Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[frank black]

Bit off the wall here and some will think me mad, but I'd love us to offer Wenger a role as the person to oversee the progressive approach - possibly as mentor to someone like Smith.

Interesting read on Smith from Brentford fans here.

Interesting he’s committed to a long contract. Do you think they’ll take a packet of salt and vinegar crisps and some skittles as compensation?

[PeterWithesShin]

He signed a new two year contract in Feb, not sure that's anyone committing to a long contract.

[dave.woodhall]

Dean Smith could sign a lifetime and beyond contract but if Villa want him, he'll be here.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Bit off the wall here and some will think me mad, but I'd love us to offer Wenger a role as the person to oversee the progressive approach - possibly as mentor to someone like Smith.

Interesting read on Smith from Brentford fans here.

Interesting he’s committed to a long contract. Do you think they’ll take a packet of salt and vinegar crisps and some skittles as compensation?

It was an additional one year to his existing contract, probably at bit of an insurance policy for Brentford. Interesting how their fans give great credit too to his backroom team.

[avfcpg]

Bunn / Steer / Sarkic

Elmo / Chester / Suliman / Bree / Taylor / DeLaet / Bedeau / Clark

Doyle-Hayes / Lyden / Grealish / Lansbury / Green / Hourinane / Adomah / O'Hare

RHM / Hogan / Kodja / Davis

Surely even with this squad we would look to be one of the favourites next term - what we need is a method and a style of play

Agnew definitely made a difference so keep him but bin the dinosaurs

Absolutely agree....it's not the machine it's the damn instruction manual that needs updating...(this is how to use this machine effectively).

[liam]

One of my wolves supporting colleagues tells me Nuno joined them a year ago today... he is still in shock at the 12 months they have had. The manager is the most important person in all this, and yes they did have an excellent midfield, but at the start of the season not many would have predicted that very ordinary players would look like world beaters, a well travelled Barry Douglas, Danny Batth, John Ruddy was a bit of liability when they signed him, and they didn't really have a killer striker all season.  Finished 16th or 17th under lambert a year ago to romping the league from November onwards.

[ozzjim]

I think Jokanovic has done wonders at Fulham too. Getting a manager that wants the team to play in a certain, clear way and training them to execute it makes all the difference.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Even more so when the Fulham board failed to back him this time last year. He came very close to walking out on them.

[Archivist]

I think Jokanovic has done wonders at Fulham too. Getting a manager that wants the team to play in a certain, clear way and training them to execute it makes all the difference.

Absolutely... and seeking the right players to do it

[AsTallAsLions]

I think Jokanovic has done wonders at Fulham too. Getting a manager that wants the team to play in a certain, clear way and training them to execute it makes all the difference.

Absolutely... and seeking the right players to do it

Or just identifying them from the youth system.

Bruce wouldn't know young talent if he stumbled upon it on a shopping excursion to the Bullring.

[oldhill_avfc]

Some might argue it took him over 3 years and got a couple of lucky breaks in finding the new version of Gareth Bale and decent loan signing.  Hardly the stuff of a managerial genius.

[PeterWithesShin]

Some might argue it took him over 3 years and got a couple of lucky breaks in finding the new version of Gareth Bale and decent loan signing.  Hardly the stuff of a managerial genius.

Or they could argue he hasn't even been there 3 years yet

[oldhill_avfc]

splitting hairs

[oldhill_avfc]

The point I was alluding to is that his record at Fulham is very similar to Bruce's at Villa so far (Bruce has a better win ratio according to Wiki).

Took over mid season, steadied the ship in his first season then finished in the play offs in the second.  He got 'lucky' in his third....

I'm not trying to defend Bruce but it may be a mistake to think the grass is greener elsewhere.

[robleflaneur]

The point I was alluding to is that his record at Fulham is very similar to Bruce's at Villa so far (Bruce has a better win ratio according to Wiki).

Took over mid season, steadied the ship in his first season then finished in the play offs in the second.  He got 'lucky' in his third....

I'm not trying to defend Bruce but it may be a mistake to think the grass is greener elsewhere.

Not quite the same,Fulham were relegated 2 years before us,so Jokanovic in his first full season was facing even worse problems than we are about to face.So it's like a new manager came in at Villa,got us to the play offs next season  without Grealish and then the following season got us promoted. Sessegnon was 18 this month,no way would Bruce play him.Plus then there's the style of football.And what's lucky about a 20 plus game unbeaten run.