Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[paul_e]

We are a point off a promotion place are we not?

What relevance does that have to a discussion about how well he spends a big 'warchest' in the premier league?

[manic-road]

We are a point off a promotion place are we not?

What relevance does that have to a discussion about how well he spends a big 'warchest' in the premier league?

When we get to the Premier League then that will be of relevance.

[Clampy]

All the 'Bruce Supporters' had a valid point.

[paul_e]

All the 'Bruce Supporters' had a valid point.

So long as we get promoted then probably.

When we get to the Premier League then that will be of relevance.

and the discussion was about whether we keep him if we're promoted so...

[manic-road]

All the 'Bruce Supporters' had a valid point.

So long as we get promoted then probably.

When we get to the Premier League then that will be of relevance.

and the discussion was about whether we keep him if we're promoted so...

The discussion has been about many things just not on promotion such as transfers etc.

[Clampy]

How naive of me, getting behind a manager who's done this four times before.

Wow, you wouldn't think we could go second tomorrow could you?

[Toronto Villa]

All the 'Bruce Supporters' had a valid point.

So long as we get promoted then probably.

When we get to the Premier League then that will be of relevance.

and the discussion was about whether we keep him if we're promoted so...

The discussion has been about many things just not on promotion such as transfers etc.

But the discussion right at this moment is about his ability to spend money when made available to him in the PL. Not about what he's done in the Championship. So the concern some of us have is given his overall record in the PL has not been good, and his spending when he's had the resources has been really questionable do we trust him with a large sum of our money at that level?

[paul_e]

All the 'Bruce Supporters' had a valid point.

So long as we get promoted then probably.

When we get to the Premier League then that will be of relevance.

and the discussion was about whether we keep him if we're promoted so...

The discussion has been about many things just not on promotion such as transfers etc.

His transfers when given big money in the premier league (i.e. the prospect we'd be facing if we're promoted).  I linked it back to the last couple of transfer windows because one of the criticisms could be applied to those (which is that he buys players without having a plan of how they're going to fit in so he needs a few months to figure that out after the window closes).

[manic-road]

It’s possible to have commentary about the managerial history of Steve Bruce specific to player acquisition without it being immediately perceived as a criticism of him. All managers buy players that don’t work out or spend money that ends up being a waste. Heck we saw it up close with MON.

As it relates to our current manager he is likely to be the one identifying players accompanied by a significant budget if we do go up. I just hope that his eye for talent has improved. But that also goes for the people around him starting with Wyness and Round.

The other relevance is that what he did that summer is very similar to what he did with us last January.  Currently 2 of his signings from that window have found some form and aren't high on the 'get rid list' but before that we had nearly a year where the only signing he made in that window who looked to be an upgrade on what we had was Hourihane.  If his signings are of the same scattergun nature in the summer (if we're promoted) then it will be very relevant.  Those aren't the only 2 windows where he's had a bit of cash and has decided to throw it around and then work out what to do with the squad later.

Paul e I don't know if your being serious or on a wind up but can you explain in more detail this "scattergun" approach on transfers. I know you have been banging on and on and on and on and on and on and on that you don't want Bruce but at the moment he is getting results and if he gets us promoted that will be the first stage completed. All managers make good and poor signings but I don't get the comment about a scattergun approach in signings.
Terry has been an excellent signing, Johnson looks solid in goal, Snoddy has been doing the business I know you find it hard at the moment to knock him for results so you are trying to find another reason for finding fault. So could you please explain in detail the scattergun approach? I didn't expect many signings to be completed in the January transfer window but a striker as back up was needed and a striker is what he got in, hardly a scattergun approach.

It's simple really, last January we all agreed we needed a central midfielder or 2 and a goalkeeper.  He signed 3 central midfielders (but seemingly didn't realise one was a central player until the last month) a keeper on loan, a striker, a right back and a left back.  He then followed that up in the summer by signing another right back, 2 centre backs, 2 more central midfielders and a right winger.  For months he couldn't really work out how to put them all together.  and we looked like a team that 'needed to gel' which is really just a team that doesn't seem to have been put together with a plan in mind.  In the championship it works ok but, as SoccerHQ detailed, whenever he's done this in the Premier league he's either been relegated or sacked.

Oh and of course I'm serious, all along I've said that I see Bruce as a risk because of the chance of him leaving us in a similar state to when Houllier took over from MON where we're paying over the odds for players with no resale value and not enough technical ability to play a different style.  As for banging on I've merely shared opinions which are that the only reason for having Bruce is to get promoted and if we ever looked like that might not happen then he became pointless.  Right now we're on a bit of a high, and if he keeps it going I'm happy (which I've said a few times) but if we have another run of 4-5 games without a win before the end of the season then I'll be pissed off again.

When you say "we all agreed" does that mean every Villa fan? Everybody on this site? Or all of the coaching staff at BH? For looking like a team that needed to gel you will get that at any team with lots of new players at the club. As for saying that the team was put together with no plan in mind, well I can see a plan coming together it's how Bruce has always set up teams. Maybe when I go to games I see it playing out differently to you.

[paul_e]

How naive of me, getting behind a manager who's done this four times before.

