Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[ChicagoLion]

Hogan is slow, short and lacks footballing ability.

Disagree - Hogan was expected to recreate his form in a totally different system to the one he came from and has - I think - been let down by Villa (although he should have at least put the header on target a few minutes from the end of the play-off final  )

Poor first touch, does not hold the ball up or link up play.
As an out and out poacher he may be ok, but as you say we are not set up to create lots of chances.

[mr underhill]

speechless he's still here. And the only way Hogan is 5' 11" is if he's wearing a dominatrix's six inch spiked heels.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Personally I don't see what Bruce is adding to the club or anything of a 'legacy' he's leaving behind, he's taking good players and getting enough good individual performances from them to get points. If he even had us looking like a team that was trained together I could forgive a lot of the stupidity but we just don't, 'give it to Jack' or 'go on Jimmy, make something happen' is pretty much the extent of our attacking threat (in open play) which is fucking shameful.

His legacy, whether sacked today, tomorrow or in December - and he will be, is a very good squad that's only missing a centre half or two. It's an attractive proposition for any future manager to step in and get us organised. The sooner that happens the more chance we have of getting promoted. We're not in a financial position to spend another season in the Championship as should that happen, his legacy will be worthless to us as the talented players will want to leave. This would create a whole new rebuilding, something that should be avoided at all costs unless we prefer to remain in the Championship.

I would hope that today everything is being done to find his replacement. It doesn't matter whether he wins his next two or five games, every sane Villa fan knows exactly it won't last and Bruce's weaknesses far outweigh his strengths. He has to go, and the sooner the better. Now is not the time to be sentimental.

I can hear the excuses and the references to the Rags when they sacked Rowett when sitting in sixth place. They should never, ever be used as a benchmark for our club. Instead, look at Spurs who sacked Redknapp after a fourth place finish. They realised it was time to step up and build on what he had achieved and brought in a manager that could improve them for the medium, long term. The press can say what they want but for me, the most important thing is us getting promoted and not struggling or getting relegated next season. The only purpose of our time in the Championship must be to regroup, rebuild and return stronger.

Get busy, Mr Purslow!

[john e]

I don't think we will John.  Not with that defence.

maybe, but I still think we got enough firepower ie Grealish, McGinn in midfield and Koj and the  new signings up front to get us TorT

I'm with risso. Credit where it's due I think Bruce has assembled some real talent in midfield and attack. But that defence is a shocking mish mash of out of position players. Only a fool would build a palace on clay foundations.

i think your both underestimating just how shit this league is (or should i say overestimating)    whatever

me thinking we will finish in the play offs is not a nod of approval towards Bruce he should be killing this league by now, the bloke has wasted the last two years

i honestly think i could get our squad into the play offs and i'm not even joking

[robleflaneur]

Comparing Hogan to Bent, firstly Bents goal scoring record at the top level is impressive and Bent was an athlete and quick.
Hogan is slow, short and lacks footballing ability.A bargain at £12 mil.
Something not quite right.

You realise they’re the same height don’t you? I also wouldn’t describe Hogan as slow, or lacking footballing ability, but each to their own.

To me, the main difference between Hogan and Brentford and Hogan at Villa is the speed at which the teams execute their attacks. When you watch footage of his goals at Brentford, the ‘moves’ were very much quick, direct and he was the central, focal point of those attaches.

Last season at Villa, although it would be hard to argue that he wasn’t surrounded by better players, the system was drastically different. Our build-up play was neither quick or direct, even when it was effective. When you play with inverted wingers, the attacks from out wide largely involve the wingers engaging their full-backs whilst advancing forward at snail’s-pace trying to create room for a cross. This makes it very difficult for a striker like Hogan to escape his marker, or make any meaningful movement as he’s basically restricted to operating within the penalty area. I think it’s why Adomah had so much success arriving at the back-post last season.

Sadly, I don’t see this approach changing much this season, as by the time Bolasie has completed his 12th step-over it’s going to be difficult for any striker to steal a march on their marker.

Compare this precise tactical analysis to Bruce's exhortations of 'get your boots on' and John e's boast of doing better is certainly no joke but he faces serious competition.

[berneboy]

I just want Steve to go. Now. Please.

Give me hope

I really think he's a very poor manager. He's obviously liked and seems to have good contacts but other than that he brings nowt. And is killing me slowly. So negative, so lacking g in imagination, so apparently lacking intelligence.

Please release me, let me go, for I don't (never) love you any more ..

[berneboy]

But it looks like the new owners are taking their time.
It makes sense to get to know the place, perhaps waiting for financial situation to ease ready for a new manager.

[PeterWithesShin]

He's killing us all slowly with his football. And there he was, this fat man, torture to my eyes.

[Steve67]

They must be thinking about protecting their investment but also thinking that Bruce hasn't had the chance to see Bolasie, El Ghazi and Abraham in the same side yet.  Once they are, and we keep playing badly, then they really have no excuse not to pull the trigger.  One hopes that they are sounding out others in the meantime.

[LeeB]

He's killing us all slowly with his football. And there he was, this fat man, torture to my eyes.

Strumming my pain with poor wingers, playing full backs the wrong side.

[SoccerHQ]

They must be thinking about protecting their investment but also thinking that Bruce hasn't had the chance to see Bolasie, El Ghazi and Abraham in the same side yet.  Once they are, and we keep playing badly, then they really have no excuse not to pull the trigger.  One hopes that they are sounding out others in the meantime.

All about timing really.

We'll probably pick up a bit but can't see the sort of winning runs we had last year due to the mediocre defence. We will need clean sheets to win games after all.

So we'll limp on around the play offs but like last season top 2 will go off into the distance.

Personally I'd have got rid of SB this week. I can see where this season is going and making a change this early would give us good chance of challenging for automatic as overall league is weaker than last season imo.

[Diablo]

He's killing us all slowly with his football. And there he was, this fat man, torture to my eyes.

Strumming my pain with poor wingers, playing full backs the wrong side.

Hahaha!

[olaftab]

He's killing us all slowly with his football. And there he was, this fat man, torture to my eyes.

Strumming my pain with poor wingers, playing full backs the wrong side.

He stood there  flushed with fear, embarrassed by the crowd
He thought about after match words and said  each line out loud
He prayed that match would finish 0-0 but they just kept right on

[avfcpg]

Maybe he's got until the end of September....Blackburn, Rotherham, Sheff Weds & Bristol are all very winnable games you'd think....under normal circumstances that is.
Should have gone after Fulham but hey ho...let's hope the owners have not ignored  his last two years...

[The Edge]

I don't think we will John.  Not with that defence.

maybe, but I still think we got enough firepower ie Grealish, McGinn in midfield and Koj and the  new signings up front to get us TorT

I'm with risso. Credit where it's due I think Bruce has assembled some real talent in midfield and attack. But that defence is a shocking mish mash of out of position players. Only a fool would build a palace on clay foundations.

i think your both underestimating just how shit this league is (or should i say overestimating)    whatever

me thinking we will finish in the play offs is not a nod of approval towards Bruce he should be killing this league by now, the bloke has wasted the last two years

i honestly think i could get our squad into the play offs and i'm not even joking

Teams in the championship can punish crap defences. There isn't a manager out there who could make our defence solid. Best we can hope for is to still be in contention once the transfer window reopens in January. But I still don't understand how we're getting around ffp so that could still be a problem. Either way old spud head has made a huge fuck up of our squad.