Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Risso]

People say that Bruce had few options yesterday with Davis dropping out very late but what about playing Adomah up top with Grealish in the number 10 role and Bjarnason on the left wing and dropping Onomah?

Adomah has played there before, Onomah has never to my knowledge but I don't get paid millions to make these decisions!

Whatever the probem is, playing Bjarnason isn't the answer.

[ColinMac]

Watching Villa under Bruce has been utterly joyless, there’s no entertainment or excitement, it’s usually a deeply frustrating experience, now if we were running away with the league that pragmatism would be acceptable, if we were in the top two then great, it’s a means to an end, but no, we are the biggest club in the division, with the most expensively assembled squad, and Bruces pragmatism has us battling away for a play off spot.

He is moaning again about a lack of resources, what a load of shite, just get rid now.

[dave shelley]

Moaning about lack of resources is usually the first sign of a manager realising he's gone as far as he can without actually admitting that he hasn't got a clue.  The sooner he's gone the better as far as I'm concerned.

[Pete3206]

Lets face it, Bruceball is going to end in tears isn't it? We may scrape the play offs, but does anyone think we can go into a 2 legged 'do or die' scenario, playing this kind of stuff?

We are the biggest club in this league and should be cake walking it like Wolves are. Pathetic state of affairs all round.

[Mister E]

One feature of our performance yesterday in particular worried the crap out of me: our 6 midfield players in the starting line-up were - with the exception of Adomah and Grealish - not very good. Their passing is poor, they are too slow to distribute the ball, they lack energy and they are not very good at tracking back and closing down.
This manager seems to have sucked the lifeblood out of Hourihane; the Whelan we saw in the pre-season games has long gone AWOL; Onomah is a liability throughout; and Snodgrass is so far up himself that no wonder he cannot see the obvious passes.
We'll be in this division for another season if it stays like this

[TonyD]

It’s not actually Bruce’s fault as you can’t blame him from going through the motions and getting paid handsomely.  It’s Dr Tony’s fault for not seeing what is blatantly obvious.  Again another overseas owner with no football knowledge.   Doug would have called him into the office before now.   

[achilles]

People say that Bruce had few options yesterday with Davis dropping out very late but what about playing Adomah up top with Grealish in the number 10 role and Bjarnason on the left wing and dropping Onomah?

Adomah has played there before, Onomah has never to my knowledge but I don't get paid millions to make these decisions!

Whatever the probem is, playing Bjarnason isn't the answer.

Why did we buy him then, if we are not going to play him?
He is an established international and played for a top European side.
I accept that he hasn't done much since being here but who is at fault for that?

At least he would have given us balance on the left hand side.
He is an established international and played for a top European side

[john e]

People say that Bruce had few options yesterday with Davis dropping out very late but what about playing Adomah up top with Grealish in the number 10 role and Bjarnason on the left wing and dropping Onomah?

Adomah has played there before, Onomah has never to my knowledge but I don't get paid millions to make these decisions!

Whatever the probem is, playing Bjarnason isn't the answer.

Why did we buy him then, if we are not going to play him?
He is an established international and played for a top European side.
I accept that he hasn't done much since being here but who is at fault for that?

At least he would have given us balance on the left hand side.
He is an established international and played for a top European side

'Why did we buy him then'  could be said of numerous players bought by a range numpty  managers over the last few years to which the answer is ' not a fucking clue'

[Risso]

Lets face it, Bruceball is going to end in tears isn't it? We may scrape the play offs, but does anyone think we can go into a 2 legged 'do or die' scenario, playing this kind of stuff?

We are the biggest club in this league and should be cake walking it like Wolves are. Pathetic state of affairs all round.

Cardiff 3 Villa 0
Bristol 1 Villa 1
Wolves 2 - Villa 0
Leeds 1 - Villa 1
Derby 2 - Villa 0

That's his record from the games against the other 6 highest placed teams so far this season, with Sheffield United up next.  Two points from a possible 15 isn't very good, even if they have all been away.  I'm not optimisitc that the run is going to improve much against Sheffield to be honest.

[260475]

Half season to go, and those Five were all aways. Got mugged at Cardiff, two credible draws, Wolves clearly the stand out team. Still optimistic I'd say. Need to address strike force in Jan within the budget / rules. I expect people are working on it.

UTV

[Chris Smith]

It’s not actually Bruce’s fault as you can’t blame him from going through the motions and getting paid handsomely.  It’s Dr Tony’s fault for not seeing what is blatantly obvious.  Again another overseas owner with no football knowledge.   Doug would have called him into the office before now.   

I think I disagree almost entirely with that. Surely the whole structure of the club is now constituted in a way where hiring and firing are not left to the whims and prejudices of one person. I also do not believe that Bruce is the type of manager or person to just just go through the motions. Limited yes, mercenary no.

You know when people are pining for Ellis that reason and common sense have been left behind.

[dave shelley]

Bruce is the kind of bloke I'd love to meet in the pub every week for a couple of pints but wouldn't want him on my pub quiz team.

[VinnieChase84]

Failure this season will mean a whole starting from scratch summer rebuild. Assets like Chester, Kodjia and maybe even Jack will be gone.
We need to crack on. Win all our home games v the top 6. 70 points to play for left.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Failure this season will mean a whole starting from scratch summer rebuild. Assets like Chester, Kodjia and maybe even Jack will be gone.

We'll have to sell them if we need to rebuild next season in the Championship.

[Holte L2]

What's happened to Hepburn-Murphy? Is he back playing for the U-23s?