Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Clampy]

He has underused the youth players, i think that's clear and that's why i don't think he's right for a job of building a team around them.

Keep seeing this accusation levelled at him, I’ve never watched the youth team but I assume those who accuse him of this have spent a lot of time watching them?

I've seen enough of o'hare to know he deserved a chance ahead of a completely out of form Onomah a while back, I've seen enough of RHM to know he should be a big part of the squad and I've seen enough of 2-3 others to know that they're too good for the U23s but are stuck because we won't let them out on loan and won't pick them for the seniors.

Fair enough, you obviously attend the reserve/youth matches so are far more qualified to comment.

Not a huge number but I go to them more often than the first team games because Tuesday evening and Saturdays are the 2 times that I can't watch games, I haven't been for a couple of months though.

Then how do you know O'Hare should be in and around the squad if you can't watch first team games on the two days we normally tend to play? I'm not having a go, just curious.

[ChicagoLion]

I think the term big budget manager is to suggest that he buys teams as opposed to developing them.
The argument is that we will need a manager that is good at the latter as we no longer are able to do the former.
Unless we get promotion of course.

[paul_e]

Then how do you know O'Hare should be in and around the squad if you can't watch first team games on the two days we normally tend to play? I'm not having a go, just curious.

That reads a little too much like "I'm not having a go but...". Whatever the disclaimer may be the entire question is built around 'how can you know anything if you don't watch games in the ground' however just to clarify, I can't go to the games all that often but I can and do watch them.

However, to give you an answer you don't need to be in the ground to see that our only midfielder who provides any threat centrally is Grealish (Hourihane has a good shot from the edge of the box and Onomah, at times, has shown he'll get in there and score goals) so if he doesn't play then no one creates anything there which means too often our only option is to go to Adomah and Snodgrass and hope they can cut in and shoot or get a decent ball into the box.  Both have done well but at times they've been shut down and we've looked lost for ideas.  O'Hare is the only player I've seen in the squad who has a similar ability to play between the lines and create space and chances.  I don't think he's ready to start regularly but I think he should've had 10-15 subs appearances this season to build him up.

[Tony Erdington]

Then how do you know O'Hare should be in and around the squad if you can't watch first team games on the two days we normally tend to play? I'm not having a go, just curious.

That reads a little too much like "I'm not having a go but...". Whatever the disclaimer may be the entire question is built around 'how can you know anything if you don't watch games in the ground' however just to clarify, I can't go to the games all that often but I can and do watch them.

However, to give you an answer you don't need to be in the ground to see that our only midfielder who provides any threat centrally is Grealish (Hourihane has a good shot from the edge of the box and Onomah, at times, has shown he'll get in there and score goals) so if he doesn't play then no one creates anything there which means too often our only option is to go to Adomah and Snodgrass and hope they can cut in and shoot or get a decent ball into the box.  Both have done well but at times they've been shut down and we've looked lost for ideas.  O'Hare is the only player I've seen in the squad who has a similar ability to play between the lines and create space and chances.  I don't think he's ready to start regularly but I think he should've had 10-15 subs appearances this season to build him up.

Agreed and I do go to most home games.

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, to not give O'Hare some bits and pieces is a terrible waste.

[brian green]

A friend of mine is a Grimsby ST holder.  He says Sulimani has played one game for them at RB.  My friend is as ancient as I am so he may be exaggerating a bit but it is no way for us to bring on our young players.  Play Jedinak at CB while Sulamani kicks his heels on the East Coast.  Sounds like a plan.

[chrisw1]

A friend of mine is a Grimsby ST holder.  He says Sulimani has played one game for them at RB.  My friend is as ancient as I am so he may be exaggerating a bit but it is no way for us to bring on our young players.  Play Jedinak at CB while Sulamani kicks his heels on the East Coast.  Sounds like a plan.

I don't see the problem with this.  If he's not yet good enough to command a place for Grimsby you think he should be playing in a promotion chasing Championship side?

It's great to see the kids playing and we all love to see them do well, but given what is at stake you can hardly blame Bruce for being reluctant to chuck him in at the deep end at such a vital part in our season.  And as for Jedinak playing there, there was a lot of revisionism on here following his poor performance.  Prior to that I recall many people thinking he was an excellent choice to fill in at centre back and he had previously done a very solid job there.  It was the obvious choice to make rather than chucking in an untried kid and before the game I doubt there were many dissenting voices about that selection.

[Clampy]

A friend of mine is a Grimsby ST holder.  He says Sulimani has played one game for them at RB.  My friend is as ancient as I am so he may be exaggerating a bit but it is no way for us to bring on our young players.  Play Jedinak at CB while Sulamani kicks his heels on the East Coast.  Sounds like a plan.

I don't see the problem with this.  If he's not yet good enough to command a place for Grimsby you think he should be playing in a promotion chasing Championship side?

It's great to see the kids playing and we all love to see them do well, but given what is at stake you can hardly blame Bruce for being reluctant to chuck him in at the deep end at such a vital part in our season.  And as for Jedinak playing there, there was a lot of revisionism on here following his poor performance.  Prior to that I recall many people thinking he was an excellent choice to fill in at centre back and he had previously done a very solid job there.  It was the obvious choice to make rather than chucking in an untried kid and before the game I doubt there were many dissenting voices about that selection.

Another good thing about sending a youngster out on loan is not just to get first team football, it's also for him to experience life at another club and regular match day experience. Grealish loved his season at Notts County by all accounts. They hopefully come back better and wiser players for it.

[paul_e]

The counter argument is that we should have better facilities and coaches so if he's not playing for them then he's better off with us and around players like Terry and Chester.

[Chris Jameson]

If Sulamani isn't able to get into a poor Grimsby team why would he make the Villa team?

[Clampy]

The counter argument is that we should have better facilities and coaches so if he's not playing for them then he's better off with us and around players like Terry and Chester.

I'm sure the facilities are fine.

[curiousorange]

No reason to doubt the Grimsby fan's opinion, but hasn't Suliman spent the last week playing for one of England's rather handy youth sides?

[brian green]

The point I am trying to make is that players are loaned to get match time.  He has had one game at RB for Grimsby in which I am told he played well.  How is that helping him or us?  My friend says the Grimsby manager is a twat.  That may have some bearing on the situation.

[SoccerHQ]

A friend of mine is a Grimsby ST holder.  He says Sulimani has played one game for them at RB.  My friend is as ancient as I am so he may be exaggerating a bit but it is no way for us to bring on our young players.  Play Jedinak at CB while Sulamani kicks his heels on the East Coast.  Sounds like a plan.

Don't think he's good enough.

O'Hare and RHM certainly should've featured more though.

[olaftab]

If Sulamani isn't able to get into a poor Grimsby team why would he make the Villa team?

Remember Alli and Kane were kicking around trying to get a game at lower league clubs not so long ago. Alli made only 12 appearances in a season long loan at MK Dons and Kane made it 3 times on the pitch in 2012/13 season at Norwich.