Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[Risso]

Here you go Steve Bruce, someones done the homework for you.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/loris-karius-and-five-other-keepers-have-better-passing-stats-than-the-most-pointless-midfielder/102723

Excellent article, you really do start to wonder what exactly we're missing.

[Clampy]

Here you go Steve Bruce, someones done the homework for you.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/loris-karius-and-five-other-keepers-have-better-passing-stats-than-the-most-pointless-midfielder/102723

The previous 4 managers before Bruce picked him as well in fairness.

[dave shelley]

Does he operate a car-washing service on the side specialising in mates rates?  It seems the only answer.

[mallo]

Here you go Steve Bruce, someones done the homework for you.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/loris-karius-and-five-other-keepers-have-better-passing-stats-than-the-most-pointless-midfielder/102723

The one-to-one after that would be interesting as per Steve Rounds' comments about feedback - Ashley - touch the ball a bit more, and pass it forwards. About 80 times more please. I hope we have someone lined up to literally start on 1st Jan in midfield. Whats Patrik Berger up to these days? He could pick a pass ;-)

[LeeB]

Does he operate a car-washing service on the side specialising in mates rates?  It seems the only answer.

No, but his brother Tim knows all the big rap stars and he gets loads of signed CD's for the lads.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Here you go Steve Bruce, someones done the homework for you.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/loris-karius-and-five-other-keepers-have-better-passing-stats-than-the-most-pointless-midfielder/102723

Excellent article, you really do start to wonder what exactly we're missing.

Keeps his head down, runs a lot, never complains. I understand why managers give him a go. But the problem is for all his fantastic attitude and work ethic he just doesnt have the skills we currently need.

Also its now got to the point where its also bad for him. Villa fans now universally know what he is about and thats not going to change until he takes an extended break from the starting 11. Villa fans are fair and if after a couple of months he comes back in and is clearly improved than all will be good. But right now we all (rightfully) groan when we see his name come up. We know what he does and its not good enough for us at the moment.

[robbo1874]

I just read an article in the mail that was tweeted by Mat Kendrick.

Seems like Bruce is running out of patience with some of the players and there could be wholesale changes against qpr. I like that he's come out and said that ahead of the match. He knows that it's his cock on the block if the team doesn't perform and he's going to try and shake things up. That's good management. He hasn't said who will be left out, but I think we could all guess at least three players.

[Steve67]

We haven't really got anything better to replace them with at the moment. Hopefully a remedy is on its way! Jenkinson for starters. 2 midfielders too.

[brian green]

Respect Robbo, but the players Bruce intends to leave out for the QPR game are ones that he should not have put in the Norwich game to start with.  For me, the worst thing of the bad, bad, night at Norwich was Bruce caving in to the curse of the six previous managers namely not responding to the blindingly obvious inadequacies of certain players.  See the excellent first three paragraphs of Mr Woodhall's piece "Pressed-back".  The manager's performance against Norwich did the impossible and was worse than the players'.  His anger after the game was very dramatic but should have been directed as much at himself as the team.  Steve Bruce has as much riding on the QPR game as the players do.

[robbo1874]

I just think it's good that if we're shit and lack effort he calls it out and is prepared to make changes rather than mumbling about how excellent we were.

[brian green]

I agree one hundred percent Robbo.  All I ask from Bruce or any Villa manager is the ability to assess their own performance. It is not practical or desirable that they should blame themselves publicly, just privately to themselves.
The bigger picture for years has been the worrying downward spiral of bad judgement by our managers and coaches.  Knee jerk selections based on "more of the same".
I wish I could remember who posted it, but there was a brilliant picture that not only summed it up perfectly for me but also made me laugh.  It had one of our past failed managers at training with his coaches.  One of the coaches is pointing.  He is saying "He's shit, and he's shit and he's shit.  He used to be good but now he's shit".
That is the background I see in my mind's eye for players getting into our starting teams on a basis of being the least worst option.

[Toronto Villa]

My guess is Bruce's anger is directed at the players he gave new opportunities to that let him down. In that he only has himself to blame for not knowing better or naivety.

[brian green]

Or, TV, the possibility I most fear that he is letting others influence him.  I like Steve Bruce, he is the right man at the right time for us.  He is experienced, practical and well grounded.  He has been around the block enough times to know what comes next and how to deal with it effectively.  He will get us back into the Premiership but only if the errors, waste and confusion of his predecessors can be eradicated for good.  He has to be his own man.

[brian green]

Please take this in the light hearted spirit it is intended.  It is Christmas.

Before the Norwich game The Malandro and I were chatting by text.  I predicted that Gabby would start the game.  Malandro later congratulated me that my wish had been granted when the team was named.  I assured him that it was just business.  Now read on....

The scene is the CEO's office Villa Park last week.

Enter Steve Bruce.

Secretary)  Good morning Mr Bruce.  Will you go right in please.  Mr Wyness is expecting you.

Steve Bruce enters Wyness' office.

Wyness)  Thanks for coming in Steve.

Bruce)  No problem.  What's up?

Wyness)  It's Gabby.

Bruce) What about him?

Wyness)  I have got somebody interested in taking him in the January window.

Bruce)  Are you serious? Who?

Wyness)  For your ears only.  Fat Boys Berne.  Very keen.

Bruce)  For real money?

Wyness). Swiss francs.  As real as it gets.

Bruce) How much?

Wyness) Two million quid, same wages as we are paying him.

Bruce) Bite their hands off.

Wyness). There is a small problem.

Bruce) Which is?

Wyness) I told them he's a reformed character, pulling up trees in training.  You know, a sales pitch.

Bruce) There's sales pitches and downright porkies.

Wyness)  There is no easy way to tell you this, Steve, I have told them he is starting against Norwich.


Curtain.

[oldtimernow]

Thanks for my first Christmas Panto of the season Brian.