Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Brassneck]

That last sentence is the best summary so far.

Changing a dinosaur is not changing for the sake of it.  It is changing for the sake (and good) of Aston Villa.

If we can change him in 2 months time, we can change him now.  If we want to write this season off with a change of manager in September (like we did 2 years ago) why not write it off now and give the next manager more time and also the remainder of this window?

Fair enough, but who would imprive us? Not asking to provoke but just want to hear who we could get to get better

That is not my decision. If we don't think Bruce can get us promoted, there is little point keeping him for a further 2 months.  We could engage Henry and he may attract some exciting players, he may have us playing exciting football and he may get us promoted.  We could engage Dean Smith (a huge favourite among many fans) and he could make a complete pigs ear of it - Bruce will do none of those things so I'm happy to bring someone else in.

[sickbeggar]

He's a dead man walking. the new owners have no obligation to him as he's not "their" man, so they will be entirely within their rights to jettison him if things go sour. Great. i'm all for Bruce going, but come December or earlier and they press the destruct button, who will we get? Certainly not anyone doing well because they're erm... doing well. Oh it will be the usual merry-go-round of those employed to provide a short term fix - exactly the same merry-go-round Bruce was plucked from in fact. Come in fat sam, your number's been called....

[Mister E]

He's a dead man walking. the new owners have no obligation to him as he's not "their" man, so they will be entirely within their rights to jettison him if things go sour. Great. i'm all for Bruce going, but come December or earlier and they press the destruct button, who will we get? Certainly not anyone doing well because they're erm... doing well. Oh it will be the usual merry-go-round of those employed to provide a short term fix - exactly the same merry-go-round Bruce was plucked from in fact. Come in fat sam, your number's been called....

I think a lot of what you say will depend on who comes in as either DoF or board football advisor.

[paul_e]

That last sentence is the best summary so far.

Changing a dinosaur is not changing for the sake of it.  It is changing for the sake (and good) of Aston Villa.

If we can change him in 2 months time, we can change him now.  If we want to write this season off with a change of manager in September (like we did 2 years ago) why not write it off now and give the next manager more time and also the remainder of this window?

The issue is, who picks the replacement today? In 2-3 months I suspect the board will be in place and that question is much easier to answer.  I want Bruce gone (I think everyone on here must be aware of that) but I want the next manager to be the right manager rather than 'not Bruce'. Bruce, like Lambert, RDM, Sherwood and McLeish, is a consequence of the board having no idea how to achieve it's aims and my concern was that we could be repeating that mistake.  As I said about Henry if he was a recommendation from someone who is in talks to join the board and they decided not getting him in asap was a risk then I was ok with it, but if, as it seems, that's not the case then I'd rather we wait for a few months.

Half of this forum have picked the new manager.  What qualifies them to do so ahead of a board member?  Furthermore, how would a board member know something in 2 months that they don't know now?  Would they have a better understanding in 2 months time of Dean Smith? Henry? or whoever? Would they know in 2 months time that Bruce won't get us there or would they base the decision on 10/12 games?

We all want the next manager to be the right one.  Waiting 2 months will not advance that ability to pick the right one any further forward.

Who said anything about the current board knowing more?  As a collective our board is very inexperienced, but if we add an experienced DoF and CEO that changes completely and my hope would be that the new owner decided Bruce wasn't bad enough (in results terms) to need to replace him before they have people in place to give proper advice on the replacement process.

[sickbeggar]

He's a dead man walking. the new owners have no obligation to him as he's not "their" man, so they will be entirely within their rights to jettison him if things go sour. Great. i'm all for Bruce going, but come December or earlier and they press the destruct button, who will we get? Certainly not anyone doing well because they're erm... doing well. Oh it will be the usual merry-go-round of those employed to provide a short term fix - exactly the same merry-go-round Bruce was plucked from in fact. Come in fat sam, your number's been called....

I think a lot of what you say will depend on who comes in as either DoF or board football advisor.

well yeah, but there's clubs doing better than us who would still employ the likes of fat sam and Bruce.  Things go pear-shaped, they panic , and all reason goes out the window. And lets be honest, they can do a job if you don't mind your eyes bleeding from the football. If they'd given the job to Bruce instead of garde when we were on the way down, i wouldn't have complained that much.

[Risso]

Most billionaires have taken chances and not the safe predictable option.

And you've studied enough of them to know have you?

So why do you think they have stuck with Bruce?

Bruce is safe if not exciting. It would be ridiculous for the new owners to bring someone different in, given that they have no experience in this industry.

Those who want Bruce out now, don't seem to be in the majority of Villa fans. The players clearly like the guy, and. By all accounts Chester wants Bruce to stay and likes him a lot.

If it doesn't work, then get rid, but by that time we should have a CEO etc in place.

I’ve worked for one billionaire and know three others. None of them accumulated their wealth by playing it safe.

[old man villa fan]

Each club is in a different situation and having differing requirements. From what we are hearing they want to see Villa back in the top half of the PL and want to build a sustainable future. There is only one way to do that and so you go out and get a manager that matches the criteria. That then excludes the usual suspects that have been on the gravy train for too many years.

