Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Drummond]

Chrisw1 so instead of a leap into the dark, we are staying in the dark, the dark ages of Bruce and hoof ball. Bet Hogan is absolutely delighted, hope they have had him on the rack this close season and he comes back 6 inches taller,

From the playing staff, I'd imagine Hogan and McCormack won't be too pleased, not sure about anyone else though.

[Hookeysmith]

Chris nails it for me. I wanted him gone, but circumstances dictate and ought to dictate rather than dogma.

I also agree with Chris's assessment  (but not the Brexit shite)

I wonder if they laid the law down to him on being competitive or else?

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

To be honest, I think some of the reaction to him staying is a bit over the top, and I still really want him gone. I see him as no more than a caretaker until they get the support structures in place. That's not bottling anything, it's sensible management.

Exactly my thoughts. I want Bruce out but I'm surprised at the levels of gloom. This decision tells me that our new owners are cut from different cloth from the last two, that they can see the bigger picture, have a long term plan and know how to implement it. When it happens (and I don't think its far away) Bruce leaving will be a cause for celebration, but I'm prepared to wait a bit longer if it means we get the right man and right structures in place. After years of watching us lurch from one disaster to the next while trying to repair the latest rash decision I'm pleased to see a measured approach at last. This is a massive opportunity. We can't afford to mess it up again.

[garyshawsknee]

I think you're right Ger. I'm disappointed, but compare we are now as a club to where we were 7 days ago and we are obviously far stronger.  Let's see who they appoint as a CEO and that may make SBs long term position more clearer.

[Monty]

Those still talking about sacking him appear to me akin to Jacob Rees-Mogg, so wedded to one single idea that they are unable, or unwilling, to see the bigger picture. Sacking Bruce now would be the equivalent of a no deal Brexit.

Not quite, but sacking him without a succession plan would be like that. For those saying it would be somehow better to sack him 12 games in, I mean I guess you could say it would be based on results, but IMO no more than right now would be.

[VinnieChase84]

What's Cortese doing these days? I would look at someone like him for DOF role.

Echo what a few have said on Brucey. As much as i want him gone, this is sensible given the time parameters we face. I have no doubt he will be gone, he won't see Xmas. 

[footyskillz]

Well one think we can take is that if Bruce is doing well this season he stays if he's not so good then he be leaving !

[TheTimVilla]

To be honest, I think some of the reaction to him staying is a bit over the top, and I still really want him gone. I see him as no more than a caretaker until they get the support structures in place. That's not bottling anything, it's sensible management.

I imagine his intention will be to keep us afloat. Clearly we won’t compete for promotion with what we have and that’s before we pick up our inevitable injuries! If he keeps us stable, within FFP, etc then we should be in line for a good tilt next season.

[Lastfootstamper]

Or the season after that.

[DB]

To be honest, I think some of the reaction to him staying is a bit over the top, and I still really want him gone. I see him as no more than a caretaker until they get the support structures in place. That's not bottling anything, it's sensible management.

I imagine his intention will be to keep us afloat. Clearly we won’t compete for promotion with what we have and that’s before we pick up our inevitable injuries! If he keeps us stable, within FFP, etc then we should be in line for a good tilt next season.

Clearly?

[not3bad]

Gary Rowett, Zola and new owners come to mind. Right decision imo.

Comparing ourselves to the Rags is half our problem.

This isn't comparing ourselves to them it's learning from their mistakes.

[mike]

And another bright spot, am I right in thinking this keeps Footyskillz on the forum?

[dave.woodhall]

Here's a bit more detail.

https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/having-met-them-im-now-more-sure-than-ever-the-new-owners-of-aston-villa-are-the-real-deal/

[paul_e]

If they've decided to stick with him because they truly believe he's a good choice then I suspect we'll see the same old problems coming up again before long. If however they decided to buy time to allow them to make a good choice because they didn't think there was a great option available then I'm ok with it.

I don't think Bruce will achieve anything, we'll coast along in about 8-10th with him rolling out the same excuses week after week. How long they allow that drifting will be significant.

They may see him as a good choice right now. They may change their minds in a month, 2 months, 6 months, a year. They may think that right now, it's pretty safe and there aren't many people, barring a relatively small number of people on the internet, who are being vocal about a change.

He may not achieve anything, and he'll go. In the meantime, a structure will be built to make replacing him easier.

I've already said that I think it was just about the right decision to hold on to him for now, because getting players in to stop the squad being so unbalanced is the priority. I don't entirely trust him to do it but I think there's a better chance of getting the people we need without a change of manager. My concern is around whether they're looking at him as a caretaker whilst they sort everything else out or if they actually believe the '1 game from promotion' bullshit.

If it's the latter then I fully expect to see a couple of 30 something free transfers and loans of players in positions where we have kids who need game time and that's the last thing I want us to do. If they do see him as a caretaker I hope his options in the transfer window have been severely limited and that any deals he suggests will be properly scrutinised so we mostly see younger players with better technical ability who will be able to develop into a new style going forward.  Everyone knows that if we play in the premier league with Bruce's cowardly approach that'll we'll get dicked week after week so we need to start focusing on how we shift to a more assertive style which doesn't become 8-9 players behind the ball so easily.

[Comrade Blitz]

The new dilemma is do I fork out for AVTV again?

I'm with ya on this one....the (Saturday morning) hangovers hurt more than they used to...