Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[brian green]

You will.  They want you to.

[Malandro]

With every shred of personal respect for Bruce he has not had an incredibly tough time.  He has lost two much loved parents in a short space of time.  It is the inevitability of the aging process.  It happens to us all.  Many people, me included, are glad to have demanding stressful jobs at a time of bereavement to help get over the personal loss.  It is a distraction from the curse of mortality.

Some people might find that incredibly tough to be fair.

If some people find that tough, they should consider what it says about themselves, with regards to losing a elderly parent.

It's not time to whine away in a corner, it's a time to stand solid so people can rely upon you. That's better than being a victim.

I don't know Bruce, but I'd like to think his personal tragedies had nothing to do with our unsuccessful season.

[dave.woodhall]

With every shred of personal respect for Bruce he has not had an incredibly tough time.  He has lost two much loved parents in a short space of time.  It is the inevitability of the aging process.  It happens to us all.  Many people, me included, are glad to have demanding stressful jobs at a time of bereavement to help get over the personal loss.  It is a distraction from the curse of mortality.

Some people might find that incredibly tough to be fair.

If some people find that tough, they should consider what it says about themselves, with regards to losing a elderly parent.

It's not time to whine away in a corner, it's a time to stand solid so people can rely upon you. That's better than being a victim.

I don't know Bruce, but I'd like to think his personal tragedies had nothing to do with our unsuccessful season.

None of us can say how someone else will feel at such a time, and it's insulting to say that it would be any kind of judgement on their character. I'd have hoped that sort of Real Men Don't Show Emotion thinking was long gone. 

[Malandro]

With every shred of personal respect for Bruce he has not had an incredibly tough time.  He has lost two much loved parents in a short space of time.  It is the inevitability of the aging process.  It happens to us all.  Many people, me included, are glad to have demanding stressful jobs at a time of bereavement to help get over the personal loss.  It is a distraction from the curse of mortality.

Some people might find that incredibly tough to be fair.

If some people find that tough, they should consider what it says about themselves, with regards to losing a elderly parent.

It's not time to whine away in a corner, it's a time to stand solid so people can rely upon you. That's better than being a victim.

I don't know Bruce, but I'd like to think his personal tragedies had nothing to do with our unsuccessful season.

None of us can say how someone else will feel at such a time, and it's insulting to say that it would be any kind of judgement on their character. I'd have hoped that sort of real Men Don't Show Emotion thinking was long gone. 

It's not about showing emotion, it's about maturity.
I personally think Bruce demonstrated that by being at the games.

Bruce losing his parents and Villa failing to get promoted are two separate things.

[villa `cross the mersey]

We all cope differently to pressure from whatever source ( work, illness, bereavement etc) and I do feel for SB over his recent loss of both parents  , particularly being so close in time
However he is a highly paid professional who has now had " three bites at the cherry" to get us promoted - yesterday was particularly frustrating as he failed from the kick off to give us any chance of winning the game -
Ie players picked and the set up of play
Time to thank him for his efforts and bring in a modern thinking replacement immediately to start work now - I would to think the hierarchy at VP have a plan

,

[Chris Jameson]

With every shred of personal respect for Bruce he has not had an incredibly tough time.  He has lost two much loved parents in a short space of time.  It is the inevitability of the aging process.  It happens to us all.  Many people, me included, are glad to have demanding stressful jobs at a time of bereavement to help get over the personal loss.  It is a distraction from the curse of mortality.

Who are you to judge how others cope with bereavement? I know you’re no fan of his but that’s quite a heartless thing to be saying, he continued doing his job and then spending his evenings driving to and from the north east to make hospital visits, to lose both parents in such a short space of time whilst also having a job in the public eye with so many demands must be incredibly stressful.

[mike]

We all handle things differently and we all have different relationships with our parents. Steve seemed to be very close to his and it was an aggravating factor that they died so close together. If someone who worked for me wanted time off in those circumstances I'd give it to them if I could. Likewise, I know many people benefit from the distraction and camaraderie of work. As it doesn't seem to have affected his performance (he wasn't good enough anyway, just to be cruel) its irrelevant and it's his prerogative to mourn bitterly, wallow in existential angst or just get on with it. Nowt to do with us.

But I still think we need a fresh start.

[brian green]

What I am saying is not heartless.  It is a statement of the inevitability of death for us all.  The death of a loved parent who has lived a long and happy life is not the most tragic thing that can happen to a person.  What I think of Bruce's professional performance is totally irrelevant.

[Toronto Villa]

Football aside, maybe the time is right for Bruce to step away and properly mourn the loss of his parents not just for himself but for his family. I have no doubt he will bounce back somewhere but it would be good for both sides to separate now.

[mike]

Brian, you are normally the barometer of common sense on here, but to suggest being devastated by the loss of your parents is wrong because we all know death is inevitable is a bit cold.

[amfy]

The worst thing for hime was that his dad died whilst his mum was already seriously ill in hospital. They had a period of not knowing what to do about his funeral - get on with it because she wouldn't be well enough in a reasonable time, wait because she might well enough to attend, or wait because it'd be best to have a joint funeral. Unimaginably horrible.

Most of us lose our parents evebtually - its the way its supposwd to be, but some circumstance are worse than others.

That said - he creditably stood tall throughout all of this, & I don't think it affected how well he did his job. I think the man himself would want to stand or fall on his actual performance, not sympathy.

[Chris Jameson]

It’s one of the crassest things I’ve seen on here.

[Small Rodent]

I think Mr Bruce was totally focussed on Villa, but unfortunately his game plan a few times this season was not what was needed, that's all.

[Malandro]

I think Mr Bruce was totally focussed on Villa, but unfortunately his game plan a few times this season was not what was needed, that's all.

Not much more to say than that. Smart post.

[itmustbe_it is!]

I think Mr Bruce was totally focussed on Villa, but unfortunately his game plan a few times this season was not what was needed, that's all.

This, exactly.