Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[ChicagoLion]

The is just no cohesion between the defence, the midfield and the attack. They operate as if they're completely independent entities. The midfield is the biggest problem, because it offers no control to build attacks and no screening to protect the defence. Bruce has a hell of a job on.

Spot on.

yep, i would try richards in centre defensive midfield.

[itbrvilla]

50 odd million well spent.

[Clampy]

However switching the dug-out ....a master stroke. That will give us extra ten points over the coming months.

There was no harm in him doing it and it's something he wanted to do. What's the problem?

[claret+blue ed]

I think yesterday proved, there is a lot of work ahead to be done, we are starting from scratch again as it didn't look like they had been together for a couple of months at least already

[Ian.]

However switching the dug-out ....a master stroke. That will give us extra ten points over the coming months.

There was no harm in him doing it and it's something he wanted to do. What's the problem?

Sportsman are notoriously superstitious, I'm not and I think it's all a myth, however each to their own in their beliefs and ways. I can't see a problem with it either. If it makes him happier, why not?

[dave shelley]

A quarter of the season gone and we are just about at pre-season levels of fitness.  Great.

[mr underhill]

what the fuck do any of our 'coaches' do? Long John Silver's got more athleticism than most of our players

[claret+blue ed]

On a different note, why did Bruce go to the effort of losing a few pounds, styling his hair and looking more dapper than he ever has, then go back to a trackie on match day, show your authority Steve and get the suit back on

[VillaAlways]

On a different note, why did Bruce go to the effort of losing a few pounds, styling his hair and looking more dapper than he ever has, then go back to a trackie on match day, show your authority Steve and get the suit back on

You mean like Sherwood , Garde and RDM? He could stand on the touch line in a clowns outfit as far as I'm concerned I just want to start winning games

[claret+blue ed]

On a different note, why did Bruce go to the effort of losing a few pounds, styling his hair and looking more dapper than he ever has, then go back to a trackie on match day, show your authority Steve and get the suit back on

You mean like Sherwood , Garde and RDM? He could stand on the touch line in a clowns outfit as far as I'm concerned I just want to start winning games

Can't have him dressed as a clown, we need him to look different to the players

[Rudy65]

On a different note, why did Bruce go to the effort of losing a few pounds, styling his hair and looking more dapper than he ever has, then go back to a trackie on match day, show your authority Steve and get the suit back on

Thts the sort of thing to worry about when everything else to do with the team is ok

[Diablo]

The is just no cohesion between the defence, the midfield and the attack. They operate as if they're completely independent entities. The midfield is the biggest problem, because it offers no control to build attacks and no screening to protect the defence. Bruce has a hell of a job on.

Spot on.

yep, i would try richards in centre defensive midfield.

Whilst being more mobile than Jedinak Richards isn't fit and in my opinion hasn't got the discipline to play there. He was shocking at full back yesterday. If Richards is the answer I dread to think what the question is.

[Walmley_Villa]

However switching the dug-out ....a master stroke. That will give us extra ten points over the coming months.

There was no harm in him doing it and it's something he wanted to do. What's the problem?

It's back to how it has traditionally been at VP? We got a lucky point yesterday, that is a refreshing change.

[LeeB]

The is just no cohesion between the defence, the midfield and the attack. They operate as if they're completely independent entities. The midfield is the biggest problem, because it offers no control to build attacks and no screening to protect the defence. Bruce has a hell of a job on.

Spot on.

yep, i would try richards in centre defensive midfield.

Whilst being more mobile than Jedinak Richards isn't fit and in my opinion hasn't got the discipline to play there. He was shocking at full back yesterday. If Richards is the answer I dread to think what the question is.

"Who is the only professional footballer that has survived a chicken brain transplant?"

[footyskillz]

Rather than a lack of fitness, i'd suggest its because we have NO MIDFIELD. As a defender you will get knackered if you spend 90 minutes putting up with the opposition charging straight through the invisible men in front of you. Likewise the forwards get a bit tired having to run hopefully back to the centre circle which is the limit of the midfield's forward advances. Our forwards run around a lot for no discernable reason - of course they're knackered

That's part of it. That's the point we are all making. Nobody including Bruce has suggested it is all fitness but it is a huge part of our overall issues and a key reason as to why we make so many mental errors especially late in games.

its a large part of it. It was a large part of it last season. you stick two teams in with the same fitness and 1 team keeps the ball and passes it through midfield while the other team chases it, then one team is gonna get knackered well before 90 minutes

It's also noted villa park is massive pitch far bigger than most and that is a contributory factor. All very good for teams on one off matches or the premier league teams where all top players enjoy playing at villa park however the area of the pitch is too big for some players to handle and tires players out.