‘Come on, Steve. Enough is enough. It was a nice idea. A noble idea. But it’s got to stop.’
Paul Lambert continued where he left off as Villa manager: masterminding a Villa defeat. What did Aston Villa fans learn from a new low point of the season after a the latest toothless, uninspiring performance at Molineux?
MISSING RUDY?
With Agbonlahor filling in for the absent Jonathan Kodjia up front and Ross McCormack getting in the team with regularity for Jordan Ayew, fans were starting to question the sale of Rudy Gestede after the Wolves game.
One McCormack header in particular had Rudy’s name all over it. This division needs physical forwards to mix it up – being polite, neither McCormack and Agbonlahor look the part. The team couldn’t manage a single shot on target.
For all Rudy’s faults, his strengths could have won the game for Villa today particularly when the crosses came flying in as the game went on. It might be a stretch given his last couple of performances (and Steve Bruce admitting he sees him leaving in this transfer window) but 27-year-old 6ft 3ins forward Libor Kozak might be worth a last roll of the dice until the AFCON wraps up. At least he is tall and can head the ball.
GREEN LIGHT FOR ANDRE
The Villa midfield is lightweight and erratic. One of the few bright spots of the Wolves game was Andre Green coming on for the last half an hour and livening things up. Bacuna should be fearing for his place because despite his versatility Bacuna offers little quality and has proved over his Villa tenure that he is not good enough to hold down a regular place.
If we fall out of contention for promotion, Bruce (or whoever is manager at that point – Dr X will not tolerate failure) should consider whatever games are left as the perfect time to get the kids ready for another season in the Championship, not rely on the players responsible for Villa being there in the first place.
In short: time is up for some of our players. If the new midfielders arrive, the deadwood should be sold in this window to the highest bidders.
GABBY AS VILLA’S STARTING STRIKER
Come on, Steve. Enough is enough. It was a nice idea. A noble idea. But it’s got to stop.
Relying on statistics in football doesn’t always give the full picture, but lesser men would look at the performance against Wolves and not consider him for the Preston game.
RIP GT
Graham Taylor famously described the Villa squad he inherited when he joined the club as “a shambles”. He then proceeded to get the players in to get the team promoted, keep them up, then finish second in the top flight.
One of the great man-managers, he got the best out of what he had, brought in leaders and strong characters, and while it wasn’t always pretty to watch, he won football games.
Those fans who don’t remember the Taylor years should find the video of the 6-2 win over Everton. Or the wins over Manchester United and Arsenal during the chase for the title.
He restored faith in the fans and gave them some unforgettable games (and signings: Platt, Yorke, McGrath to name but a few). He will never be forgotten.
UTV
Follow Adam Keeble on Twitter @keebo00
We learned that the goal of promotion is over for this season.
Dr tony hasn’t got sufficient funds to spend in Jan he’s not as rich as we think it’s a buy to sell month for villa (in my opinion) Rdm got this crap playing some excellent football but late goals cost us and him big time we moved far to quick in. my opinion to sack him as we’re no better off and gabby wouldn’t be playing so we lost out there to as. we now have to watch fat boy run around like a lost dog for 90 mins every week think Bruce will last to next Jan. If. We are not top by xmas or in the top 6 Bruce will be gone and I can see fat boy,deadwood,hoof-it,bacuna,Hutton and ayew waving good-bye to brucey as he leaves our worst nightmare looks like becoming a reality (god forbid) we have been warned
we have to give bruce time,, confidence will come with new additions and kodjas return
we then have a period of getting the team playing,,,
but bacuna, westwood gardner and tisibola should be very worried about there futures
as should mccormack gabby and hutton although he at least tries
if we get a few of the players we are linked with then you would hope bruce can sort this mess out
hopfuly squad places will be made available with gestedes, golini,cissokos departures and maby loan outs for gardner and tisibola
we are at a real low point but bruce can sort it,,,, we may think some of his decisions are strange but he knows his oinions
Didn’t think Tishabola looked that bad, and Bacuna too ran forward with the ball. I’d question the game plan. Why should we be sitting deep against a team like Wolves. OK, maybe Newcastle, but certainly not Wolves?Why were we not set up to attack? Maybe because of the exodus of our African players, Bruce doesn’t have comfidence in his side. We wern’t quite park the bus, but there was a massive gap between the midfield and our loan striker. Sensless blaming Gabby for everything when he’s got bugger all support! Even McCormack dropped back. Shocking tactics.
Unless Bruce, ships out the toxic flops ,, and bring a new mix of quality and hungry
Academy kids ,he’s heading into the same failures. Sell Ayew McCormack drop westy Bacuna Hutton
Gabby. Absolute garbage,wake up Mr Xia ship out the flops ASAP.
Totally agree enough is enough, what beats me is latest rumours are that we’re interested in Rhodes
But why on earth didn’t we negotiate a deal with Gestede and at that time Rhodes was available, he could have been playing for us yesterday. lost a lot of faith in Bruce and the board, we just seem like a bunch of ameteurs quite clueless at times.
Having said enough is enough are we really going to do something about it and fast, or are we just going to continue talking about it for another two weeks, because I can see us getting stuffed again next game and the game after and we’re sliding towards the relegation zone, as for promotion, At the way we are going avoiding relegation will be our aim.
By the way Kozac would have put McCormacks missed header away no problem