Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We took 7 points from the first 7 games, that's how prepared we were. If Bruce hadn't had 9 months preparation I'd almost understand. The fact we missed out on automatic promotion by 7 points, to one of the worst teams ever to be automatically promoted..whatever.

Some people like the taste of shit. Each to their own. I must admit, I do love the taste of stability.

[cheltenhamlion]

Bruce will go if we don't get promoted. He himself knows that isn't open for debate.

I doubt it.

I can assure you he does.

Who do we go for if he does go Chelts?  Who is out there who will do a better job?

There were managers interested when we took Bruce on that people would think to be out of our league. We don't need to pap our pants on that front.

We are in the shit financially if we don't go up this year and a more measured, build for the future approach to be taken would be my guess.

[cheltenhamlion]

Bruce will go if we don't get promoted. He himself knows that isn't open for debate.

Somebody better tell Steve he dosent appear to have got the memo.

“I manage a great club and if it doesn’t go well I will carry on until somebody tells me different,” said Bruce.
“My aim is to carry on and I hope they will give me the opportunity but you’ll have to ask other people.
“I do think we’re improving, the club is in better shape, but if it goes wrong for us that’s for others to call.
“But my intention would be to carry on and take the club forward. I think we’ve improved. Whether we’ve improved enough we will know in the next two weeks.
“I’ve got no intention of going anywhere if it goes t***-up!”

Read more at http://origin.expressandstar.mna.arcpublishing.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2018/05/11/steve-bruce-vows-to-carry-on-at-aston-villa-regardless-of-whether-they-win-promotion-through-the-play-offs/#zol4RpjDEqdsVSAo.99
[/quote]

What would you expect him to say?

"I have massively added to the wage bill in my time here and was told in no uncertain terms that my short term gambling on promotion is only acceptable if it comes off"?

The bloke might want to work again.

[mr underhill]

and deserves to unlike one P Lambert

[passport1]

Bruce will go if we don't get promoted. He himself knows that isn't open for debate.

Somebody better tell Steve he dosent appear to have got the memo.

“I manage a great club and if it doesn’t go well I will carry on until somebody tells me different,” said Bruce.
“My aim is to carry on and I hope they will give me the opportunity but you’ll have to ask other people.
“I do think we’re improving, the club is in better shape, but if it goes wrong for us that’s for others to call.
“But my intention would be to carry on and take the club forward. I think we’ve improved. Whether we’ve improved enough we will know in the next two weeks.
“I’ve got no intention of going anywhere if it goes t***-up!”

Read more at http://origin.expressandstar.mna.arcpublishing.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2018/05/11/steve-bruce-vows-to-carry-on-at-aston-villa-regardless-of-whether-they-win-promotion-through-the-play-offs/#zol4RpjDEqdsVSAo.99

What would you expect him to say?

"I have massively added to the wage bill in my time here and was told in no uncertain terms that my short term gambling on promotion is only acceptable if it comes off"?

The bloke might want to work again.


[/quote]Its a direct contradiction of what you claim to know. Now you are providing your own made up quotes. Bizarre.

[mr underhill]

me or cheltenhamlion?

[stuart445]

I know but Stuart told us all to remember we were in the bottom 3 when Bruce arrived, we weren't.

I know but Stuart told us all to remember we were in the bottom 3 when Bruce arrived, we weren't.

If I recall correctly, I think we did drop into the bottom three as other clubs played before us, before Bruce took us for his first game.  We got straight back out of the bottom three though and then climbed and climbed.

The fact we were in the bottom 3 regardless of whether it was because others playing first clearly shows we were in a tailspin. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I know but Stuart told us all to remember we were in the bottom 3 when Bruce arrived, we weren't.

I know but Stuart told us all to remember we were in the bottom 3 when Bruce arrived, we weren't.

If I recall correctly, I think we did drop into the bottom three as other clubs played before us, before Bruce took us for his first game.  We got straight back out of the bottom three though and then climbed and climbed.

The fact we were in the bottom 3 regardless of whether it was because others playing first clearly shows we were in a tailspin. 

A bit like this season then. 7 points from the first 7 games?

[Ads]

Not really. We were on 16 points after 10 games and 19 after 11.

[SoccerHQ]

He's done well last few weeks particularly with his personal circumstances.

I think whatever happens next Saturday he has my respect for stopping the rot and making us into a decent football team again with players giving everything for the shirt.

That is a great platform for the next manager to build on whenever that is.

Let's not forget though the target at the start of the season was top 2 (indeed John Terry said in his first interview he was coming here to win the league), we've fallen a fair bit short of that and now the target is to win the play offs.

I think if the financial situation wasn't to change dramatically I'd probably give him start of next season as we know under that criteria he'd have us somewhere in the top 6.

Likes of Snodgrass, Johnstone not being signed permanently and then suddenly having to replace some of our mid 30s players and I don't think he's the best man for the job in that situation.

[Sexual Ealing]

He's done well last few weeks particularly with his personal circumstances.

I think whatever happens next Saturday he has my respect for stopping the rot and making us into a decent football team again with players giving everything for the shirt.

That is a great platform for the next manager to build on whenever that is.

Let's not forget though the target at the start of the season was top 2 (indeed John Terry said in his first interview he was coming here to win the league), we've fallen a fair bit short of that and now the target is to win the play offs.

I think if the financial situation wasn't to change dramatically I'd probably give him start of next season as we know under that criteria he'd have us somewhere in the top 6.

Likes of Snodgrass, Johnstone not being signed permanently and then suddenly having to replace some of our mid 30s players and I don't think he's the best man for the job in that situation.

I agree with this.

[Clark W Griswold]

On the other hand, he seemed to actually do better in the transfer window with little to spend than he did in the transfer window with plenty to spend. He's getting more from previously under performing players also, some of which were here long before he came.
6 best performers of the season;
Johnstone (signed last summer - free)
Chester (Always been good to be fair and not a Bruce signing)
Terry (signed last summer - free)
Snodgrass (signed last summer - free)
Adomah (got better since Bruce came)
Grealish (producing easily his best perfomances in a Villa shirt under Bruce this season)
Other notable performers;
Elmo (signed last summer for a relatively cheap £1.5m)
Hutton (playing his best under Bruce in last 18 months)
Grabban (signed January free)
Very unlucky to lose the previous seasons best player Kodjia for much of the season and still managed to finish 8 places higher and get to the P/O final (which we still could win!)
Also, just about got Value for money with Whelan at £1.5m and very good value on Hourahane £1.5m...?ish
Exceptions, Samba free - oh dear, Onomah - free - disappointing.

His poorer work has happened when having money to spend;
Hogan £12m - no idea how to use him and a little one dimensional anyway
Lansbury £3m - absolute shit
Taylor £3m+ - pretty poor
Thor £2.5m  - starting to look half decent eventually.

Got to stick with him for me.

[passport1]

Interesting comments by Jack Grealish today about playing for Bruce in the Jack Grealish thread.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Weirdly, I'd keep Potato if we lose, but sack him if we win.

In the Premier League, we'll be bottom 3 or 4 by end of November and they'll sack him anyway, so why bother waiting 3 months?

Another season in the Championship and I think we'd finish higher than this season under him.

[mike]

Weirdly, I'd keep Potato if we lose, but sack him if we win.

In the Premier League, we'll be bottom 3 or 4 by end of November and they'll sack him anyway, so why bother waiting 3 months?

Another season in the Championship and I think we'd finish higher than this season under him.

Bizarrely, you’re probably about right.