Steve Bruce - officially confirmed (as Sheffield Wednesday boss)

[PeterWithesShin]

If after the amount of money we've spent we can't dominate the ball we may as well give up.

[Chris Smith]

I'm slightly confused as to how you achieve 'consistency of team selection' when we've had our (latest) full new squad for one game.

However I dont buy it as an excuse, it was Bruce's decision to change keepers, the entire midfield and swap Hogan for McCormack and Ayew.

What, you think he was wrong to change the midfield and bring in a striker who might, just might, score some goals? Because you can't have it both ways. Either he had a consistent line-up and carried on with the same squad which had been proven inadequate, or he bought in players which is going to mean changing the line-up.

Changing eight players, most of them first team players is naturally going to need a bedding in period. That's not an excuse, that's just the way it is. Only a complete loon would have carried on with the squad we had.

The line up should be relatively consistent in terms of shape and at least attempt to suit the players at his disposal. Particularly players only brought in a couple of weeks ago. I'm not against three at the back as a formation, look at Chelsea for example, but you need to be comfortable on the ball at the back. Neither Elphick or Baker are, and we have no-one else. Any further attempts to continue to play this formation will ultimately end badly for Bruce and AVFC.

This is Sherwood-esque stuff from an experienced manager that should know a lot better. I firmly disagree that we played well at Forest and were unlucky. The possession stats were a disgrace given the players at our disposal. We should be dominating the ball, not punting the ball up to a hiding Kodjia and looking for Hogan to get on a break.

Possession stats are totally meaningless it is what you do with that is important. Until the sending off we had used the pace in our side to create more chances than them and their keeper was having a blinder. It wasn't "punting the ball" but rather sitting deep to give us the space to break into. So as far as that game went it was fine until the sending off. We have used that formation once, it was the first game that all the new signings had played together, he might well try something different next time so trying to draw any wider conclusions is pointless.

[Ads]

The possession stats were a disgrace given the players at our disposal. We should be dominating the ball, not punting the ball up to a hiding Kodjia and looking for Hogan to get on a break.

Who cares about the possession stats? They had a lot of ball and were experts at going square or back with not an ounce of penetration.

We on the other hand should have scoured 3 or 4.

[Dave]

Possession stats are totally meaningless it is what you do with that is important.

In this particular case though, isn't the problem that what they did with the ball was "score more goals with it than we did"?

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

Maybe he's trying out a few different formations to see what works best. Or maybe he's trying to familiarise the players with several different formations so he can change according to the opposition. Or maybe something he tried didn't work out so he's trying something else. Maybe he's trying something that's worked for him before but it takes a while to implement. Maybe he knows what he's doing. Maybe he's such a genius that we just don't understand him. Maybe he's lost his mind! Maybe he thinks he's a satsuma!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the miles and miles of angsty waffle on this thread in the last few days is that whatever he does, whoever he buys, whoever he picks and wherever he plays them, there's always another bloody team on the pitch trying their best to play better than them and scupper his plans! Every single week! The bloody nerve!

It's almost as if it's not straightforward.

Sport, eh?

[Tayls_7]

Maybe he's trying out a few different formations to see what works best. Or maybe he's trying to familiarise the players with several different formations so he can change according to the opposition. Or maybe something he tried didn't work out so he's trying something else. Maybe he's trying something that's worked for him before but it takes a while to implement. Maybe he knows what he's doing. Maybe he's such a genius that we just don't understand him. Maybe he's lost his mind! Maybe he thinks he's a satsuma!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the miles and miles of angsty waffle on this thread in the last few days is that whatever he does, whoever he buys, whoever he picks and wherever he plays them, there's always another bloody team on the pitch trying their best to play better than them and scupper his plans! Every single week! The bloody nerve!

It's almost as if it's not straightforward.

Sport, eh?

The bastards!

[Chris Smith]

Possession stats are totally meaningless it is what you do with that is important.

In this particular case though, isn't the problem that what they did with the ball was "score more goals with it than we did"?

