Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Chris Jameson]

If we don't get 3 points tomorrow he should be sacked, regardless of the fact the match will most likely be postponed.

[olaftab]

If we don't get 3 points tomorrow he should be sacked, regardless of the fact the match will most likely be postponed.

Well exactly. He has had 3 transfer windows and done F all about buying the right cover.

[Malandro]

If we don't get 3 points tomorrow he should be sacked, regardless of the fact the match will most likely be postponed.

Once again, we'll see no evidence of tactics.

[Ad@m]

https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2018/03/02/villa-v-qpr-match-update

[ChicagoLion]

The bad news is the playing surface is unaffected by the snow.

[achilles]

So it is still bumpy and unsuitable for playing football, so that should suit us then!

[adrenachrome]

If we don't get 3 points tomorrow he should be sacked, regardless of the fact the match will most likely be postponed.

Bloody right 'n all. Should have got Gabby and Micah deicing the steps to the Upper Holte, Witton Lane and Trinity. No need to bother with upper North as they are used to cramp seating conditions and can probably ascend in crablike fashion.

[Clarence Blue]

Bruce out? Out on the town drinking champagne at the end of the season :-)

[MoetVillan]

Is it right that his win percentage is now the highest since our founding fathers managed the club?

[paul_e]

Is it right that his win percentage is now the highest since our founding fathers managed the club?

Yep, but not entirely relevant.  If you pull out stats for managers who've managed us outside the top flight and only include those games his record is about average.  For example, Taylor had a record of 45.77% overall but in the 2nd division it was 50%.  Joe Mercer had 1 season in the 2nd division and won 25 in 42 (59%) but his overall record was more like 42%.

This isn't a criticism, just pointing out that the stats aren't really like for like so, pat on the back for nearly 50% win rate but lets not laud it as some amazing achievement.

[chrisw1]

It's pretty remarkable considering the shambles he inherited.  But I agree, it's not comparable to a first division percentage.

[stuart445]

Is it right that his win percentage is now the highest since our founding fathers managed the club?

Yep, but not entirely relevant.  If you pull out stats for managers who've managed us outside the top flight and only include those games his record is about average.  For example, Taylor had a record of 45.77% overall but in the 2nd division it was 50%.  Joe Mercer had 1 season in the 2nd division and won 25 in 42 (59%) but his overall record was more like 42%.

This isn't a criticism, just pointing out that the stats aren't really like for like so, pat on the back for nearly 50% win rate but lets not laud it as some amazing achievement.

It is an amazing achievement when you consider the state of the club when he was appointed.  But your stance on this isn't surprising really is it. 

[Monty]

Yes, imagine taking charge of the biggest and richest club in the division and winning some games! Unthinkable.

Look, he's really turned it round and deserves huge credit, but we have to get out of this little-old-Villa mentality while we're in this league. We effing well should be winning loads of games, and a manager with Bruce's record isn't achieving more than is reasonable to expect. He is achieving it, so well done him, but let's not act like we're some tinpot club suddenly storming to promotion. We're doing well, we could do better, we have done worse. That's it.

[paul_e]

Is it right that his win percentage is now the highest since our founding fathers managed the club?

Yep, but not entirely relevant.  If you pull out stats for managers who've managed us outside the top flight and only include those games his record is about average.  For example, Taylor had a record of 45.77% overall but in the 2nd division it was 50%.  Joe Mercer had 1 season in the 2nd division and won 25 in 42 (59%) but his overall record was more like 42%.

This isn't a criticism, just pointing out that the stats aren't really like for like so, pat on the back for nearly 50% win rate but lets not laud it as some amazing achievement.

It is an amazing achievement when you consider the state of the club when he was appointed.  But your stance on this isn't surprising really is it. 

Oh what a surprising post.

I assume that everyone agrees that a good season for us this year is to be in the mix for automatic promotion, would you agree?

On that basis you need 90 points, roughly, to get promotion, which means winning 25-30 games, again would you agree that is a fair assessment?

25 games in a 46 game season means more than a 50% win record is a requirement for promotion most seasons, and I gave you 2 examples of managers in the past who've done just that.

I didn't say he hadn't done a decent job, I didn't say he should have done better, I simply said that the context means that comparing his record to, for example, MON, is pointless.  1 got us into the top 6 3 years running, the other might get us promoted from the 2nd division, if you can't understand the difference then I can't help you.

[chrisw1]

Yes, imagine taking charge of the biggest and richest club in the division and winning some games! Unthinkable.

Look, he's really turned it round and deserves huge credit, but we have to get out of this little-old-Villa mentality while we're in this league. We effing well should be winning loads of games, and a manager with Bruce's record isn't achieving more than is reasonable to expect. He is achieving it, so well done him, but let's not act like we're some tinpot club suddenly storming to promotion. We're doing well, we could do better, we have done worse. That's it.

Under normal circumstances I would agree with you.  But he took over the most dysfunctional squad in most of our living memories and the poorest performing team since the PL was conceived.  Sunderland have shown just how easy it is to carry on that trajectory.

Yeah, we've spent quite a lot but we were going from a standing start and having to entirely rebuild the squad, not just a few tweaks here and there.

So yes, getting us from there to here has been an outstanding achievement.  But I still agree with Paul about the relevance of the stats.