Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Three Spires Villa]

Slaven Billic? Would he come?

No thanks. Another charlatan.

Really? Ok, fair enough

[curiousorange]

Are Fulham still scoring? Despite the non defence we seem to have settled for without Terry, Jokanovic made Fulham look great going forward. That'd do for a start.

[tomd2103]

Don't think he will be going anywhere unless we fall completely out of the promotion picture.  It is becoming pretty clear that there are problems and he is struggling to fix them.

[sickbeggar]

Just can't see them spending a fortune on a new manager, a new coach etc., with nothing to back him up in January. The guy who comes in would need to improve Bruce's players not replace them. Pullis pfft, more of the same...

[curiousorange]

I think another manager probably would do better with these players. Conte's first season at Chelsea is a good example of how a fresh insight can take bored and disinterested players and turn them into gold. It's a vital choice - one which I cannot make - but you can somehow tell when a manager's time is coming to a close. Bruce bemoaned two successive weeks of mistakes, but they don't seem to happen when you're doing well.

[The Moose]

Yes. Please end this mind-numbing crap.

[ChicagoLion]

Automatic promotion all ready gone and now our form is not even play off level.
Prepare for another season in this division.

[The Moose]

How could it be much worse?

[Matt Collins]

We had a great run of results in October and a poor run in December

Whilst we’re in and around the top 6 I really can’t see Bruce going anywhere

[Clampy]

How could it be much worse?

Bottom of the table I guess.

[PaulWinch again]

Can’t get the team to attack with any sort of plan or strategy. Not good enough.

[wittonwarrior]

Steve Bruce we have much to thank you for.  Slowly you have brought us back from a downward spiral.  The likes of Tommy Doc couldn't do that when he was the custonian in the hot seat.

The question has to be could anyone have done better?  I think it would take an exceptional boss to have move us further forward. 

Sure he has made mistakes but so did saunders. 

His weaknesses have developed as we have improved with an extremely poor plan b. 

What next unless we can strike with the likes of Dean Smith then for me it's better the devil you know

[sickbeggar]

well at the moment the "plan" seems to pray we're not totally out of it by the time Kodjia and Terry return. I don't really call hope much of a plan.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

For too many games now we’ve been completely incoherent. Even if we had a bad plan, no one looks like they know what it is.

We have enough very good players at this level to be effective (I’m excepting Jedi as a centre back here), if not attractive.

I expect Bruce to be effective. At least. If not he can do one, and I’ll take my chances with someone who can get that lot to perform to an effective plan.

[Mister E]

I was reflecting earlier today about the last 15 years at Villa and I realise that D'OL - a total scrote of a man - produced a more enjoyable team to watch than several of our recent managers ... and he used to get absolute pelters!!
We're in a dark place: forget that we are still in the top 6; we won't be after the Seasonal run of games. and then we'll be trying to claw back respectability from a failed season. Excuses will no doubt be made: injuries, fixture-congestion, the pressure of leading a Great Club and the cup-final attitude that other teams bring with them to VP ...
... the reality is that Wolves will reach the "Promised Land" because they hired a decent manager who knew how to exploit the resources available to him; that Cardiff will be in the mix because (like it or not) their manager is a street fighter who knows how to grind out results; that Derby has blended the classic youth ticket with experienced former 'Premers', at a price that does not burden them with debt; and, that Fulham will be influential because they tapped into their youth system and trusted the talent to deliver.

On a personal note, today I decided, after having witnessed last week's shambles at Derby, to forego my season-ticket seat at VP (going, instead, to watch Harrogate Town beat North Ferriby 3-0). I felt guilty and dirty for having done so. Now I just feel relieved for not having had to travel back, replaying the mediocrity that our current manager serves up (yes, Clampy: I'm still unable to mention his name!).
Enough is enough: the club needs to find a 'builder-craftsman', not a journeyman.