Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[chrisw1]

I'm losing faith by the minute I really am.  If he lets Albert go to a promotion rival then he has completely lost it IMO.

That and loaning Elphick out to leave us with two centre backs in the squad, one of whom he's insistent on playing anywhere but centre back. If it's like that at the end of the day, I can't wait to hear the justification for that.

Hopefully he won't be doing either.  But IF we do, then yes, it's nuts.

[AsTallAsLions]

I'm losing faith by the minute I really am.  If he lets Albert go to a promotion rival then he has completely lost it IMO.

That and loaning Elphick out to leave us with two centre backs in the squad, one of whom he's insistent on playing anywhere but centre back. If it's like that at the end of the day, I can't wait to hear the justification for that.

Hopefully he won't be doing either.  But IF we do, then yes, it's nuts.

Elphick is already gone.

[chrisw1]

I'm losing faith by the minute I really am.  If he lets Albert go to a promotion rival then he has completely lost it IMO.

That and loaning Elphick out to leave us with two centre backs in the squad, one of whom he's insistent on playing anywhere but centre back. If it's like that at the end of the day, I can't wait to hear the justification for that.

Hopefully he won't be doing either.  But IF we do, then yes, it's nuts.

Elphick is already gone.

Then that is just daft.  God help us if Chester gets injured.

[RussellC]

This whole Moukoudi situation sums it all up for me. We desperately need a centre-back and we have 48 hours before the loan window closes. There were flying over a 20 year-old from the French 2nd division in a private jet, who clearly has made no commitment to joining us whatsoever, to "have a look around." He then jets back home to "think about it" whilst all of other potential options (barring out-of-contractors) disappear.

It actually wouldn't surprise me if Bruce was trying to make a point to the board about how difficult trying to sign talented young players can be.

[Duncan Shaw]

I can take Elphick going to be honest as he really is poor.

[tomd2103]

There’s just no coherency or strategy to anything that he does. His transfer-dealings, his line-ups, his tactics. To quote a film-line, he’s like a kite, dancing in a hurricane at the moment. He’s hugely out of his depth, but seems to be managing to convince everyone that matters that he’s doing a good job.

That piece written in the Guardian about him in 2012 after his time at Sunderland hit the nail on the head.  If you changed it to the present tense and swapped Sunderland for Villa it would be absolutely spot on now. 

On his transfer dealings:

"If he failed to cut it as a tactician, the 50-year-old did not seem much of a strategist either. Including loans, 30 players were signed – several of whom have subsequently been moved on – during Bruce's two-and-a-half years on Wearside. That represents an unsettling "churn" factor and hardly proved conducive to developing either a clear playing philosophy". 

[mr underhill]

Terry back in mark my words - this has been Bruce's play all along

[David_Nab]

There’s just no coherency or strategy to anything that he does. His transfer-dealings, his line-ups, his tactics. To quote a film-line, he’s like a kite, dancing in a hurricane at the moment. He’s hugely out of his depth, but seems to be managing to convince everyone that matters that he’s doing a good job.

That piece written in the Guardian about him in 2012 after his time at Sunderland hit the nail on the head.  If you changed it to the present tense and swapped Sunderland for Villa it would be absolutely spot on now. 

On his transfer dealings:

"If he failed to cut it as a tactician, the 50-year-old did not seem much of a strategist either. Including loans, 30 players were signed – several of whom have subsequently been moved on – during Bruce's two-and-a-half years on Wearside. That represents an unsettling "churn" factor and hardly proved conducive to developing either a clear playing philosophy". 

Exactly the same here he just keeps moving player in and out ..its well over 20 players now yet here we are 1 fit striker , 1 experienced CB one LB at club its pathetic ..

[paul_e]

There’s just no coherency or strategy to anything that he does. His transfer-dealings, his line-ups, his tactics. To quote a film-line, he’s like a kite, dancing in a hurricane at the moment. He’s hugely out of his depth, but seems to be managing to convince everyone that matters that he’s doing a good job.

That piece written in the Guardian about him in 2012 after his time at Sunderland hit the nail on the head.  If you changed it to the present tense and swapped Sunderland for Villa it would be absolutely spot on now. 

On his transfer dealings:

"If he failed to cut it as a tactician, the 50-year-old did not seem much of a strategist either. Including loans, 30 players were signed – several of whom have subsequently been moved on – during Bruce's two-and-a-half years on Wearside. That represents an unsettling "churn" factor and hardly proved conducive to developing either a clear playing philosophy". 

Not Just Sunderland, 6-7 players in the summer and 2-3 in January is the norm across his entire career, that's why I find the 'at least he brings stability' argument so annoying, it's not true, he relies on constant churn in the hope that he'll eventually stumble on something that works.

[ChicagoLion]

It all suits the Bruce narrative perfectly.
He takes responsibility for nothing and none of it his fault.
File under chancer, see Lambert.

[chrisw1]

It all suits the Bruce narrative perfectly.
He takes responsibility for nothing and none of it his fault.
File under chancer, see Lambert.

He's not a chancer, he's an experienced manager with a lot of success on his record.

I think his time with us is up and would like him replaced as soon as a suitable alternative can be found, but even so I find some f the criticism of him to be ridiculous.

[Chris Jameson]

Whatever you think of Bruce there's no way he could be labelled a 'chancer'.

[JUAN PABLO]

Hes not a chancer , he's just not any good .       

[ChicagoLion]

Someone who manipulates a situation to thier own advantage.
Yeh crazy idea that he could be accused of making statements and decisions to promote the idea that he is better than he is and nothing is his fault..

[Three Spires Villa]

Someone who manipulates a situation to thier own advantage.
Yeh crazy idea that he could be accused of making statements and decisions to promote the idea that he is better than he is and nothing is his fault..

This 100%