Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[villa `cross the mersey]

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/john-mcginn-scored-the-goal-of-the-season-and-it-still-wasnt-enough-for-aston-villa-200890


good write up

how most of us see it

Don't know who the journalist is, but he's absolutely nailed it there.

KYLE PICKNELL gets it

He gets it all right.
Succinct
Please read.

That is spot on - I just wished a reporter would be more brutal with Bruce face to face pre/post match

[Duncan Shaw]

I guess that's not a particularly "mainstream" article though is it sadly, and we'd never get one of the sycophantic big boys writing/asking with such insight!

[olaftab]

Very disappointing that there is no Press conference at Villa Park or a statement issued so far announcing his departure.

[Dante Lavelli]

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/john-mcginn-scored-the-goal-of-the-season-and-it-still-wasnt-enough-for-aston-villa-200890


good write up

how most of us see it

Don't know who the journalist is, but he's absolutely nailed it there.

KYLE PICKNELL gets it

He gets it all right.
Succinct
Please read.

Definitely worth a read.  A point that is worth labouring: relying on wonder strikes from McGinn and 1 in 10 free kicks from Hourihane cannot be considered a game plan or tactics, it just demonstrates that we have better players than most/all teams in this league.

[VancouverLion]

This article needs emailing to the owners!

[tomd2103]

Bruce's problem is arrogance. He never seems to look to improve, think how he could have done something different, look to learn new things, just has ignorant blind faith that he's a good manager and everybody else is wrong.

He just believe's he's the best man for the job, all managers do. He's not going to say anything different when he's fighting for  his job. To me it's not much different to Mourihno taking the piss out of Man Utd fans when he said he hasn't spent enough money. Wenger was stubborn as well towards the end. They all are when their backs are against the wall.

There comes a point where under pressure managers switch in to self preservation mode and begin creating a narrative to try and impress potential employers.  It helps greatly if they have supporters in the media who regurgitate this narrative without ever challenging or pulling them up on their claims.

He came out with it on Saturday, but you just know that when the day does come for Bruce, he will immediately revert to the "I was never accepted because I managed Birmingham City" line.   

[mr underhill]

I don't care a fig what spin is spun - i just want him gone.

[Damo70]

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/john-mcginn-scored-the-goal-of-the-season-and-it-still-wasnt-enough-for-aston-villa-200890


good write up

how most of us see it

I liked his comment on Bruce completing 100 games in charge. 'A cricket century made up of entirely opportune singles and cautionary batting'.

Also, 'It's not just joy Steve Bruce is robbing Aston Villa supporters of, it's the very hope of further joy to come'.

[brian green]

Eric Black was the same, letting us dangle in the wind when we were already relegated.  He could have used those precious weeks to prepare for the Championship and hit the ground running.  All he wanted to do was please his new masters at Southampton that he was a loyal gaffers' man.  It's what shits do.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Disappointed in the silence from VP over Bruce!
Clearly the new owners and CEO are putting their heads in the sand and not even attempting to connect with fans, even to try and justify keeping Bruce.
For me he has to go, Bruce Out!

[leylandalbion]

Disappointed in the silence from VP over Bruce!
Clearly the new owners and CEO are putting their heads in the sand and not even attempting to connect with fans, even to try and justify keeping Bruce.
For me he has to go, Bruce Out!

They can say one of 2 things. 
We have every faith, full confidence etc  or;
Your fired.

The relative silence to me indicates they are working behind the scenes on his successor

[Rotterdam 82]

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/john-mcginn-scored-the-goal-of-the-season-and-it-still-wasnt-enough-for-aston-villa-200890


good write up

how most of us see it

Just as telling is this article about Bruce from 2011 that is linked to in the one above as  "I'm not really into tactics".

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/nov/30/steve-bruce-sunderland-sacked

Sound familiar?

[john e]

that artical  is so true I got a bit angry reading it

I hate what Bruce and a few others have done to Villa over the past seasons, the damage is going to take a lot of turning around

[LukeJames]

That article is bang on. More and more people are wising up to exactly how it is. I just wish one of the interviewers had the balls to question him properly rather than throwing him gentle cliches every week.

[Damo70]

That article is bang on. More and more people are wising up to exactly how it is. I just wish one of the interviewers had the balls to question him properly rather than throwing him gentle cliches every week.

To be fair to Bruce he is very good at getting his retaliation/excuses in first before anyone can give him a had time in an interview. Not many people who interview football managers have the balls to do a Jeremy Paxman style grilling for fear of the interview being abruptly ended and then having difficulties with the manager in question in the future.