Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Chico Hamilton III]

I think if we get rid now we will be picking our next manager from the out of work ones. I don't think managers will be falling over themselves to quit their current job to manage a big team with big expectations without any money to spend in January.* I think we have an unbalanced squad that needs changing in the summer. I think we will stick with Bruce and either fall short of the play offs or fall short in the play offs. Unless he can fluke it like he did at Small Heath with a late semi winner and win in the final with penalties.

*If we are prepared to go for someone and let him have money in January that makes us a far different proposition to potential managers, but that seems unlikely given what has already been spent and FFP.

IF we manage to go up, my money is Xia appointing Andre Villas Boas as manager. He just seems the type Xia would like having suffered these last two seasons. Big (and good) name, PL experience, young at 40 but has managed big clubs with high expectations, including until the other week, in China, where I'm sure Xia has been watching him.

Plus the Dakar rally (what he quit his Shanghai job to do) will be over by then.

He reminds me of a Portuguese Dyche because every time he speaks I'm shouting at the telly for him to cough and clear his throat

[Pete3206]

The continued employment of Steve Bruce is delaying the inevitable.

Will we be promoted automatically? - highly unlikely. End result - Bruce out

Do we have a team capable of 'win or bust' play off football after a long season? - Probably not. End result? Bruce out

Miracle of miracles, we get up. How much Bruceball will gain points in the Premier League? For me, not many and Bruce would probably be gone after 10-12 games, leaving us to fight another relegation battle.

Get rid, rip it up and start again. A couple of seasons in the Championship, building a team with a hungry young manager is preferable to Bruce's turgid, torturous shite.

I have not seen one iota of improvement in performances since he took over from RDM. And this is coming from someone who supported his appointment.

[Chris Jameson]

Be careful what you wish for. Pulis is out of work.

[Ads]

Why would it be a miracle if we go up? We're in the Play Offs, I wouldn't fear going back to Derby with Terry, Kodjia and Davis to add to the match day squad. I cannot believe Lawrence makes that bigger difference to them.

[Clampy]

The continued employment of Steve Bruce is delaying the inevitable.

Will we be promoted automatically? - highly unlikely. End result - Bruce out

Do we have a team capable of 'win or bust' play off football after a long season? - Probably not. End result? Bruce out

Miracle of miracles, we get up. How much Bruceball will gain points in the Premier League? For me, not many and Bruce would probably be gone after 10-12 games, leaving us to fight another relegation battle.

Get rid, rip it up and start again. A couple of seasons in the Championship, building a team with a hungry young manager is preferable to Bruce's turgid, torturous shite.

I have not seen one iota of improvement in performances since he took over from RDM. And this is coming from someone who supported his appointment.

It's a bit odd to want a manager gone because you don't think he'll get us promoted but are happy for us to stay down in this division for another couple of seasons with another manager. I get the point you're making  about the long term future but we do need to get back up, preferably as soon as we can.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think if we get rid now we will be picking our next manager from the out of work ones. I don't think managers will be falling over themselves to quit their current job to manage a big team with big expectations without any money to spend in January.* I think we have an unbalanced squad that needs changing in the summer. I think we will stick with Bruce and either fall short of the play offs or fall short in the play offs. Unless he can fluke it like he did at Small Heath with a late semi winner and win in the final with penalties.

*If we are prepared to go for someone and let him have money in January that makes us a far different proposition to potential managers, but that seems unlikely given what has already been spent and FFP.

IF we manage to go up, my money is Xia appointing Andre Villas Boas as manager. He just seems the type Xia would like having suffered these last two seasons. Big (and good) name, PL experience, young at 40 but has managed big clubs with high expectations, including until the other week, in China, where I'm sure Xia has been watching him.

Plus the Dakar rally (what he quit his Shanghai job to do) will be over by then.

It's only 15 days. I'm guessing he just didn't fancy another season in China. Plenty of time to rest, recharge and prepare for your next job in the summer.

[Pete3206]

The continued employment of Steve Bruce is delaying the inevitable.

Will we be promoted automatically? - highly unlikely. End result - Bruce out

Do we have a team capable of 'win or bust' play off football after a long season? - Probably not. End result? Bruce out

Miracle of miracles, we get up. How much Bruceball will gain points in the Premier League? For me, not many and Bruce would probably be gone after 10-12 games, leaving us to fight another relegation battle.

Get rid, rip it up and start again. A couple of seasons in the Championship, building a team with a hungry young manager is preferable to Bruce's turgid, torturous shite.

