Re: The Steve Bruce thread

by deadbuzzardalive Sat Jan 14, 2017 7:55 pm

It really wouldn't bother me all that much if he was replaced, I wouldn't do it myself just yet. But if we were to drop anymore than say 15 points from the play-offs, I'd look to bring in someone with a reputation of implementing passing football and give them time to bed in that way of playing in preparation for next season.

For too long we've been absolutely diabolical on the ball, seems every team we play puts us to shame, in that respect.

Some say it doesn't matter how you play as long as you win, which is true to an extent, but this club can't even get the basics right, we need someone to come in stamp and identity on the team. Round spoke of Villa having a way of playing, but we've seen nothing of that.

by **Trotters** Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:34 am

We were grinding out some results, albeit lucky/ugly. Given that Bruce hadn't had a chance to get his own people in, I was ok with lucky/ugly.

But he has got somone in....Calderwood.

@VTID85 mentioned in the Wolves match thread that we've gone bacowards since he's joined and there's no arguement to be had there. Maybe it's him? Maybe it's the various other coaches; the Wolves goal that I saw on a 30 second highlight was a fuck up from just about every player and that's just fucking unbelievable!!! There is absolutely no awareness and no urgency.

If I read next year that Randy Lerner has lost all his money, I'll be convinced he's been paying our players to be useless sugarbags. There's no other explanation as to why footballers at this level cannot even manage the basics like pass, move, and follow the opposition.

by DelboyVilla Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:01 am

Bruce has to take some of the blame for these performances!

When he first came in we gained some resilience and that seems to have disappeared?

by VTID85 Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:35 am

Trotters wrote:We were grinding out some results, albeit lucky/ugly. Given that Bruce hadn't had a chance to get his own people in, I was ok with lucky/ugly.

But he has got somone in....Calderwood.

@VTID85 mentioned in the Wolves match thread that we've gone bacowards since he's joined and there's no arguement to be had there. Maybe it's him? Maybe it's the various other coaches; the Wolves goal that I saw on a 30 second highlight was a fuck up from just about every player and that's just fucking unbelievable!!! There is absolutely no awareness and no urgency.

If I read next year that Randy Lerner has lost all his money, I'll be convinced he's been paying our players to be useless sugarbags. There's no other explanation as to why footballers at this level cannot even manage the basics like pass, move, and follow the opposition.

I seem to remember a lot of talk about CC getting us defensively in order but other than Chester (who I'd argue is probably the only consistent player currently) where the fuck is our ability to stave off an attack out of a counter or build-up? Hutton is a tryer but his effort is all mis-placed, Elphick is a disgrace and Amavi clearly has his head off elsewhere and gets skinned multiple times every game. Our midfield, often rightly criticised, offers no kind of reinforcement.

by smetro Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:36 pm

I've heard that calderwood was a compromise choice - the only one that round and Bruce could agree on

by DelboyVilla Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:40 pm

smetro wrote:I've heard that calderwood was a compromise choice - the only one that round and Bruce could agree on

Well Phelan is on the market again now?

by AstonThriller Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:51 pm

It's all doom and gloom and it all feels very sh/t right now but I just looked at our recent results and when we take out the Spurs defeat it's not that bad. In the last seven games we've won three, lost three and drawn one. IF he manages to win the next two games at home to Preston and Bristol City then we should be right in the mix again.

We've got to be fair here. This is not his team and he's just lost two of the best attackers we've got at the club. He's also hamstrung by having to play garbage like Hutton, Westwood, Bacuna and Gabby because the squad is just not balanced right. Let's give him the next two windows to wheel his magic and then take a look at his position after the first ten games next season if we're still in the championship. The key thing is he knows there's a whole load of crap in this squad and slowly but surely he's shipping them out...now he has to bring in those players who can save our season.

by DelboyVilla Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:42 pm

@AstonThriller I think the doom and gloom comes from the fact the performances even when we have won have not being convincing? Yes Bruce needs time but when you look at Lambert at Wolves he looks like miracle worker? We know he is not but they out played us with inferior players on paper last night and I can't understand why?

by Saunders82 Sun Jan 15, 2017 4:14 pm

AstonThriller wrote:It's all doom and gloom and it all feels very sh/t right now but I just looked at our recent results and when we take out the Spurs defeat it's not that bad. In the last seven games we've won three, lost three and drawn one. IF he manages to win the next two games at home to Preston and Bristol City then we should be right in the mix again.