Wow, you wouldn't think we could go second tomorrow could you?

and yet no one called you naive or said you were wrong, it's just that some people disagree, an argument you yourself use any time it suits you.

Again what has the bold bit got to do with the discussion we've been having?  This must be what teaching a class of ADHD kids feels like.

[sickbeggar]

I really hope you're right Clampy. Not just for villa, but for your own sake. Bragging about your backing for Bruce with 17 games to go is brave to say the least. Just as well those with doubts about him weren't playing the same card last season and before this last 5 game run

[paul_e]

It’s possible to have commentary about the managerial history of Steve Bruce specific to player acquisition without it being immediately perceived as a criticism of him. All managers buy players that don’t work out or spend money that ends up being a waste. Heck we saw it up close with MON.

As it relates to our current manager he is likely to be the one identifying players accompanied by a significant budget if we do go up. I just hope that his eye for talent has improved. But that also goes for the people around him starting with Wyness and Round.

The other relevance is that what he did that summer is very similar to what he did with us last January.  Currently 2 of his signings from that window have found some form and aren't high on the 'get rid list' but before that we had nearly a year where the only signing he made in that window who looked to be an upgrade on what we had was Hourihane.  If his signings are of the same scattergun nature in the summer (if we're promoted) then it will be very relevant.  Those aren't the only 2 windows where he's had a bit of cash and has decided to throw it around and then work out what to do with the squad later.

Paul e I don't know if your being serious or on a wind up but can you explain in more detail this "scattergun" approach on transfers. I know you have been banging on and on and on and on and on and on and on that you don't want Bruce but at the moment he is getting results and if he gets us promoted that will be the first stage completed. All managers make good and poor signings but I don't get the comment about a scattergun approach in signings.
Terry has been an excellent signing, Johnson looks solid in goal, Snoddy has been doing the business I know you find it hard at the moment to knock him for results so you are trying to find another reason for finding fault. So could you please explain in detail the scattergun approach? I didn't expect many signings to be completed in the January transfer window but a striker as back up was needed and a striker is what he got in, hardly a scattergun approach.

It's simple really, last January we all agreed we needed a central midfielder or 2 and a goalkeeper.  He signed 3 central midfielders (but seemingly didn't realise one was a central player until the last month) a keeper on loan, a striker, a right back and a left back.  He then followed that up in the summer by signing another right back, 2 centre backs, 2 more central midfielders and a right winger.  For months he couldn't really work out how to put them all together.  and we looked like a team that 'needed to gel' which is really just a team that doesn't seem to have been put together with a plan in mind.  In the championship it works ok but, as SoccerHQ detailed, whenever he's done this in the Premier league he's either been relegated or sacked.

Oh and of course I'm serious, all along I've said that I see Bruce as a risk because of the chance of him leaving us in a similar state to when Houllier took over from MON where we're paying over the odds for players with no resale value and not enough technical ability to play a different style.  As for banging on I've merely shared opinions which are that the only reason for having Bruce is to get promoted and if we ever looked like that might not happen then he became pointless.  Right now we're on a bit of a high, and if he keeps it going I'm happy (which I've said a few times) but if we have another run of 4-5 games without a win before the end of the season then I'll be pissed off again.

When you say "we all agreed" does that mean every Villa fan? Everybody on this site? Or all of the coaching staff at BH? For looking like a team that needed to gel you will get that at any team with lots of new players at the club. As for saying that the team was put together with no plan in mind, well I can see a plan coming together it's how Bruce has always set up teams. Maybe when I go to games I see it playing out differently to you.

OK we didn't agree that Jedinak, Gardner and Westwood was a shit midfield.

[dave.woodhall]

How naive of me, getting behind a manager who's done this four times before.

Wow, you wouldn't think we could go second tomorrow could you?

and yet no one called you naive or said you were wrong, it's just that some people disagree, an argument you yourself use any time it suits you.

Again what has the bold bit got to do with the discussion we've been having?  This must be what teaching a class of ADHD kids feels like.

And you can cut that out.

[paul_e]

How naive of me, getting behind a manager who's done this four times before.

Wow, you wouldn't think we could go second tomorrow could you?

and yet no one called you naive or said you were wrong, it's just that some people disagree, an argument you yourself use any time it suits you.

Again what has the bold bit got to do with the discussion we've been having?  This must be what teaching a class of ADHD kids feels like.

And you can cut that out.

Sorry, the last bit probably did go over the line, I'm just frustrated that twice in the space of 3 posts he's completely ignored what was actually being discussed and posted something that was seemingly intended to stop a conversation that he didn't need to join.

[manic-road]

How naive of me, getting behind a manager who's done this four times before.

Wow, you wouldn't think we could go second tomorrow could you?

and yet no one called you naive or said you were wrong, it's just that some people disagree, an argument you yourself use any time it suits you.

Again what has the bold bit got to do with the discussion we've been having?  This must be what teaching a class of ADHD kids feels like.

And you can cut that out.

Sorry, the last bit probably did go over the line, I'm just frustrated that twice in the space of 3 posts he's completely ignored what was actually being discussed and posted something that was seemingly intended to stop a conversation that he didn't need to join.

Wow making an excuse for taking the mickey out of children with learning difficulties.