Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[Jimbo]

Funny how we keep on recruiting shit board members, shit managers, shit coaches, shit scouts and shit players isn't it, Ads? And doesn't it strike you as slightly odd that when some of those shit people go to other (apparently shit) clubs they suddenly become not quite as shit as we all thought they were. Ciaran Clark and "Newcastle Circus FC" spring to mind.

But then you were the one who thought we were going to go to places like Griffin Park this season and smash all and sundry into pink mist as we marched back to our rightful place in the Premier League.

I don't believe in gypsy curses, but I do believe big organisations that stop trying, lose their way and go into freefall need a big change in culture to get them back to where they once were. One of the things that needs to change might be an insufferable arrogance and sense of entitlement that makes clubs like Brentford want to rub our noses in the shit, and apparently enables them to do so on a regular basis.

Something in the mindset has to change. I don't know exactly what it is. I don't know if anybody does. It isn't anything to do with sprigs of heather or corn dollies, though, I know that much.     

[BOB MANSFIELD]

I agree with Jimbo and several others on here, today, who suggest that the focus now has to be on the culture-change scenario. And it is SB who has to look at what HE wants, and get his coaches - Clemence and Calderwood predominantly - to follow a pattern - set by him.
And he must stay involved to ensure it is being done the way he wants it.
Because he's the one who has to face the press making abject apologies for things he obviously has a big influence over.

I think we will go to forst with a different set-up and a different attitude........and win !

The future starts here.

[Ads]

I predicted we'd go straight back up yes.

[Nelly]

I think we will go to forst with a different set-up and a different attitude........and win !.

I feel like we've been saying this each game this season. "This next game, this is the one where it'll happen".

[BOB MANSFIELD]

I agree.........but all we have got is hope. WE can't influence anything and so, we over-criticise what doesn't work and then should we deny ourselves the pleasure of what " might " happen?

[damon loves JT]

No supporter ever went to a game because he thought his* team would lose. Optimism is the basis of all this

*EDIT: or her (sexism)

[Nelly]

No, you're right Bob, hope springs eternal and all that. I guess I'm just a bit worn out after repeatedly building myself up with the hope that Villa will turn up, only for them to redefine 'bollocks'.

We'll get there!

[BOB MANSFIELD]

Nelly, there is absolutely NO doubt that over many years the Hope Springs Eternal phrase has always been at the forefront of a Villa supporter's mind.
I can only remember a few seasons when we expected to win, based on the fact that we always win, don't we ? 'cos were the Villa.

[Jimbo]

No supporter ever went to a game because he thought his team would lose. Optimism is the basis of all this

But there's a difference between hope and optimism, and arrogance and hubris. If I prepare meticulously for a job interview, I can be optimistic that I will get the job. If I do the bare minimum of preparation, and still think I'm going to walk the interview, that might be seen as arrogance.

[damon loves JT]

Nobody ever got a job by not believing they were the best candidate, if you want to use that analogy.

[BOB MANSFIELD]

Been there.

But you hit it on the head.

Poor Preparation.
Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail.

[Nunkin1965]

I think its no time to put pressure on the manager. We've probably got the best equipped guy at this level. We have a huge and strong and proud history but that's all it is. History.

Bruce needs time to develop the side for next season. The additions in this window are good ones and will improve us but patience is needed here from us. I know its not popular but overnight solutions don't exist.

I think we've got to realise where we are because the weight of expectation for this club is clearly draining on the manager and players. This club is sinking in quicksand and the more we pile pressure on it by continually swapping managers and staff the lower we'll get. I swear that if we listened hard enough you could hear VP creaking under the weight of expectation! As Dave pointed out, we're slowly turning into Forest.

Our slide needs be arrested and surely somebody who achieved our goal as recent as last season is best equipped to do it?

We've clearly got an owner who cares for this club. Let's hope he is a patient man because its a critical time for this club that we all love.

[itbrvilla]

I think its no time to put pressure on the manager. We've probably got the best equipped guy at this level. We have a huge and strong and proud history but that's all it is. History.

Bruce needs time to develop the side for next season. The additions in this window are good ones and will improve us but patience is needed here from us. I know its not popular but overnight solutions don't exist.

I think we've got to realise where we are because the weight of expectation for this club is clearly draining on the manager and players. This club is sinking in quicksand and the more we pile pressure on it by continually swapping managers and staff the lower we'll get. I swear that if we listened hard enough you could hear VP creaking under the weight of expectation! As Dave pointed out, we're slowly turning into Forest.

Our slide needs be arrested and surely somebody who achieved our goal as recent as last season is best equipped to do it?

We've clearly got an owner who cares for this club. Let's hope he is a patient man because its a critical time for this club that we all love.

It certainly didn't look like he's well equipped. He looked clueless. He made no changes to the play or formation and waiting till the game was over before making a substitution. Charlatan

[BOB MANSFIELD]

Having withdrawn his MidfieldDynamo Two in a previous farce, perhaps he though he should give them time....and then lost track of time himself. Those subs at 75mins plus, after we were well-and-truly out of the game, was strange and always destined to be ineffectual IMO.

[Jimbo]

Nobody ever got a job by not believing they were the best candidate, if you want to use that analogy.

Yes they do. People are surprised to get jobs they didn't think they would get all the time. And to counter your first analogy, lots of people go to football matches thinking their team will lose. Have you ever seen us play Man Utd in the last 20 years?

As I say, optimism is one thing, arrogance is another.