Eric Black

[PeterWithe]

Indeed, if the current work ethic carries on we might as well turn the lights off.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I just don't get what these people see.  I mean how hard is it to pick the team below:

                     Bunn

Hutton      Okore    Clark     Cissokho

                Gana   Veretout

Traore           Grealish           Ayew

                    Gestede

You could maybe take Gestede out and put Ayew up front or start Sinclair ahead of Traore, but let's at least have a go.

I can only think that the Villa now has a strategy to protect the psyche of some of these players for next season. Whilst leaving the group who got us in this mess, to pick up the pieces for the rest of the season, before being bombed out.

[OzVilla]

I just don't get what these people see.  I mean how hard is it to pick the team below:

                     Bunn

Hutton      Okore    Clark     Cissokho

                Gana   Veretout

Traore           Grealish           Ayew

                    Gestede

You could maybe take Gestede out and put Ayew up front or start Sinclair ahead of Traore, but let's at least have a go.

I can only think that the Villa now has a strategy to protect the psyche of some of these players for next season. Whilst leaving the group who got us in this mess, to pick up the pieces for the rest of the season, before being bombed out.

I agree and what's more I totally support it, if it's true.

[richardhubbard]

Having watched his team selection and team style on saturday, he guy a completely useless tool

[peter w]

I don't get the criticism of Black and think he's doing as well as can be expected. We aren't good enough to go out and attack looking to win. He's trying to be more solid and use that as a springboard to nick a result. The crowd would turn on the team even further and heap more bile if we went for it and had more 4s and 6s shipped passed us. The way to do that is use the experienced players and try and plug the many holes in the boat. Relegation or not the re needs to be solidified and tightened again. To that respect the job he has is huge. No time for kids, if indeed we have (m)any ready and no point in gung ho.

Started again means doing things properly not trying to lose 7-2. I think Black is doing it right so far in terms of the longer term and next season.

[VinnieChase84]

Has fallen out with Okore and dropped him from the 1st team squad 🙈🙈

[cdbearsfan]

I don't particularly have a problem with Black. Lashing out at him seems to be like blaming the funeral arranger if a beloved relative dies.

[Malandro]

I don't particularly have a problem with Black. Lashing out at him seems to be like blaming the funeral arranger if a beloved relative dies.

he comes across very well, very professional. He's just trying to do his job - but most people just don't want to see 75% of the squad playing! No win.

[mr underhill]

I think people see the same fuckwits play and not deliver every week and long for some change. What is the point of having a pool of players and never giving them the opportunity to test themselves? I know it's been said time and time again but have we no alternative to Bacuna, Westwood et al?

[Lobsterboy]

Black is doing a thankless task with a useless bunch of players -  it would have been hard enough managing a team that has only won 3 games all season without having to deal with the likes of Lescott, Agbonlahor and now it seems Okore making his job even more difficult

Ideally he will bring in Grealish, Green and/or Traore at the weekend to try and appease the fans but it really is a futile exercise

[Edvard Remberg]

Well, 11 of the 16 points achieved have been with Okore on the team (12 games) - yet Lescot has more leverage?

Black can do one - the last 2 teams he picked have been offensive to the eye - dropping Okore for him saying he believes he should have a chance? Yeah - punish a player that wants to play to prove he can do a better job - much worse than Richards, Bacuna, Lescot & Gabby

[chrisw1]

Well, 11 of the 16 points achieved have been with Okore on the team (12 games) - yet Lescot has more leverage?

Black can do one - the last 2 teams he picked have been offensive to the eye - dropping Okore for him saying he believes he should have a chance? Yeah - punish a player that wants to play to prove he can do a better job - much worse than Richards, Bacuna, Lescot & Gabby

Actually I'm glad he picked the team he did on Saturday.  Why bring the kids in to suffer the final relegation blow - that's hardly fair on them.  Let the fuckers who got us into this position enjoy that.  I would like to see him start introducing the kids more in the next few weeks though.

[Steve67]

Whilst I am sure that there is two sides to the Okore story, anyone who picks Kieran Richardson and Leandro Bacuna despite knowing that the fans have an intense dislike for them is a complete plank. The sooner the season ends and we can start moving people on, the better.  Black included.

[PaulWinch again]

Anything good he says midweek is completely destroyed every time he puts out a starting line up.

[old man villa fan]

I get the feeling that he is thinking that he is not part of the future, so why think about the future.

He also follows the stereotype of most of the British managers that played the game more than 10 years ago that you have to play experienced players and a group young players in the team cannot cope.