15 Aug 2018 17:59:04
Lets be honest lads we are Aston Villa playing championship football in the championship, not Real Madrid playing in La Liga. If its inch perfect tactics and beautiful football you want to watch then go support Barcelona. Because this is a dog fight to get ourselves out of the Championship and into a position where we are able to buy the top players to supply you with a better grade of football. If we have to play ugly and get lucky at times then so be it but let's get out of this division, then we will be able to move forward and build a squad to be proud of, but for now I think some fans need a reality check.


1.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 18:47:55
True well said.


2.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 18:48:15
Couldn't agree more.


3.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 19:29:13
Lads we were playing Yeovil from league 2 not away to Leeds as villa fans surely we are entitled to expect our side to beat Yeovil with some conviction and not rely on a missed penalty shocking ref decision to achieve a lucky one nil win.
Think it’s fans like you that need a reality check and stop talking rubbish.


4.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 19:49:46
Sensible words, go up playing like Wolves, go up playing like Cardiff, both different styles of playing but both went up, we came close to going up and if the foul on Grealish before half time had resulted in a sending off, we'd have gone up, only problem we have is knowing our best 1st 11, we've got the players (even without loans) to get out of this division, if we keep on winning regardless of how we play, we go up

UTV.


5.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 21:48:12
If we were playing like Birmingham and still awaiting our first win, already dumped out of the cup, sitting near to the bottom of the table awaiting what looks like being yet another relegation battle come May, under transfer embargo, along with having owners of little suitability and a future that looks nothing but bleak, then I would be on hear complaining and whining constantly along with you Malc1976. But as it happens it isn't like that for us just yet so we have much to be grateful for especially given the developements that took place through the summer. So from where we sat a couple of months ago to where we sit now then I must admit that I am delighted, but maybe administration would have been a better outcome for you giving you just the one item to complain about. UTV.


6.) 15 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 23:15:52
I don't understand why wanting to win, and play attacking football with ambition and pace is an issue though - Surely we can win, and play exciting football.

I appreciate that the Championship is a long hard season but it's also a league that, if brave enough and tactically astute, teams can play with expression, see Wolves and Fulham last year, likewise Newcastle and Huddersfield the year before.

Yes we have won 3 from 3, BUT can you genuinely argue that it could quite easily be 3 losses - And that is major concern, we are 2 or 3 loan signings away from, yet again, being one of the strongest squads in the division but we have a manager in charge who has now failed at 2 attempts, what evidence is there to suggest he won't fail for a third time?

Yes Bruce has been promoted a record number of times but football has moved on, as has the Championship. This is a different division now, the standard of football and management has improved and at times last year Bruce was found wanting. We have been gifted an incredible start from a fixtures perspective, Bruce needs to find a settled formation, play players in their best position and hit the ground running (which he has despite his best efforts)!

I think this Pro and anti Brucing arguing is redundant, he is our manager, let's get behind him and the team!


7.) 16 Aug 2018
15 Aug 2018 23:59:02
Agree people on here thiks bruces record is ace when it isnt, he has failed, n his teams play awfull footy, but obviously sum fans like watching that, the teams that get out this league are the 1s that attack n take risks, if we attacked we would walk this league its not that hard its just we made it loook harder .


8.) 16 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 00:05:29
To say he has failed twice already is harsh, the first season was spent saving us from relegation and he didn't have the full season, yes I would say one attempt but consider the injuries and loss of both parents not to mention knowing we was financially struggling so extra pressure/ stress at the time he lost the parents I say he did pretty damn well to get us to the playoff final. Give him a break yes he isn't the best in the transfer window or tactically but let's be honest if he was he wouldn't be at our club he would be at Man U Chelsea arsenal Liverpool or man c.


9.) 16 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 00:21:01
I can see your point BK1982, but Bruce is likely to bring in maybe as many as 5 loan players before the end of the month which is half a team, so we won't see a settled team until after that date anyway so we can't really judge the teams performance to much either.

This is why I have in the past stated we need to acquire as many points as possible this month knowing that the squad is incomplete, this will leave us in a strong position when the team eventually does settle.

Bruce lost players through no fault of his own and only until very recently he didn't even know who else would leave or even if he could bring in new faces, with an unknown future many manager would have walked away. So given them circumstances I am at this point happy with where we are and can only see us becoming stronger with time so I won't be too judgemental if we can remain on target.

With 10+ points being a resonable target for August we are well on our way to achieving that so hopefully it is the start that we needed. The cup is just a distraction from the real goal of promotion and has very little impact on the big picture, to have a good cup run or get promoted is a no contest for me. UTV.


10.) 16 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 01:19:36
Correct Avfc_realist it is indeed harsh on Bruce,
Bruce spent his first half season saving us from relegation and in his second season in charge came one game short of promotion with very little funding in both windows.

Whoever you would like has a manager you could never guarantee exciting football every week along with those all important 3 points per game with promotion at the end of it, so by what right do you expect it of Bruce?

We all know that if Bruce or any manager doesn't produce the goods that they will very quickly walk, so why bother moaning about him if you're so sure he is no good, just wait for him to fail and he will be gone. But for now boys it looks like you will just have to put up with him.
UTV.


11.) 16 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 09:45:06
Agree with both points above, Bruce is our manager and we need to get behind him - I just don't think it is unreasonable, considering the squad we have / will have, to expect a better standard of football than Bruce provides.

I'm not his biggest fan, I don't think he is fit for purpose in this new set up, but will happily stand corrected if he leads us to promotion - Villa going up and being successful is priority number one, if we can play some exciting attacking football along the way that is an added bonus.


12.) 16 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 22:05:50
Yes, I agree, we are not being treated to a very high standard of exciting football, Steve Bruce just does not give this.
But we all tend to have short memories, remember McLeish, DiMatteo, Garde, we were good at loosing and forgot how to win, SB has stabilized the team, however, I don't think he will last long if he has a string of poor results.
Nteresting stat for you: If Villa win on Saturday, Bruce will have the highest win ratio to date of any Villa manager in our history albeit over 93 competitive games.