Yes, but anyone arguing that being as a result of the formation would have a hard job convincing me. Missing chances and Grealish getting sent off were the major factors from my perspective.

[LukeJames]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the miles and miles of angsty waffle on this thread in the last few days is that whatever he does, whoever he buys, whoever he picks and wherever he plays them, there's always another bloody team on the pitch trying their best to play better than them and scupper his plans! Every single week! The bloody nerve!

It's almost as if it's not straightforward.

Sport, eh?

Out of all the reasons, Pro and Anti Bruce, over the past few days, this is by far the weirdest.

[Dave]

Possession stats are totally meaningless it is what you do with that is important.

In this particular case though, isn't the problem that what they did with the ball was "score more goals with it than we did"?

Yes, but anyone arguing that being as a result of the formation would have a hard job convincing me. Missing chances and Grealish getting sent off were the major factors from my perspective.

They were certainly factors. But if what we did with the ball was miss chances when what they did with the ball was score their chances, the argument of "it's not how much of the ball you have it's what you do with it" can't really be used in Bruce's favour in this instance.

[Chris Smith]

Possession stats are totally meaningless it is what you do with that is important.

In this particular case though, isn't the problem that what they did with the ball was "score more goals with it than we did"?

Yes, but anyone arguing that being as a result of the formation would have a hard job convincing me. Missing chances and Grealish getting sent off were the major factors from my perspective.

They were certainly factors. But if what we did with the ball was miss chances when what they did with the ball was score their chances, the argument of "it's not how much of the ball you have it's what you do with it" can't really be used in Bruce's favour in this instance.

Nor can it be used as a criticism, it is hardly his fault if a player doesn't take a chance in a particular match, or their keeper makes a series of good saves, if he has picked a side that has resulted in getting into those positions in the first place. Over a period of time it's a different matter but surely that was what the transfer window was about.

Some of the criticism going levelled might turn out to be warranted but at the moment it is premature and smacks of not giving the bloke a chance.

[maigrait]

Maybe he's trying out a few different formations to see what works best. Or maybe he's trying to familiarise the players with several different formations so he can change according to the opposition. Or maybe something he tried didn't work out so he's trying something else. Maybe he's trying something that's worked for him before but it takes a while to implement. Maybe he knows what he's doing. Maybe he's such a genius that we just don't understand him. Maybe he's lost his mind! Maybe he thinks he's a satsuma!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the miles and miles of angsty waffle on this thread in the last few days is that whatever he does, whoever he buys, whoever he picks and wherever he plays them, there's always another bloody team on the pitch trying their best to play better than them and scupper his plans! Every single week! The bloody nerve!

It's almost as if it's not straightforward.

Sport, eh?

Didn't want to quote everything but it was hilarious. Bravo!

[paul_e]

Won't quote but in reply to Chris, under RDM we had more shots per game than anyone in the league, does that mean it wasn't his fault that we didn't take them and couldn't make it count?  Again I ask because of the inconsistent approach to the 2 most recent managers.

[KevinGage]

Selfish selfish Villa fans, wanting more than one half decent performance in four months (and even that was a game we didn't actually win).

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the miles and miles of angsty waffle on this thread in the last few days is that whatever he does, whoever he buys, whoever he picks and wherever he plays them, there's always another bloody team on the pitch trying their best to play better than them and scupper his plans! Every single week! The bloody nerve!

It's almost as if it's not straightforward.

Sport, eh?

Out of all the reasons, Pro and Anti Bruce, over the past few days, this is by far the weirdest.

Genuinely not sure if you're being ironic or if I should employ a 'whoosh'.

[Chris Smith]

Won't quote but in reply to Chris, under RDM we had more shots per game than anyone in the league, does that mean it wasn't his fault that we didn't take them and couldn't make it count?  Again I ask because of the inconsistent approach to the 2 most recent managers.

No, it wasn't his fault that we didn't take chances. I would argue though that is was his responsibility to address the problem of us repeatedly conceding late goals. That, to me, suggests a lack of fitness and that is a serious failing.