A good read !!

Thought that article was a very one-sided selection of the comments after the game, many of which were a lot more constructive.

Bruce HAS improved things. But he has had to rely on our one good striker who currently is away, and the defensive partnership of Baker and Chester which relies on Baker not being injured, as he was yesterday.

Bruce has said he needs to get precisely what the OP said about effort, etc., out of the players. But he still needs to bring in quality. A CB, 2 midfielders and a striker would do us fine.

Johnstone looks ok.

Baker and Chester are ok. But you need someone better than Elphick as stand-by.

Amavi is ok. But you dont seem to have anyone at RB.. Hutton dont count. He is awful.

Midfield? Grealish is too lightweight. Westwood is useless. The bloke with the beard can have a few good games - then a few duff ones. It's a poor midfield.

Up front? Kodja is first class. I think McCormack could do it for you with some decent service.. if only he had Gestede to play off. As for Agbonlahor... wtf is he doing wearing a football shirt?!?

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Very good post, Paddy.

Agree with all that.

Fans who say "once a bluenose always a bluenose". It's a sign of the times. Idiots taking over. Look at the Brexit and Trump. These are not times for sense or even common sense. The idiots shout loudest.

Totally right about that clear out too.

Villa need to build for next season - starting now. And Bruce ought to be given time to do that. As you say, you wont get a better manager for that level.

Wow! It didn't take long for you lot to start turning on Agent Bruce!
I'm sorry, but if there is one massive failing on your parts [not that there isn't on ours but we tend not to broadcast it as much] is that you are deluded in thinking that "...though it will be tough in the championship and I'm looking forward to winning a few games, it should be enough to get us back out and in the Prem again...".
It won't and isn't.
Look at the teams around you who have once been in the topflight and are still trying to get back to it [up until recently that is]: Newcastle, Leeds, Wolves, Derby, Forest, Ipswich, Norwich, Sheff Wed, QPR, WIgan, Cardiff, us [if you want to cut us some slack!] - you have a long way to go irrespective of any changes this January and though you may be coming to the conclusion that it won't be this season for promotion, wait until it dawns on you that you have another one coming and see how your frustration levels are then!
GR is available if SB gets the bullet [which is not inconceivable nowadays especially with Chinese owners] and you would do very well with him in charge [as would anyone else] but for the time being, enjoy the SB experience he usually gets in some great loaners and intermittently good signings so it could all change in next two weeks but please, please keep on moaning!
It is great to hear the moaners back!
...only partly joking...

Killpage - you may be right. In effect we needed a complete new team, and you can't do it in one transfer window. Last summer we strengthened the worst areas; the defence was improved a lot, although Elphick has proved a disappointment, and we now have a forward who can score (but need to score more). But it's become obvious that our midfield is actually even less suitable to the Championship than it was to the PL.

We ARE playing better than last year, a lot better, but our opponents are a lot tougher than maybe we realised, and if we go behind we lack the killer touch to pull it back. A couple of dynamic effective midfielders would make a huge difference. We've been lucky that Kodjia has been effective but we can't just rely on him. And having only two effective CBs leaves us vulnerable when Baker is injured.

Is Lansbury the answer as he looks close to signing?

KP

We generally are not disillusioned and of the few on here most did not see us going back up immediately.

Our relegation squad was so poor if not addressed we certainly would be straight down to divi one.

I for one like it here (for now) places to go and not the plastic face of the Premier for a while and knowing from KO that you were just trying to stay up.

UTV

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I think half (or more) or more of the problems with 'big' clubs is that expectations are high and hence the cost of running and trying to 'keep up with the jones'' tend to mean when you fail, you fail big and go down rapidly. Trying to change that mindset and seemingly become a 'small' but consolidated club is a hard bitter pill to swallow by the fans. One can consolidate like B'mouth but were you to become them (so to speak) you (not just you) would immediately say "we are back so let's spend and go for the title/champions league!". You would then almost end up back at the bottom falling rapidly unless a massive amount was spent (like man city) and look how they're doing. I agree you should enjoy the footy now in places you hope not to see again for sometime and relish the weekends away in some nice new venues. My adage is you only have to be one of the three to get promoted so there is always hope!...the last bit was for us not you...