Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[The Edge]

By the way, we should just go and fetch Bielsa in.

Yes, for once we're lined up, he's out of work.

Agreed. This would also sort out the problem of which song the teams should come out to at VP. Bohemian Rhapsody.

[eamonn]

Has he admitted that he doesn't do tactics? Surely the way we are set-up with cutting-in wingers and a "big number 9 that I always associate Villa with" are tactics, albeit of the type that have aged more than the weeds growing at Plough Lane.

[john e]

It's been suggested that Bruce wasn't Dr Tony's choice and he's not that impressed
if that's the case now is an ideal opportunity of making a change because we are down the table playing rubbish and really no one would be surprised after well over a year of no improvement to let Bruce go

so if he remains it then suggests that either Tony is still OK with Bruce or he doesn't have complete control
I don't know what I'm trying to say here but I hope you might know what I mean

[paul_e]

Has he admitted that he doesn't do tactics? Surely the way we are set-up with cutting-in wingers and a "big number 9 that I always associate Villa with" are tactics, albeit of the type that have aged more than the weeds growing at Plough Lane.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/nov/30/steve-bruce-sunderland-sacked

Shortly after taking charge at Sunderland Steve Bruce was asked if he had considered experimenting with a Christmas Tree formation. "I'm not really into tactics," he replied. At the time that response was easy to interpret as a deliberately flippant or, perhaps, a self-deprecating means of avoiding answering the question. As the seasons passed, though, the suspicion grew that the former Manchester United captain had simply been honest.

There's probably videos of it on youtube as well.

[paul_e]

It's been suggested that Bruce wasn't Dr Tony's choice and he's not that impressed
if that's the case now is an ideal opportunity of making a change because we are down the table playing rubbish and really no one would be surprised after well over a year of no improvement to let Bruce go

so if he remains it then suggests that either Tony is still OK with Bruce or he doesn't have complete control
I don't know what I'm trying to say here but I hope you might know what I mean

That's not fair, we're 3 points better off than we were this time last year.

[sickbeggar]

well he obviously does do tactics. The trouble is, its always the same tactic, and it never varies whatever players he inherits at a club. You can almost see the pattern where he's done ok at some clubs because of what's already there and then he goes to a club like sunderland and has to sell and buy an entire squad in a season so he's got the players to impliment his system. He'd probably have us top2 if he'd followed TSM rather than RDM and garde.

[Dougs Socks]

Well, Wyness has just tweeted and reading between the lines, the pressure is firmly on Bruce. I think hes got two games (three at most) to put this right. Since hes had 60 odd games and the style and performances are as turgid as ever, its a foregone conclusion that he wont be here come Feb.

[themossman]

which sums up the dilemma - if we won the next 2, which of course I want us to, he stays. Then we lose the next two or three, and the disaffection starts all over again.

All along he’s managed to luck out with a streak of results just regularly enough not to come under threat, without convincing anybody he’s actually doing anything that good. I’d love for the people running the club to make a bold decision based on some kind of strategy rather than the kind of *shrug, he’s done enough to earn a few more games* approach a fan would take.

[Clark W Griswold]

It's been suggested that Bruce wasn't Dr Tony's choice and he's not that impressed
if that's the case now is an ideal opportunity of making a change because we are down the table playing rubbish and really no one would be surprised after well over a year of no improvement to let Bruce go

so if he remains it then suggests that either Tony is still OK with Bruce or he doesn't have complete control
I don't know what I'm trying to say here but I hope you might know what I mean

That's not fair, we're 3 points better off than we were this time last year.

As said before he probably realises he would look like a right knob to the wider world if he sacks the manager whilst in the playoff places. He's probably thinking about the wider picture as apposed to listening to a fair bit of howling on a Villa fans forum. I do agree to an extent with a lot of this howling myself but ultimately think that he should wait till we've fallen away further, but certainly being 4-5 points off the playoffs by early to mid January should be enough.

Edit - Ha, just realised I hadn't looked at the table after switching the tv off immediately on Boxing Day after the defeat! Ok, lose the next 2 and fuck him off, get someone in with time to make changes in Jan.

[The Edge]

"I don't want any team of mine just crashing the ball forward. We've got to have some structure, not just get rid of it."

That is a hilarious quote from Bruce, because that is exactly what we do all the time.

Yet he picks Jedinak and Whelan in midfield last night.

Exactly. Every time we have played Brentford in this league their fast movement of the ball by very mobile and seemingly highly motivated players has made us look silly. So what does he do? He picks a centre midfield duo who have all the mobility of a pair of wardrobes! #quote nicked from a previous poster. What was he thinking? That team selection was ridiculous. It reminded me of a certain temporary coach  Kevin Macdonald who picked a team away at Spuds that was also mind numbingly shite.

[ironmaidenmania]

Keep him for the next two games because of how close together they are. Sack him at 7.30 NYD and then we have just under two weeks before our next league game to put someone in place.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Keep him for the next two games because of how close together they are. Sack him at 7.30 NYD and then we have just under two weeks before our next league game to put someone in place.

That sounds the most sensible thing to do hopefully with the new chap to start on the 2nd.

[paul_e]

Keep him for the next two games because of how close together they are. Sack him at 7.30 NYD and then we have just under two weeks before our next league game to put someone in place.

That sounds the most sensible thing to do hopefully with the new chap to start on the 2nd.

I agree in principle, but only if we're using the time to work out what we're going to do next and sound out a few options.  My worry is that whenever we've got to this point before he's scraped a couple of results and all the problems have been brushed under the carpet for a few months, I just hope that we don't automatically do that again if he gets a few points over new year.  2 wins would earn him a stay of execution but right now I'd be setting a minimum expectation of within 3 points of the playoffs (until the end of March and in the playoffs after that) and if we ever drop below his balls are on the line again.  That pressure needs to be there because even if we recover now 1 more run of 4-5 without a win will probably be enough to see us out of the playoffs completely, and that has to be an unthinkable scenario for the board.

[wittonwarrior]

I am on the fence over where we are now.   My take is that the board must be talking to some of steve Bruce’s peers. Quite a few including Gary monk it’s a no no from me. If dean smith however pops up then it is a yes please.

On the other hand will a new regime force us into any better position before the end of the season, I am not sure

[Chris Jameson]

If our new owner is serious about us being one of the top clubs in the world and competing in the Champions League then hopefully Guardiola has already been approached.