I have not seen one iota of improvement in performances since he took over from RDM. And this is coming from someone who supported his appointment.

It's a bit odd to want a manager gone because you don't think he'll get us promoted but are happy for us to stay down in this division for another couple of seasons with another manager. I get the point you're making  about the long term future but we do need to get back up, preferably as soon as we can.

Fair do's, but I don't see the point of scraping promotion, only to end up back at square one with a failed relegation battle.

[chrisw1]

The continued employment of Steve Bruce is delaying the inevitable.

Will we be promoted automatically? - highly unlikely. End result - Bruce out

Do we have a team capable of 'win or bust' play off football after a long season? - Probably not. End result? Bruce out

Miracle of miracles, we get up. How much Bruceball will gain points in the Premier League? For me, not many and Bruce would probably be gone after 10-12 games, leaving us to fight another relegation battle.

Get rid, rip it up and start again. A couple of seasons in the Championship, building a team with a hungry young manager is preferable to Bruce's turgid, torturous shite.

I have not seen one iota of improvement in performances since he took over from RDM. And this is coming from someone who supported his appointment.

It's a bit odd to want a manager gone because you don't think he'll get us promoted but are happy for us to stay down in this division for another couple of seasons with another manager. I get the point you're making  about the long term future but we do need to get back up, preferably as soon as we can.

Fair do's, but I don't see the point of scraping promotion, only to end up back at square one with a failed relegation battle.

Parachute payments.

[Hookeysmith]

Following Saturday's formation this comment from Steve Bruce where he announced the arrival of a futuristic more expansive Aston Villa team ricocheted around my head (talking on 22nd Sept before the Forest match)

 “I like two up top. I've always thought it was the way forward.

“For the last six months in particular, we haven't done that. But I had to stop the trend of us getting beaten.

“I've had to send a team out that's difficult to beat and try and stop the rut of poor results. It was about putting a bit of resilience back in there – that was the way forward.

“Now we have a squad capable of playing two up top, being a bit more expansive and trying to go and win games – rather than just staying in games.

“When I took over, it was all about staying in the division, never mind trying to get out of it.

And you know if questioned on it now he would use the injury situation to support it

[WarszaVillan]

I

Following Saturday's formation this comment from Steve Bruce where he announced the arrival of a futuristic more expansive Aston Villa team ricocheted around my head (talking on 22nd Sept before the Forest match)

 “I like two up top. I've always thought it was the way forward.

“For the last six months in particular, we haven't done that. But I had to stop the trend of us getting beaten.

“I've had to send a team out that's difficult to beat and try and stop the rut of poor results. It was about putting a bit of resilience back in there – that was the way forward.

“Now we have a squad capable of playing two up top, being a bit more expansive and trying to go and win games – rather than just staying in games.

“When I took over, it was all about staying in the division, never mind trying to get out of it.

And you know if questioned on it now he would use the injury situation to support it

 Recently, we haven't had two fit strikers. He's as good as gone with two up front with Davis and Onomah. If Hogan is back fit perhaps he'll try Davies and  Hogan.

[Drummond]

Mid-table on form at the moment, not good enough but not enough to slit wrists yet.

We've had a blip (again) and really need to get back on it. However, having Terry, Jedinak, Kodjia, Grealish and Hogan out would have hurt any team. Out of our strikers, Kodjia, Hogan, RHM and Agbonlahor have all suffered injuries, McCormack was sent out because of his attitude and Davis has played too much for someone so young. It's certainly a bit tricky to play two up top with that lot.

We need another run starting on Saturday, that's for sure. At least we've some strikers coming back into contention (unfortunately they are strikers that haven't exactly had the net bulging for us) which will give us some options. Terry coming back will add solidity too.

[Toronto Villa]

Looks like former Boro manager Steve Agnew is about to join the Villa coaching staff

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He was only Caretaker Manager. Worked with Bodger at Hull and sees himself as a "creative coach". Good bloody luck to him.

[Chris Smith]

He was only Caretaker Manager. Worked with Bodger at Hull and sees himself as a "creative coach". Good bloody luck to him.

He was Karanka’s assistant then caretaker after he went.

[Toronto Villa]

He was only Caretaker Manager. Worked with Bodger at Hull and sees himself as a "creative coach". Good bloody luck to him.

We need something, anything creative at the club. Encourage players to have the balls to take a shot every so often and put the ball in the net too.