Quote Originally Posted by stateside View Post
Win 2 games, one that might as well have been a U23 and Steve Bruce comes out with all guns blazing shooting down the criticism of losing 2 games in a row and not winning the opening 3.

"We've got to stop that roller-coaster and it's up to me to get the club on an even keel and turn it around. And I'm sure we will do." He said about how we went from doom and gloom to euphoria in about 7 days.

But, there is more to it than that. Since taking over from DiMatteo Villa's performances have gone from poor to dismal. We lost one league game by 2 goals with the previous manager and mostly drew or lost 1-0. We were outrageously unlucky with the woodwork in those early games, but then after a quick lift from the new manager we quickly became fodder for teams like Brentford. Our home unbeaten record went. We were beaten at home by Ipswich!!! Despite this we knitted together a little run of games that had us flirting with the play offs but we shot ourselves in the foot and fell to mid table obscurity.

In come new players and we start exactly the same as last season. Great for 45 minutes at home and squander the lead. Then get destroyed in the two away games where it could have been 5-1 in both games.

This is what the fans were angry about. We aren't going to win every game, but there is no reason why we can't be in every game, not slaughtered.

You got lucky with the emergence of Davis in the next game. Kudos for having the guts to gamble, but it paid off big time. However, had Norwich snatch that equalizer at 2-1 how would that game panned out? Would we have held on to the draw? Would your job be on a little more shaky ground?

So some of us question Terry's contribution? You bring up this "A couple of bad results don't paper over the affect he's had. What I needed is someone who has been there, done it, worn the T-shirt, and show them how it's done. For the younger lads in the team he'll have an affect on them big style, because of how he's done it, how he's gone about his work, and how he is.

"For example, we went to Colchester away on a horrible night, probably the worst of the year, but he drove to the game himself and turned up in the dressing room, even though he wasn't involved. He took the young lads and shook them by the hands to wish them luck.

"He could have sat back and not given a monkey's, but that's the reason why I brought him here, to bring that mentality. Before I got here that mentality was losing, but that won't happen on my watch. I needed somebody alongside me in the dressing room who thinks exactly the same way, and I've got that person."

That's fantastic. But, we don't know about this unless you tell us. Not 2-3 weeks later. Don't count on the press they reported that same day he visited the Chelsea team. Get this stuff in the Villa sites it gives us insight.

To me we need better performance from the team for 90 minutes and results will take care of themselves. Keep using the youth players when you can and you will get the support from the fans
Bit harsh there Statesie. The ‘if’Norwich had scored bit?? Every team usually have a good 15mins in a match, and Norwich, who passed the ball well, had theres in the second half, personally, after watching the game back, I think they deserved the goals. ‘IF’ Davis had had his shooting boots on he could of had a first half hat trick, game over. We can’t go giving credit to a manager for ‘gambling’ on Davis, then brand him lucky for it working.

A league cup win by our kids? well hey did more than RDMs 1st team at Luton last year. And better than Lambert’s 1st teams against Orient and Bradford.
I’d say SB has right to reply regarding the roller coaster emotions of the fans, given the abuse he has received.
I don’t have an issue with him now that Gabby and Hutton are not playing. An issue may well arise once they’re fit tho. I just want us to win, so style can take a back seat as far as this season is concerned. 42 1-0s from now til the end of the season will do me fine, you never know, we might sprinkle in a few goalfests along the way. Not essential, but they would be welcomed.