John Terry - Gone

[SoccerHQ]

Dosen't sound like he was much better tonight.

Chester was on the whole pretty good last season, him and Baker were a solid combination bar the odd poor game.

I wonder what the issue is...

[Risso]

On ability, Terry should be the best defender in the division by a country mile, and with Chester who was very good last season, we should at least look competent in defence.

[adrenachrome]

Chester really struggling alongside him which is a big worry.

Chester's best game so far this season was down at Colchester. I personally think taking the captaincy off him was a mistake.

I agree.  I've never seen him play as badly as he did against Cardiff, think he made mistakes in that one game than he did in the whole of last season.

That is very possible as it must have been a blow to his confidence and self-esteem. On the other hand, it could be he is not comfortable playing on the left side of CD with Terry. In fact, Baker/Chester was far superior to Chester/Terry. It happens.

Of course, sometimes central defensive partnerships take time to gel. But I don't want to go there.

[Chris Jameson]

Terry could go down as the worst and most pointless signing in our history. To be honest though he was never going to win me over, he's easily my most hated Villa player in my most hated squad of players ever. Takes some doing when the likes of Agbonlahor and Richards were already stinking the place out.

[Risso]

It was always going to be a risk.  Taking a player who was Mr Chelsea, who'd spent pretty well his entire career winning trophies surrounded by world class players and then dropping him into a club as hopeless and badly run as Villa was probably never going to work out well.  It must be extremely difficult to take, going from playing with the likes of Azpilicueta and Luiz to then watching rubbish like Hutton and Taylor hopelessly knocking 50 yard hoofs to nobody in particular.

[sickbeggar]

Blaming Terry for chester playing shit is a bit like blaming Kodjia for Gabby. You only have to see the stats to see the problem. We can't pass the ball, so we can't keep the ball. Any defence is gonna struggle and be put under pressure with that mess in front of it

[PeterWithesShin]

It's too early to say if Terry is the problem, especially for Chester's form. But i'm going to blame the twat anyway.

[Three Spires Villa]

I would say that taking the captains armband from Chester, was a massive, massive mistake. He was my player of the season (with JK) did nothing wrong. Bruce says we got over excited about getting in John Terry, well Mr Bruce, I didn't and lots of people I know didn't

[RussellC]

there was a good call into TalkSport after the game last night, noting that at Chelsea Terry was constantly 'in the ear' of the referee, cajoling his team-mates and generally leading the team. In his first 3 games at Villa he literally looks like he's strolling around. He's not made any mistakes, per se, but we're paying him stupid money to do what hie did for Chelsea, not just a slightly less adequate (and decade older) version of Nathan Baker. It looks like a an absolute clanger from Bruce so far.

[Rudy65]

On ability, Terry should be the best defender in the division by a country mile, and with Chester who was very good last season, we should at least look competent in defence.

Maybe he "was" but after barely playing last season perhaps his legs and his motivation have gone. He hasn't certainly taken a step down from the quality of managers and players he played with for 15 odd years

[Risso]

I like how Bruce reckons it was the fans getting carried away with the signing of Terry, when it was Fistface himself that was blathering on about how Terry finding a waiter to play guitar for him on his initiation song proved what a fine organiser and leader of men he was.

[Tugby Villain]

I like how Bruce reckons it was the fans getting carried away with the signing of Terry, when it was Fistface himself that was blathering on about how Terry finding a waiter to play guitar for him on his initiation song proved what a fine organiser and leader of men he was.

Quite.

[aev]

My cousin reckons that Terry will be our manager by Christmas.

I replied that I think he will have been sacked by then.

[Chris Jameson]

Did he pick up an injury last night? Going to the Norwich match and really don't want to see him in a Villa shirt. My son has got a season ticket to Harrogate Town this season, he'd rather watch non league, think it will probably be his first and last match at Villa Park this season.

[exigo]

there was a good call into TalkSport after the game last night, noting that at Chelsea Terry was constantly 'in the ear' of the referee, cajoling his team-mates and generally leading the team. In his first 3 games at Villa he literally looks like he's strolling around. He's not made any mistakes, per se, but we're paying him stupid money to do what hie did for Chelsea, not just a slightly less adequate (and decade older) version of Nathan Baker. It looks like a an absolute clanger from Bruce so far.

Totally agree with this. And also he's not getting in the ears of the players around him. Last night, when their bloke was down getting treatment, Stam had got a number of players together to give them pointers. Bruce just scowled around the dugout, while Terry – and most of the players – just stood with their hands on hips. No fight, no leadership, no responsibility, no communication.

See also, every time Johnstone had the ball in his hands. Not one defender showing for the ball. They all just skulk off so that he has to hoof it long and watch it come back. We won about three bloody headers all night; and at no point did Terry – or anyone – say 'hang on a minute, we need to take control of this and change things around'.