Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Diablo]

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

Me too

[robleflaneur]

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.

And very little attempt at coaching players.

[paul_e]

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

Me too

3-4 other centre backs in the squad and I agree, he's never settled and doesn't play well with Chester. The issue is that our first team squad now has Chester and Tuanzebe and a couple of players out of position as the options for the next 4 months when we're supposed to be challenging for the league.  It's just piss poor planning.  Add the way he's handled the wingers and he's doing a great job of making a mess of things again.

[Drummond]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

But, those who spend 90 minutes slagging off every player, and everything get on my nerves. We all get carried away at times, that's the passion we have, we all disagree at times too, which is what it's all about.

It doesn't make us any less of a fan.

I only take somebody's opinion on here seriously and consider them a proper fan if they have at least 16,000 posts.

Minimum 20000 for me.

Sensible. I thought I’d give Drummond something to motivate him though 😉

Thanks, I must post more so that you can disagree with me more!

[PaulWinch again]

With the attacking players we have there is no excuse for us not to tear up this league.

[sickbeggar]

I think he's panicked, probably because the new owners expect more, and this is his last throw of the dice

[Legion]

With the attacking players we have there is no excuse for us not to tear up this league.

Steve Bruce.

[SaddVillan]

He clearly hasn't got a clue.

Played Axel at RB all season when most fans agree his best position is CB.

Then against Burton he plays him in MF to "see what he's like in that position".

Jeez, how many midfielders have we already got?

Hourihane, Lansbury, Thor, Whelan, Jack, Albert, Bolasie, McGinn and The Geezer from Ghiza. (I haven't included any of the kids). That's 9 to save you counting.

So what is Pudgy doing giving a CB a run out in MF, when he puts SuperTom out on loan 3 days later? If he knew he was going to sanction the loan, then surely partnering Axel with Chester against a lower Div3 team would have been a better long term strategy.

And why did we play 3 at the back in all of our pre-season friendlies and then go 4 at the back once the season started?

Every day, in every way, with every decision made, he provides more and more evidence that he isn't the man for the job.

And another question. We're short of centre halfs, so why did he loan out  Easah Suliman - who has captained England at U916, U17 and U19 and played CB . Suliman played in every game at CB  in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship last year which England won. So why does he then try to bring in a 20yr old CB from a French 2nd Division side?

 

Clueless.

[Ads]

Suliman is out in loan already as is nowhere near good enough to play first team football for us.

[Three Spires Villa]

Suliman is out in loan already as is nowhere near good enough to play first team football for us.

You might be, and probably are correct. However until he has played in the first team, certainly in the cup games, and maybe a league game or two as a sub, for example, twenty odd minutes, i do not see how you, me or anyone can make a statement on him

[Ads]

He was sent back from Cheltenham for being lightweight.

[Three Spires Villa]

He was sent back from Cheltenham for being lightweight.

I accept that. Mr Bruce would call that proper football, its what he understands, cheap point I know!
As i say, all fair points, but it would be nice to see him play. Maybe being a centre half in the championship playing alongside Chester, he might look better than at Cheltenham ?

But if he is not given a chance we will never know. Reminds me of Lambert getting rid of Daniel Johnston (not sure if that is how you spell it, i could check but hey-ho) far to early, and never giving him a chance

[olaftab]

Welcome SaddVillain and a great first post.

[clash city rocker]

They reckon the best teams build from the back then add the spine.Bruce is so forward looking we are building from the front...and wingers...and midfield.. ..we won't need a defender....Bruce is 20 years ahead of his time

[Chap]

Hopefully, with the new CEO in place anything less than 10 points from the next 5 games and he’ll be gone.