Match thread Blackburn v Villa

[Saunders82]

I wonder what the line up will be tomorrow?

This is for me even at this early stage of the season a must win, if Brucie cocks this one up then he could be gone, its got draw written all over it, hope I'm wrong

[achilles]

Well according to Bruce he hasn't been able to put out his best side yet, so McGrath help us, worse is to follow!

[Dazzle]

All I hope is that this I Bruce’s last game. Actually not bothered about result at all.

[De Kuip]

2-2 - just enough to keep him in a job.

[deadbuzzardalive]

Even if we lose I can't see him getting the sack, they had a perfect opportunity to sack him during the break, if they were of the mind to get rid, I doubt they would have wasted that, just to see if we could beat Blackburn or not. I can already feel the Déjà vu, we'll lose there will be lots of ranting and raving about how he needs to go, but nothing will happen.

With all that said, I think tomorrow is a must win game, we proved last season that we're not very good at chasing those above us in the league, and we're already five points adrift as it is, we can't afford to be losing any more ground.

[big ming]

More of the same, or one of the occasional acceptable performances that the players manage to cobble together, in spite of Bruce.
Whatever happen (even if they play like Brazil)...Bruce out.

[De Kuip]

The only hope I have is that we don't end up too far adrift. One good point is that - and we've all pointed it out in previous seasons - in the championship, points get dropped a lot. Even the early pace setters Leeds and middlesbro have dropped 4 points in 6 games. But time is already ticking and I do hope that we don't prevaricate around Bruce in charge for so long that the gap is impossible to close even with the mother of all win streaks.
Looks like Blackburn do have a couple of key injuries and I've no idea how Tammy will do for us, nor which villa will turn up, but then I've been saying that for the last 2 seasons!

[achilles]

The only hope I have is that we don't end up too far adrift.  One good point is that - and we've all pointed it out in previous seasons - in the championship, points get dropped a lot. Even the early pace setters Leeds and middlesbro have dropped 4 points in 6 games.  But time is already ticking and I do hope that we don't prevaricate around Bruce in charge for so long that the gap is impossible to close even with the mother of all win streaks.
Looks like Blackburn do have a couple of key injuries and I've no idea how Tammy will do for us, nor which villa will turn up, but then I've been saying that for the last 2 seasons!

That was clearly illustrated by Fulham last season who had an incredible run of about 20 games undefeated towards the end of the season and still couldn't catch the top two!
Playing catch up in this league doesn't generally work!

[VillaBill]

We never seem to do well at Blackburn, as said before, we can’t slip too far from the pacesetters
Heart 1-2
Head 1-0

[FoxyAV]

I'm guessing he'll play

Nyeland
Tuanzebe - Chester - Jedi - Hutton
Whelan
Elmo - McGinn - Grealish - El Ghazi
Kodjia

And will bring on Bolasie for Elmo and Abraham for Kodjia at some point. Adomah is toast, El Ghazi didn't get back to defend in the last match so won't this time, Whelan's legs are still gone and the wrong defence will unsettle Nyeland and that'll be that.

Kodjia knows he's under pressure so will be even more selfish and we'll either see a sublime display from him with a couple of goals of sheer genius or he'll be left isolated and taken off. It'll then be interesting to see if we'll revert to even more hoofing now we have a much taller striker to aim at.

I wonder if at some point Jedi will move into midfield and Tuanzebe will move across as part of a three-man defence.

Obviously this isn't what I want to happen (other than Kodjia playing some sublime football), it's just what I think Bruce will do. We've failed at playing three at the back so it seems only logical we give it a go again.

Who knows. UTV.

[deadbuzzardalive]

Nyland, Hutton, Chester, Tuanzebe, Taylor, Jedinak, Elmohamady, Grealish, McGinn, Adomah, Abraham.

Subs: Bree, Whelan, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Bolasie, Kodjia, Moreira.

People are celebrating because they think Jedinak has been removed from the defence, but don't be surprised if Tuanzebe is the one playing in midfield. Also Hutton is useless as a right-back, Taylor has been out of form for a long time now, and El Ghazi is one of our most dangerous players, and doesn't deserved to be dropped... Would have made more sense just to leave Hutton at left-back, put Elmohamad at right-back, and start El Ghazi on the wing.

[Saunders82]

At this moment in time (4.45) the results are mostly going our way so a very good result could get us back into things, I have a feeling Brucie will go 3 at the back and play both Jimmy Danger & Abraham we shall see.

Leeds sneaked a point but Boro lost, the rest were kind to us, need the win now to put us in the mix

[deadbuzzardalive]

Results have gone our way, but that will only make failure to win today all the more annoying. Also I see that Rotherham beat Derby, Bruce will be using that to talk them up, and get his excuses in early before we play them on Tuesday.

[big ming]

Decent start but 22 minutes in and a bag of nerves at the back.

[VillaBill]

Got away with one there, we keep giving away daft fouls

[Fpuppys]

What a fucking fest.

[Saunders82]

I know by now we should be used to the refereeing in the Championship but every time it gets me. Once again we went into cruise mode in the middle of the half and let them dictate things, lets hope they get stuck in again second half, don't they realise how much is at stake in this match........

[big ming]

Tammy is so isolated it's like he's carrying a plague.
Absolutely bricking it everytime they are in and around our box. Not a good performance again. Hope for a better 2nd half.

[Fpuppys]

Kodjia face was a picture when he was getting instructions from Bruce, nearly pissed myself.

[big ming]

1 - 0. Always going to happen. Will be a good result IF Bruce is gone by Monday.

[Saunders82]

You just knew this lot would sneak a goal when it was needed, all this talent available and we play like parks footballers Jeeeezzzzz

[De Kuip]

If it ends 1-0 it had better result in him going otherwise it really will be 3 points wasted.

[achilles]

Another piece of individual brilliance by Hourihane saves Bruce again, that is what happens when you have quality individuals but a totally disjointed team!

[Fpuppys]

As much as I liked Hourihane's goal, celebration was far from my mind knowing that twat will still be in charge.

[VTID85]

Well a draw doesn't seem much to celebrate, a point better off than losing altogether but fuck me if it isn't another Saturday written off.

Bruce, the big drivelling shitbag that he is, almost looked disappointed when we scored whereas Calderwood leaping all over him like we'd won a cup final. Maybe Brucie was banking on losing and getting paid off.

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