Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[Chris Jameson]

I'll be honest, much as I like Steve Bruce I don't think he's the man to make us one of the top 5 clubs in the world in the next 5 years.

You don't say!

I'll be honest I thought at the time our new owner made such a claim that he should be drug tested.

[footyskillz]

The way he dug out Mccormack and how ge says we're not good enough suggests yes feeling a bit of pressure. Pressure too hes never had at any previous club. I do like his honesty but also uses it too escape any potential critsism .
For example Kodjia is away he knows he's away. ( As is ayew) he has given Agbonlahor chance as well as McCormack but has he given both of them best opportunity to be successful as an attack.
Also Bruce plays defence very deep which in turn left attackers isolated.  We know there isn't anyone from midfield getting and joining in to box . Westwood was detailed to do that in a few matches and bacuna has but in some away matches especially the midfield hasn't been instructed to get forward. Some of the blame has to be ln Bruce. Really we need to see villa players having more shots and crosses and like how arsenal managed too score 2 both  own goals because showed attacking intent. 
The single biggest disappointment has been lack of goals . The defence perhaps as suggested by Higginbotham and Hendrie on sky punditry sits deep to stop goals being conceded but at detriment to any co herent attacks .
Are we seeing Bruce limited in his actions? Is this totally down to being limited by the players he has.
Ive  villa at most vulnerable not when we go a goal down but when we actuallu attack ! Especially from a poor set play. The counter attack from a corner or poor free kick has left villa cruelly exposed  .
Bruce and his coaching staff need less talking about no excuses and start getting results let alone any football .

[ROBBO]

I can see the first sign that Bruce is under a lot of pressure, we are playing very deep trying not to lose exactly what the last manager did, I give it to Wolves they attacked on both flanks and were faster across the pitch than out lot.

[TheTimVilla]

Things I don't know the answer to, but I hope Bruce does/will:

1. why right sided Bacuna plays on the left
2. why Hutton plays at all
3. where we would be without Chester
4. what position McCormack plays
5. how we can score goals if we don't shoot
6. if Gabby has had a shot under Bruce
7. why Grealish starts every other game on the left, but Adomah starts every match on the right

[ozzjim]

8. Why Jedinak starts in a 2 each week despite this being proved not to work on several occasions now.
9. Why we sold Gestede then started to cross from wide

[TheMalandro]

10. Why am I sat watching homes under the hammer when I should be working

[oswald funkletrumpet]

11. Why you keep doing the same thing and expect different results

[sid1964]

The Bruce comment that we have changed the squad but the losing mentality is still there, is no shock when you consider that on Saturday we had quite a few from last season still in the starting 11

[brian green]

Why am I working when I could be watching  Slim With Ross 'n Gab?

[Jimbo]

There's a losing mentality, and a coasting mentality, and we appear to have both. Villa territory needs to lose its comfiness for these players to realise they're actually in a fight.

And I know it's not all about fighting. But part of the battle is preparation, and too many players look unfit, unmotivated and not very well drilled. I don't believe Bruce is failing on those fronts, but I think the players need to take it upon themselves to get in shape and to learn their roles, and a lot of them don't appear to be doing that.

Bruce is making mistakes, however. Gabby shouldn't be anywhere near that first team, not only because he isn't anywhere near good enough, but because his inclusion sends out all the wrong messages to other players. He should never have allowed Gusted to leave so soon. And some of his selections have been poor.

I didn't expect us to go up this season, and still think we should give Bruce a chance in salvaging the wreck of a club we have become. It's a big task.   

[john e]

i have no problem with selling Gestede when we did especially for that sort of money,
 he made little difference when he was here, I very much doubt he would have been a game changer on Saturday

[aj2k77]

He's been a game changer at least 2 or 3 times this season. Just by being a nuisance.

[footyskillz]

i have no problem with selling Gestede when we did especially for that sort of money,
 he made little difference when he was here, I very much doubt he would have been a game changer on Saturday

I think he would have scored that header that Mcormack missed so that would have changed the match

[steamer]

i have no problem with selling Gestede when we did especially for that sort of money,
 he made little difference when he was here, I very much doubt he would have been a game changer on Saturday

I think he would have scored that header that Mcormack missed so that would have changed the match

Agreed

[john e]

i have no problem with selling Gestede when we did especially for that sort of money,
 he made little difference when he was here, I very much doubt he would have been a game changer on Saturday

I think he would have scored that header that Mcormack missed so that would have changed the match

Agreed

yeah because everything would have gone exactly the same way with Gestede doing exactly the same thing as Mcormack and thus being in exactly the same spot when the ball was crossed by exactly the same player at exactly the same time so yeah he would have defo headed it in because that's how it works