Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Drummond]

We've lost once in nine games with seven wins. Enjoy it.

Is it good enough we're in this division? No.
Is that Steve Bruce's fault? No.
Is he giving us a pretty good chance of going up? Yes.
Is he doing as well as he could? No.
Is it exciting? Yes.

[Clampy]

I think he's done alright. There's been some good games, some games where we've won and not really deserved to and there's been some shit performances thrown in. You can see how he's done this 4 times before with the type of team he's put together. Whilst we should be a few more points better off, I'm overall happy with what he's done.

[Mister E]

Just been with a Leeds-supporting mate and a Boro-supporting mate for a couple of beers. Their view - having seen a few recent games - is that Wolves are a class act for this division and that Fulham are not far behind them.
Their considered view is that Villa are, at best, a play-off team ...
Hard to disagree with this, given the games I’ve seen recently. Saturday may change that.

[olaftab]

Aston Villa FC @AVFCOfficial

Congratulations to Steve Bruce who has been nominated for the @SkyBetChamp Manager of the Month award for February 👏

He's up against Neil Harris of @MillwallFC, @Jokanovic of @FulhamFC and Neil Warnock of @CardiffCityFC

Jokanovic is an absolute shoe in for that given the fixtures they had.  Do bookies run bets on this kind of thing?  If so, it's free money!

Hopefully Jokanovic and Colin will win it jointly, given that it generally curses the winner*


*yes, I know all about "regression to the mean", and that is not really a curse.

It will be Colin and hopefully your law of regression will apply.

[footyskillz]

Just been with a Leeds-supporting mate and a Boro-supporting mate for a couple of beers. Their view - having seen a few recent games - is that Wolves are a class act for this division and that Fulham are not far behind them.
Their considered view is that Villa are, at best, a play-off team ...
Hard to disagree with this, given the games I’ve seen recently. Saturday may change that.

For those that also still follow premier league you could see the whole Fulham Villa thing like Liverpool and Man Utd. The fact is Man Utd might not always play entertaining football but they get the job done.
Villa have experience and know how to get the job done.
I think the failure of Fulham last season to losing out to reading and not getting to final illustrates this. Whereas Bruce has got the team and club together to push for promotion.
Similarly Villa are expected to go up Fulham aren't.

[Matt Collins]

Just been with a Leeds-supporting mate and a Boro-supporting mate for a couple of beers. Their view - having seen a few recent games - is that Wolves are a class act for this division and that Fulham are not far behind them.
Their considered view is that Villa are, at best, a play-off team ...
Hard to disagree with this, given the games I’ve seen recently. Saturday may change that.

On quality of attacking play it’s hard to disagree. We just don’t pass and move with anything like the quality they have

But when it gets to squeaky bum time our experience could count for an awful lot

And grealish would get into both those teams without doubt

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think he's done alright.

Yup, word for word the appraisal from Sir Humphrey and Bernard on James Hackers' time as Minister of of Administrative Affairs.

[TonyD]

A different decent manager with the same massive resources would have seen us out of sight this stage of season. But as Drummond says and I agree it’s exciting. 

[Matt Collins]

A different decent manager with the same massive resources would have seen us out of sight this stage of season. But as Drummond says and I agree it’s exciting. 

I agree we’ve got a great squad at this level and certainly more resources than anyone but Wolves

I think his net spend is negative and he lost three of his very best players to injury for the large majority of the season so far. How do you think Wolves would do without neves and Jota, or Fulham without Sessegnon and Cairney?

[Clampy]

I think he's done alright.

Yup, word for word the appraisal from Sir Humphrey and Bernard on James Hackers' time as Minister of of Administrative Affairs.

I've no idea what your on about but i'm amused my post about Bruce caught your attention. Again.

[mr underhill]

what's Steve's likely fate if we don't get to the promised land?

[chrisw1]

what's Steve's likely fate if we don't get to the promised land?

I think it would depend how we failed.  If we go on a poor run and lose in the the play offs with a whimper, I think he'd go.  But I think if we finish on a good run, are just pipped to 2nd and lose in an epic battle in the final on penalties, I think they'd probably give him another year.

I've got mixed feelings.  If we don't go up part of me would want to start again with a new more progressive manager.  But I still feel that can be a risky strategy and Bruce would always be likely to get us there or there abouts.  But if you offered me Wagner or the like then I'd take it.

[Ads]

Irrelevant. We'll be promoted on the 21st April in Ipswich.

[Duncan Shaw]

Apparently, according to the only nose at work, he was on Talksport this morning "and couldn't answer the question whether we were a big club - ha ha"  Didn't hear it myself but sure I've heard him big us up s a huge club before.

[Damo70]

Irrelevant. We'll be promoted on the 21st April in Ipswich.

Ipswich will love that. They have never got over 1981.

As for Bruce, he was on Talksport this morning and seems to be loving it at The Villa. I don't think he would walk if we failed to go up. I also don't think he would be sacked if we failed to go up. Based on the fact he has done well this season and the fact that with FFP and other financial considerations it would cost a lot to pay him off and then cost some more to bring someone else in.