Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[cdbearsfan]

I'm assuming he's shafted us loads of times before?

[Toronto Villa]

I'm assuming he's shafted us loads of times before?

Well he certainly loved it when Spurs scored against us

[Ads]

Having suffered these Championship referees, suddenly a fool like Dean doesn't seem so bad.

[chrisw1]

Think I'd take general incompetence above Mike 'hates Villa' fuckig Dean.  Of all the twatting refs to step Dow.

[not3bad]

Will Bruce even have the last word on transfer targets at Villa?

Why wouldn't he?

I thought these things were all decided by a committee nowadays?

[The Edge]

As for Wickham it was £8m plus add ons. They took an expensive punt on a highly rated 18 year old. Just like most top flights clubs do at some point. They flogged him for £7m so not the worst transfer in history, albeit one i'm glad we never made.

I made the point previously. He has never managed a club the size of Villa and that includes Sunderland. He has resources at his disposal which which he's never had before. And  none of us yet know just how far the Chinese owners are prepared to take us. Pointing out his £12 million signing of Conor Wickham proves nothing either way. Di Matteo was given 4 times that amount to spend and if SB gets that kind of backing it will be new territory for him and I guess he will live or die by what he does. Until then we are all just guessing about what's to come under SB.

[Dave]

Will Bruce even have the last word on transfer targets at Villa?

Why wouldn't he?

I thought these things were all decided by a committee nowadays?

So who would you expect to have "the last word" if not Bruce?

[AVH87]

A criticism levelled at Bruce seems to be 'he gets teams up, spends quite a bit, then gets them relegated'.

When you look at the teams in question though, Blues, Wigan and Hull - the first 2 haven't been able to stay in the Prem since he left and are back at their natural level, and the third look highly likely to go down this season, again back to their natural level.

Sunderland are a bigger club than the 3 above, and OK he got sacked with them in 16th just above relegation, but no one has been able to get it right there.

If Bruce gets us up this year or next, he deserves a fair crack at the Prem.

[Monty]

A criticism levelled at Bruce seems to be 'he gets teams up, spends quite a bit, then gets them relegated'.

When you look at the teams in question though, Blues, Wigan and Hull - the first 2 haven't been able to stay in the Prem since he left and are back at their natural level, and the third look highly likely to go down this season, again back to their natural level.

Sunderland are a bigger club than the 3 above, and OK he got sacked with them in 16th just above relegation, but no one has been able to get it right there.

If Bruce gets us up this year or next, he deserves a fair crack at the Prem.

But if he gets sacked and we hire someone amazing Adkins-Pochettino style, there will be no complaints from me.

[Boz]

I see Mike Dean is the ref on Sunday....stepping down from 'Premiership duty'.

Isn't Dean the ref who's started the season giving penalties for shirt pulling and pushing in the area?  Might make for an interesting match on Sunday if Dean gives his usual "shaft the Villa" performance.

[Diablo]

I see Mike Dean is the ref on Sunday....stepping down from 'Premiership duty'.

Isn't Dean the ref who's started the season giving penalties for shirt pulling and pushing in the area?  Might make for an interesting match on Sunday if Dean gives his usual "shaft the Villa" performance.

Dean may be different in the Championship, what with tv viewing and attendance figures down in the EPL, Dean may give us a helping hand for once ;-)

[rob_bridge]

Bruce is the right manager for the time and place we are in

If we were mid table in the Top League wanting to push on I wouldn't give him the gig. I'll be happy if that is where he leaves us at the end of 2018-19.

[Old Kodjia]

Bruce is the right manager for the time and place we are in

If we were mid table in the Top League wanting to push on I wouldn't give him the gig. I'll be happy if that is where he leaves us at the end of 2018-19.

This for me as well.  Let's worry about the PL when we are there.

I was impressed that Bruce has asked for a longer contract than the one he was offered and I genuinely believe that he wants to build something here.

I don't place too much on his previous signings because I think that the budgets he was working under were entirely different to the budget that Villa would allow him.  If he does well here and gets us up within two seasons, I would have no issues in giving him a stab at the PL.  In fact, I'd be slightly disappointed if he wasn't.

[Hookeysmith]

Bruce is the right manager for the time and place we are in

If we were mid table in the Top League wanting to push on I wouldn't give him the gig. I'll be happy if that is where he leaves us at the end of 2018-19.

this 100%

[oldhill_avfc]

Bruce is the right manager for the time and place we are in

If we were mid table in the Top League wanting to push on I wouldn't give him the gig. I'll be happy if that is where he leaves us at the end of 2018-19.

This for me as well.  Let's worry about the PL when we are there.

I was impressed that Bruce has asked for a longer contract than the one he was offered and I genuinely believe that he wants to build something here.

I don't place too much on his previous signings because I think that the budgets he was working under were entirely different to the budget that Villa would allow him.  If he does well here and gets us up within two seasons, I would have no issues in giving him a stab at the PL.  In fact, I'd be slightly disappointed if he wasn't.

I think you've misinterpreted why football managers want long contracts.