Somebody asked earlier why Bruce is liked by the media, pundits etc.  Simple, he played for Man Utd. It's not because of his management ability. If it was, a top 6 club over the last 15 years would have appointed him.

[Brassneck]

That last sentence is the best summary so far.

Changing a dinosaur is not changing for the sake of it.  It is changing for the sake (and good) of Aston Villa.

If we can change him in 2 months time, we can change him now.  If we want to write this season off with a change of manager in September (like we did 2 years ago) why not write it off now and give the next manager more time and also the remainder of this window?

The issue is, who picks the replacement today? In 2-3 months I suspect the board will be in place and that question is much easier to answer.  I want Bruce gone (I think everyone on here must be aware of that) but I want the next manager to be the right manager rather than 'not Bruce'. Bruce, like Lambert, RDM, Sherwood and McLeish, is a consequence of the board having no idea how to achieve it's aims and my concern was that we could be repeating that mistake.  As I said about Henry if he was a recommendation from someone who is in talks to join the board and they decided not getting him in asap was a risk then I was ok with it, but if, as it seems, that's not the case then I'd rather we wait for a few months.

Half of this forum have picked the new manager.  What qualifies them to do so ahead of a board member?  Furthermore, how would a board member know something in 2 months that they don't know now?  Would they have a better understanding in 2 months time of Dean Smith? Henry? or whoever? Would they know in 2 months time that Bruce won't get us there or would they base the decision on 10/12 games?

We all want the next manager to be the right one.  Waiting 2 months will not advance that ability to pick the right one any further forward.

Who said anything about the current board knowing more?  As a collective our board is very inexperienced, but if we add an experienced DoF and CEO that changes completely and my hope would be that the new owner decided Bruce wasn't bad enough (in results terms) to need to replace him before they have people in place to give proper advice on the replacement process.

Finishing 13th & 4th in the past two seasons suggests that Bruce was bad enough in terms of results. We don't need a DoF or CEO to tell us that.  These people have access to people within the game, they won't be making rash decisions based on a wing and a prayer.  I think you are underestimating them if you think they won't seek advice before making decisions.  It doesn't have to be an employee of the club to furnish that advice.

[Bad English]

I want Bruce gone (I think everyone on here must be aware of that)

No, let me assure you, I wasn't aware of that at all.

[Clampy]

I want Bruce gone (I think everyone on here must be aware of that)

No, let me assure you, I wasn't aware of that at all.

He kept that quiet.

[Drummond]

Most billionaires have taken chances and not the safe predictable option.

And you've studied enough of them to know have you?

So why do you think they have stuck with Bruce?

Bruce is safe if not exciting. It would be ridiculous for the new owners to bring someone different in, given that they have no experience in this industry.

Those who want Bruce out now, don't seem to be in the majority of Villa fans. The players clearly like the guy, and. By all accounts Chester wants Bruce to stay and likes him a lot.

If it doesn't work, then get rid, but by that time we should have a CEO etc in place.

I’ve worked for one billionaire and know three others. None of them accumulated their wealth by playing it safe.

Well that sorts that then. So your 4 risk-taking billionaires are obviously far better than the Villa's.

In that case I wonder why ours are so dull and unsuccessful. Oh sorry they aren't.

[villan from luton]

I do not think the owners will put up with the manager for long if he sets up the team like he did for much of last season. We should have been on the front foot in every game rather than being negative and trying to nick a goal.

[Louzie0]

I never meet any billionaires, round here. There’s a lot of work one or more could do, with relieving poverty and housing issues, if I did. Perhaps they’re hiding 

On a related note, I hope our new owners are clued into the needs of the local area around VP and will keep up and extend the long established and practical relationship of the club with the neighbourhood.

Sorry this is in Bruce Staying, but the public face of the club is bound up with the manager and the leadership.

[West Derby Villan]

I never meet any billionaires, round here. There’s a lot of work one or more could do, with relieving poverty and housing issues, if I did. Perhaps they’re hiding 

On a related note, I hope our new owners are clued into the needs of the local area around VP and will keep up and extend the long established and practical relationship of the club with the neighbourhood.

Sorry this is in Bruce Staying, but the public face of the club is bound up with the manager and the leadership.

Agree Lou, all part of the whole!

[Toronto Villa]

Most billionaires have taken chances and not the safe predictable option.

And you've studied enough of them to know have you?

So why do you think they have stuck with Bruce?

Bruce is safe if not exciting. It would be ridiculous for the new owners to bring someone different in, given that they have no experience in this industry.

Those who want Bruce out now, don't seem to be in the majority of Villa fans. The players clearly like the guy, and. By all accounts Chester wants Bruce to stay and likes him a lot.

If it doesn't work, then get rid, but by that time we should have a CEO etc in place.

I’ve worked for one billionaire and know three others. None of them accumulated their wealth by playing it safe.

You are Howard Hodgson and I claim my 50p