Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Chris Jameson]

When we were stinking out the Premier League there were plenty of people on here saying how competitive the Championship was, now we're in it and doing our best to stink this league out as well all of a sudden it isn't that good and we should be running away with it. The standard is poor but Villa have been poor for years now so don't see why we should be "pissing it".

[paul_e]

When we were stinking out the Premier League there were plenty of people on here saying how competitive the Championship was, now we're in it and doing our best to stink this league out as well all of a sudden it isn't that good and we should be running away with it. The standard is poor but Villa have been poor for years now so don't see why we should be "pissing it".

Do you not think that spending as much as the rest of the league combined last season (pretty much) should've meant we were competitive at the top of the league if it had been spent well?


(and we'd had a manager with a plan of how to get the most out of the squad it left him with).

[Lastfootstamper]

The league's not hard, it's staggeringly shit! Until we dropped, I had no idea how bad it was, cos I never had reason nor care to watch.

But now I'm at the other end of the drainpipe, I avoid all stuff involving anything to do with any of the PL, because I don't always have someone around to pick my bottom jaw up from the floor.

I'm struggling to recall the last time I was at a game and thought, of anyone, "oh, that little bit of skill/play was truly outstanding".

One thing you could pretty much guarantee at this level is that there won't be many "neutrals" in a ground.

[Steve67]

The gap between the divisions will just get wider. We could really do with going up this season. I wonder if the reality quote from Wyness was alluding to that? Shit or bust.

[The Edge]

It's healthy living advice: toast - and bread generally - is great for you; the more the better. Make athletes really light on the feet, apparently.
The manager has been doing his homework on nutrition ... trying to keep up with the new trendy managers ...
not!!

Really?? I thought bread was bad for you. Shows what I know!

I was mildly taking the piss, mate, after the article that described the manager as not having any interest in nutrition.

Bit late now I've had 8 slices of toast 😉

[Lastfootstamper]

It's healthy living advice: toast - and bread generally - is great for you; the more the better. Make athletes really light on the feet, apparently.
The manager has been doing his homework on nutrition ... trying to keep up with the new trendy managers ...
not!!

Really?? I thought bread was bad for you. Shows what I know!

I was mildly taking the piss, mate, after the article that described the manager as not having any interest in nutrition.

Bit late now I've had 8 slices of toast 😉

Are you available for tomorrow?

[The Edge]

It's healthy living advice: toast - and bread generally - is great for you; the more the better. Make athletes really light on the feet, apparently.
The manager has been doing his homework on nutrition ... trying to keep up with the new trendy managers ...
not!!

Really?? I thought bread was bad for you. Shows what I know!

I was mildly taking the piss, mate, after the article that described the manager as not having any interest in nutrition.

Bit late now I've had 8 slices of toast 😉

Are you available for tomorrow?

I'm washing my hair tomorrow

[XXVilla]

When we were stinking out the Premier League there were plenty of people on here saying how competitive the Championship was, now we're in it and doing our best to stink this league out as well all of a sudden it isn't that good and we should be running away with it. The standard is poor but Villa have been poor for years now so don't see why we should be "pissing it".

One reason. Money.

[sirlordbaltimore]

We're an average Championship team, with average (on the whole) championship players doing average in ... the championship. It's amazing isn't it ?

The people thinking we should 'piss this league' for whatever reason clearly haven't been paying attention for the last 6 years or so.

[XXVilla]

I’ve paid enough attention to know that we spent more than £30 on strikers alone last season. I think that’s grounds to at least be a little optimistic of achieving more than we have done so far in this league.

[Tayls_7]

We're an average Championship team, with average (on the whole) championship players doing average in ... the championship. It's amazing isn't it ?

The people thinking we should 'piss this league' for whatever reason clearly haven't been paying attention for the last 6 years or so.

Why aren't you questioning who pissed our fortune on average Championship players performing like strangers?

[GarTomas]

When we were stinking out the Premier League there were plenty of people on here saying how competitive the Championship was, now we're in it and doing our best to stink this league out as well all of a sudden it isn't that good and we should be running away with it. The standard is poor but Villa have been poor for years now so don't see why we should be "pissing it".

Pissing it maybe a bit strong but the turnaround Wolves have managed and the speed shows it's possible

[Steve67]

Or why this current coaching team are incapable of getting a tune out of some of the players they purchased? Our better performers are those that Bruce inherited, other than JT and Johnstone.

[ozzjim]

I think in searching for this ultimately defensive solidity, Bruce ends up sticking players into situations they really are not suited for. Watching Brentford 2 or 3 times this season they have this ability to pass and move in the opposition half that we sadly lack in any consistency. They average 18 ish shots a game, we must be around 8 or 9. The formations are similar though. Smith sets them up in roles they all know, and has a pattern of play that relies on going forwards. Bruce on the other hand shoe horns as many tough players with little imagination, isolating those that do have any flair. Hourihane, lansbury, Grealish, Hogan etc. Even McCormack who until last season was easily one of the best players in the division by a distance.

[Toronto Villa]

Agree Ozz. We essentially went out last season and did what pretty much no other team could. Went and bought arguably the top 3 forwards in the division. And Kodjia aside he’s neutered two of them. I’m not excusing the players of blame but when as a manager you have those types of assets then you build everything around getting them the ball and taking 15-20 shots a game. And do we really take 8-9 shots a game on average? I would think, especially in the past 10 it’s around 5 or 6.