Tonight, Saturday and tomorrow
Rather than describe when and why, I'm going to copy some tweets below because there is little that I need to write here about the match at the weekend. I will say though that the goal from Hourihane, that was special.
I'll also say that we need to win tonight. If there is no win and the manager is sacked, I'll not be surprised. But I don't think that will happen, not unless the decision has been made and I don't think it has. I think we're close though and I think it comes down to finding the manager to replace him.
And there was another tweet about who might replace him. I'll tweet that later too, but I'm thinking that plans are getting made now and when these men start to make plans, it means the decision has been made. I think it's possible it doesn't matter what happens tonight.
And I think it's sad. But I also think by some, Steve Bruce has been given a chance. There is a large group that never gave him a chance and another group that think this is a computer game. I watched a video earlier, of a 20 year old (I'm guessing) talking about how this isn't good enough for Aston Villa. That person doesn't know what good is for Aston Villa because they've not experienced it.
Random tweets
Making an attacking change with 15 to go, when drawing, isn't a bad idea. Doing it because we start to lose is bad management.
— The Villa Blog (@AVFCBlog) September 15, 2018
Rumours next week of John Terry as player / manager if we don't get something very soon.
— The Villa Blog (@AVFCBlog) September 15, 2018
Match highlights and that goal
Match facts from the BBC
- Aston Villa have won their last four matches against Rotherham in all competitions, beating them twice in their most recent league meetings during 2016-17.
- Rotherham have lost four of their previous five league trips to Villa Park, winning the other 2-1 in October 1971.
- Steve Bruce's only home league defeat to Rotherham as manager came in April 2001 as Wigan manager - current Millers boss Paul Warne was playing for Rotherham that day.
- Aston Villa are winless in their last five Championship matches (L1 D4), last going six without a victory back in February 2017 (run of nine).
- Rotherham have lost 25 of their last 28 Championship matches away from home (D3), last winning back in April 2016, 4-0 at MK Dons.
- Aston Villa have not lost at home in the league when scoring the first goal in any of their last 35 such matches (W28 D7), winning nine of the last 10 (D1).
In closing
Steve Bruce will argue that we should have had a penalty against Blackburn and that we were unlucky. My view is that we should have scored three. We went out to not lose the game and again, Steve Bruce could argue that away from home that is the best thing to do. The thing is, when you go out to not lose, you rarely win.
Making the changes so late and after conceding, is bad management. I expect us to go out and spank Rotherham tonight but like I wrote above, I'm not sure that is going to be enough. I think the wheels are in motion and if they are, there is every chance that they've gone far enough that they're not going to be stopped.
I still hope I'm wrong because it would be nice to stick with a manager and this is the third season. But it's not really about me as I sort of accept where we are and I attribute where we are because of too many managerial changes and not enough real thought. So many don't accept that or see it as a possibility. The Championship isn't easy and when relegated we made bad choices, so we're paying for them now.
But with new owners and a new CEO, I fear the writing is on the wall for Steve Bruce and he can't blame the players, it's very much down to him.
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