Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Clampy]

What would have been positive about potentially giving the gig to Henry?

There's been a careful spinning of Bruce. Failure hammered over and over again as if it's black and white.

We weren't promoted, but we came very close. That's not good enough but the narrative that's being spun about the football makes out like we were awful all season and struggled.

The desire to have somebody that's less qualified to run the Villa than Sherwood was says more about the dogmatic lack of objectivity from some than it does Bruce.

If a better option comes along and the timing is right, then you improve if you can. Henry wasn't that.

All this talk of bottling is garbage.

Agree entirely.

Me too. Bruce has earned his second full season in charge.

I'm not sure that he's earned it. Bearing in mind how chaotic things were off the pitch, it was just an awkward time for a change by the time the new guys came in.

[dave shelley]

But that’s just assuming that Henry was the only option. Even Lerner managed to pick somebody half decent when he rocked up.  I really can’t see how mid season is a better time to replace a failing manager.

O’Neill was appointed by Ellis when there was still a functioning club structure in place.

He was Lerner’s choice and the fact that Ellis was still there was just a matter of timing and formalities.

I am sure Lerner gave the nod as he was about to buy us but it was Ellis who handled the recruitment. There just isn’t any structure at the club to enable those sort of decisions now, Xia is the most experienced’ football person’ currently involved.

With regards to the football person with experience, I would respectfully suggest that that would be Brian Little.  Whether anyone actually listens to him or indeed heeds any advice he may offer, I can't say.

[Neil Hawkes]

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

Mauricio Pochettino - then Jack can stay where he is.

[Brassneck]

But that’s just assuming that Henry was the only option. Even Lerner managed to pick somebody half decent when he rocked up.  I really can’t see how mid season is a better time to replace a failing manager.

O’Neill was appointed by Ellis when there was still a functioning club structure in place.

He was Lerner’s choice and the fact that Ellis was still there was just a matter of timing and formalities.

I am sure Lerner gave the nod as he was about to buy us but it was Ellis who handled the recruitment. There just isn’t any structure at the club to enable those sort of decisions now, Xia is the most experienced’ football person’ currently involved.

MON only joined because he was given a war chest to build his own side. It was definitely a Lerner appointment.

Having experience to aid appointing staff hasn't served us well thus far - We have untold dead wood who are bleeding the club dry and further average players who are earning more at Villa than they would anywhere else in this division. Our wage bill is currently unsustainable.  Furthermore, our choice of manager over the past few years has been terrible.  Let's not kid ourselves that we need to pay some wise man to tell us that Pep Guardiola is a good manager.

[Villafirst]

A bit surprised that Bruce has left Tshibola behind - at least give the guy a chance! I didn't think he was that bad when he played before.

[garyshawsknee]

My thoughts too, he's still young enough to improve, I always thought there was a potentially good player there.

[sickbeggar]

A bit surprised that Bruce has left Tshibola behind - at least give the guy a chance! I didn't think he was that bad when he played before.

yep. seems odd with our limited resources that you'd bin a 23 year old that cost us 5m

[Chris Smith]

But that’s just assuming that Henry was the only option. Even Lerner managed to pick somebody half decent when he rocked up.  I really can’t see how mid season is a better time to replace a failing manager.

O’Neill was appointed by Ellis when there was still a functioning club structure in place.

He was Lerner’s choice and the fact that Ellis was still there was just a matter of timing and formalities.

I am sure Lerner gave the nod as he was about to buy us but it was Ellis who handled the recruitment. There just isn’t any structure at the club to enable those sort of decisions now, Xia is the most experienced’ football person’ currently involved.

With regards to the football person with experience, I would respectfully suggest that that would be Brian Little.  Whether anyone actually listens to him or indeed heeds any advice he may offer, I can't say.

He is there to advise on football matters and my guess would be that he would advise them to stick with Bruce for now rather than act in haste. The same view that I have heard from the majority of Villa fans I have spoken to recently.

[eamonn]

One plus about ditching Bruce, whatever you think of his football, is that everyone would start with a clean state meaning no Bomb Squad II building-up (Tshibola, Richards and Mccormack). We must be spending over £100k a week on these non-contributors.

[Clampy]

One plus about ditching Bruce, whatever you think of his football, is that everyone would start with a clean state meaning no Bomb Squad II building-up (Tshibola, Richards and Mccormack). We must be spending over £100k a week on these non-contributors.

I wouldn't include Richards in that. He's hardly played since Sherwood buggered off. As for the other two, manager's come in and don't fancy players for whatever reason. He's obviously not convinced by Steer or Bunn, hence the reason why he's brought in another keeper.

[Matt Collins]

My thoughts too, he's still young enough to improve, I always thought there was a potentially good player there.

He couldn't get into the Kilmarnock team

[Chris Smith]

One plus about ditching Bruce, whatever you think of his football, is that everyone would start with a clean state meaning no Bomb Squad II building-up (Tshibola, Richards and Mccormack). We must be spending over £100k a week on these non-contributors.

Tshibola just isn’t good enough and Richards is a crock and any manager would see the same. Fat Ross has ability but a questionable attitude. Another manager might have a chance of getting something out of him but I wouldn’t put money on it.

[sickbeggar]

I don't know how you can write off any player at 23. Especially considering who we had regularly playing last season.  Certainly Bruce would have struggled big time if he hadn't selected the likes of Kodjia, chester, jedinak, adomah

[Clampy]

I don't know how you can write off any player at 23. Especially considering who we had regularly playing last season. 

You seemed quick enough to have a pop at our new keeper after watching a 4 minute You Tube video.

[mr underhill]

we only signed Tshibola because Clarke pecked RDM's ear about him. He 's gash.