Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[SheffieldVillain]

You could. And they would each have had an equal lack of relevance to Villa.

After the successive dimwits appointed as managers here in the last few years, it was more important that the people making the appointment made absolutely sure they'd explored every possibility. If this took an extra couple of days which Bruce could have mostly spent realising our fringe players are crap, which I'm sure he realises given they are fringe players at a club in the bottom half of the Championship, then so be it.

I'm not trying to be ornery, but I'd say evidence that experienced coaches use every chance they get to work with their players is relevant in this discussion.

If the man appointed was a relative unknown, but whose interview was impressive I could understand deliberating for the extra days, but it's Bruce. Everyone knows Bruce, everyone knew it was going to be Bruce, so why not announce him asap so he can get on with coaching? That's why the delay was surprising.

Not when it's a discussion about the recruitment process for the Villa manager, at this time, in the position that we're in.

Everybody didn't 'know it was going to be Bruce'. That's why they had a shortlist process, to see who else was available. Shortlist of 10, down to 3, interviews, they chose Bruce. That takes time. It's how you avoid giving the job to Tim Sherwood from a shortlist of one. Or in terms you'll understand, Joe Kinnear or Alan Shearer.

[Monty]

The appointment's looking a lot better now it looks like McLaren is going back to Derby.

[Small Rodent]

Everybody didn't 'know it was going to be Bruce'.

No, we all knew it.

It's exactly like going shopping with my Mum, we start at Marks and Spencer, then spend fucking ages trawling around other shops, but we all know she'll get the first thing she saw in Marks and Spencer.

[ozzjim]

Very much a here's what you could have won!

[Monty]

Very much a here's what you could have won!

Fucking shudder.

[SheffieldVillain]

Everybody didn't 'know it was going to be Bruce'.

No, we all knew it.

It's exactly like going shopping with my Mum, we start at Marks and Spencer, then spend fucking ages trawling around other shops, but we all know she'll get the first thing she saw in Marks and Spencer.

Ah, but there might have been something better in BHS (not now obviously but I can't think of any other clothes shops) so it was worth looking.

[SheffieldVillain]

Very much a here's what you could have won!

Fucking shudder.

This is very much a positive. It wasn't McClaren or Pearson or Tony Pulis.

[Chico Hamilton III]

I'm going to call him Steve The Bruce as we always do well under Scottish managers.

I'm going to call him Steve Barnes

http://thesetpieces.com/features/sweeper-steve-bruce-review/

[ozzjim]

Very much a here's what you could have won!

Fucking shudder.

At least listening to Bruce he talks sense.  Schteve talks condescending shit and you want to smack him one. 

[The Edge]

Very much a here's what you could have won!

Fucking shudder.

This is very much a positive. It wasn't McClaren or Pearson or Tony Pulis.

Yep. Looks like we dodged a bullet or 3 there.

[Gareth]

To slightly move this on beyond Dr Tony's inevitable tweet this afternoon announcing Bruce - are there any 'available' right sided centre backs or solid central midfielders we can get in now to plug the weak spots?

Trust us to be relegated the year the emergency loan window was shut :-)

[Dante Lavelli]

Uninspiring sums it up for me.  However maybe that is what we need most at the moment, a functional and organised team which will allow Round to build a solid infrastructure to grow from.  We can add the flamboyance and 'hope' later once we are facing the right direction.

[robbo1874]

Welcome to Villa Park Mr Bruce. You've got a massive job ahead of you, turning this burning oil tanker around. I don't give a fuck you managed the unwashed. Just do your job and get us promoted please.

[The Fish]

Two days without the right man is preferable to two months / years with the wrong man.

Anyway, can't Bruce just ask Steve Clarke about the players? And I'm sure he's watched us play for himself.

Which is fine if it's some unknown, but it's Bruce. He's the Ronseal of managers. He'll probably get you promoted next season,  but his ability is limited and he'll not do much more than that and is likely to take you back down the season that follows as he is to keep you up.

Also, you're assuming Clarke isn't part of the problem.

[Chipsticks]

I don't think Bruce is a terrible appointment and I can see why people think he's a good choice but for me it's just perpetuating the problems we've had for years and treating the short term and long term aims as disconnected things.  If he gets us up this season then it's a 'risk' that's paid off and he'll get my thanks.  If he fails to do that then I'll be very disappointed that we didn't take t he chance to get someone in with a thought of tomorrow.

I feel like people on here are still misreading our situation if not getting promoted this season is a failure.

Realistically, getting up next season would be an achievment and I'd still be happy with Bruce if he achieves that.