will complain like mad after we lose to Boro about the unfairness of the fixture list and then he will be given his cards, the boring fat ******.
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Entering the new year around midtable should be the end of Bruce. If the chairman is the ''winner'' he claims to be then being in that position is wholly unacceptable.
I see these next 7 days as the death throws of Bruce, he will complain like mad after we lose to Boro about the unfairness of the fixture list and then he will be given his cards, the boring fat c***.
Amen to that. Dinosaur.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
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stating the obvious but this is a must win or we'll struggle to get back into the top six with lots of sides coming into good form, not least Fulham who are sneaking up on the rails.
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I hope everyone had a good Crimbo - despite the useless muppets that are apparently representing our (once?) magnificent football club.
To think that Bruce & his cloggers will get anything from this evening's game is - as far as I'm concerened - unthinkable, so I'm going for a plucky draw. Possibly.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
He'll want them to score goals, every manager does. I'm just saying a look at the table should be half the team talk done.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
And pick the right players and the right tactics and change it if it is not working.
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After today's results we need a win. We need a win and we need to look the part. If they play us off the park AGAIN it will show the owners that we are not improving. A win will give Bruce some wiggle room in the transfer window. A loss should be the beginning of the end for potato head. A draw will just prolong the inevitable. So a win it is then.
A 3-1 win with an impressive performance.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
And pick the right players and the right tactics and change it if it is not working.
Absolutley. Not sure what the right team actually is though. It'll be interesting to see what he does.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
And pick the right players and the right tactics and change it if it is not working.
Absolutley. Not sure what the right team actually is though. It'll be interesting to see what he does.
I think we know he needs to change it.
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Only a win will suffice tonight.
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I believe there's commentary of tonight's game on Talkshite - if folk haven't got any other options.
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I was thinking of worming the cat auntie.
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I was thinking of worming the cat auntie.
Good idea Brian. May your moggy enjoy the experience as much as your good self. ;)
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I was thinking of worming the cat auntie.
Need any help?
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You can help me catch the cat if you like. It spotted the Bob Martin's and was last seen legging it up the field.
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Let's hope the players see the table and it gees them up. It's up to them.
To an extent it is. It is also up the manager to give those players a plan and a licence to attack.
Let's hope the players stop listening to the manager. Agnew may be their and our only saviour. Sadly, it's still Bodger's job to match the team selection. Let's hope he doesn't play too many out of position tonight. 2-1 Villa.
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Just a note. Don’t adjust your sets. You won’t be watching our midfield in slow motion? But with Jedinak and Whelan in the middle it will just look like you are.
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I’m a half full man and win tonight and we are only 6 off second 😁
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Just a note. Don’t adjust your sets. You won’t be watching our midfield in slow motion? But with Jedinak and Whelan in the middle it will just look like you are.
Turning circles of an oil tanker.
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Barry-esque.
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Not too sure about both of them in there. Maybe after 75 mins to kill the game when you're winning. Glad Hogan's got a start though.
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You can help me catch the cat if you like. It spotted the Bob Martin's and was last seen legging it up the field.
Ooops! It looks like you're running out of excuses to not suffer with the rest of us this evening now, bab. I guess you could always spend the next few hours hunting about outside in a bid to find a Cat - any Cat - to worm?
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But the Villa is more important than the festive season surely.
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Even Twitter are taking the piss now on the Villa page:
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They obviously think I love dull, shit football.
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Not too sure about both of them in there. Maybe after 75 mins to kill the game when you're winning. Glad Hogan's got a start though.
Ahhh, the ol' striker returns to score against their former club thang. Let's hope it isn't in the wrong net!
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0-0.