Claret Villans
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Steve Bruce denting his proud defensive record as Aston Villa boss

By Dean Caffrey

WALSALL, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce (l) with West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini during a friendly match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Banks' Stadium on July 25, 2018 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
WALSALL, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce (l) with West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini during a friendly match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Banks' Stadium on July 25, 2018 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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Aston Villa conceded just 42 goals in 46 Championship games last term. This season is only 6 games old, but Villa have conceded 11 goals with zero shutouts.

A record of 2 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat suggests a slow start, but it doesn’t reveal the full scale of the defensive issues in the team right now. A settled back 5, including the goalkeeper, which brought solid defensive performances and a raft of clean sheets last season has been replaced with individual errors and players playing outside of their natural positions. The uncertainty of the summer seems to have spread to Steve Bruce and the coaching staff as they seem unsure of how to fix it.

The first lineup of the season seemed fine: Jed Steer in goal, followed by Alan Hutton at right back, James Chester and Tommy Elphick in centre back, and Neil Taylor at left back. All players playing in their proper position and although the performance was far from perfect, Villa won the game with two defenders actually scoring. Steve Bruce then made the curious decision to bring in 2 goalkeepers (Andre Moreira and Ørjan Nyland) while loaning out the first choice keeper, Jed Steer.

By all accounts, Steer had a solid game vs. Hull and most Villa fans were bemused by Bruce’s decision. For the next 5 league games including the most recent 4-1 loss to Sheffield United, Bruce has been picking a back five of Nyland (GK), Axel Tuanzebe (a CB but playing RB), James Chester, Mile Jedinak (a DM but playing CB) and Alan Hutton (a RB but playing LB). Since the first game of the season, each player in a position in the backline has changed except for James Chester.

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The only reasonable explanation for this many changes to a defensive line, so early in the season, has to be that Steve Bruce wasn’t happy with what he had on the first day.

Which in hindsight seems crazy as what he has used since has been 10 times worse.

It’s concerning that as a former great defender, he can’t see the advantage of playing players in their correct positions; especially since the players out of position are clearing struggling to adapt to their new one.

He should look even more recently at last season’s defense and how competent they were in keeping opposing teams out instead of sticking to a plan that is failing on every level.

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