We've got to be fair here. This is not his team and he's just lost two of the best attackers we've got at the club. He's also hamstrung by having to play garbage like Hutton, Westwood, Bacuna and Gabby because the squad is just not balanced right. Let's give him the next two windows to wheel his magic and then take a look at his position after the first ten games next season if we're still in the championship. The key thing is he knows there's a whole load of crap in this squad and slowly but surely he's shipping them out...now he has to bring in those players who can save our season.

So he needs to get started NOW The Steve Bruce thread - Page 7 1327487109

by The Utterer Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:06 pm

DelboyVilla wrote:@AstonThriller I think the doom and gloom comes from the fact the performances even when we have won have not being convincing? Yes Bruce needs time but when you look at Lambert at Wolves he looks like miracle worker? We know he is not but they out played us with inferior players on paper last night and I can't understand why?

For me teams have rumbled us now, they know our weaknesses and are finding it easy to snuff us out basically. Lambert would have seen and known exactly how to snuff out our weak supply lines and unsurprisingly did so pretty easily.

If i was him i'd say " allow them to pass the long balls up as they have nobody capable of holding it up and just focus on the high press and cutting off the short passes as they will make loads of mistakes.".... Enough said and game over every time.

by **Trotters** Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:22 pm

For me a big part of the doom and gloom was summed up by Sam Johnstone; a great first game then he caught whatever condition it is that seems to affect everyone that comes to this club. Let's just call it "fuckery".

by Guest Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:09 am

I really don't think Jonhstone made a mistake.

He had one save that he pushed into an akward area, but what could he do about that shot? You'd be pretty demanding of you expect him to grip the ball at that pace and spin.

His second weird intervention was basically because Elphick was his usual self.

by DelboyVilla Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:10 pm

Johnstone didn't do brilliantly but it wasn't totally his fault IMO others were as at fault as he was?

by Gordonsleftboot Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:52 pm

Fickle? A couple of weeks ago the bloke could do no wrong, well not much. Now after a couple of defeats things have changed. He still has only signed one player, we have so many senior staff that it probably takes days to get agreement to anything, we've been going down the pan for years and he has been here for what? 3 months?

For goodness sake get real. This will take time to turn around. Judge him when he can be judged - after he has brought more of the players in and he has had time to settle things down.

I'd love to see how good some of the biggest critics are at their own jobs. The moans that the window has been open for 2 weeks and we only have one new player in. Many clubs have no new players and few spent what we did in the Summer.

I doubt any sane person would choose Gabby unless he had too. The same goes for some of the others. To date he has had little choice. RHM hasn't helped either. I'd rather see us take another season to get up and stay up rather than yoyo. Like it or not some patience is required here.

by **De Kuip** Mon Jan 16, 2017 3:44 pm

NARLA wrote: I'd love to see how good some of the biggest critics are at their own jobs. The moans that the window has been open for 2 weeks and we only have one new player in.

Well I've appointed three new members of staff in the last 2 weeks (although admittedly, whilst none of them are wingers, one is turning out to be a whinger......).

Can I be Villa Manager please? lol!

by **Trotters** Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:47 pm

The NHS has a transfer window! lol!

by **Trotters** Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:59 pm

For those on twitter...

Check out SteveBruceatWeddings (@bruceatwedding): https://twitter.com/bruceatwedding?s=09

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:16 pm

After defeats Bruce keeps saying we've got to get back to basics, earn the right to win and not expect to just turn up because we're Aston Villa. But a bit of confidence wouldn't amiss actually, and it will take a lot more than just trying harder to improve us, we need an actual game plan.

I'm starting to lose faith in him fast. And I think he's messed up our striker situation big time. No point in sacking him now really, but I'm not expecting much of an improvement over all, so I think we'll be looking for yet another manager come the summer.

by achilles Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:13 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:After defeats Bruce keeps saying we've got to get back to basics, earn the right to win and not expect to just turn up because we're Aston Villa. But a bit of confidence wouldn't amiss actually, and it will take a lot more than just trying harder to improve us, we need an actual game plan.

I'm starting to lose faith in him fast. And I think he's messed up our striker situation big time. No point in sacking him now really, but I'm not expecting much of an improvement over all, so I think we'll be looking for yet another manager come the summer.

I tend to agree, he just can't keep on saying the same things and nothing different happens on the pitch!

I too have a feeling that not a lot will change and he will go in the summer!

by deadbuzzardalive Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:24 am

I hope I'm wrong and we go a good run, and take some momentum into next season. Just doesn't feel very likely. What I'm certain of, is that we can't not sack him, if this continues just because changing managers hasn't worked in the past. The reason it hasn't worked in the past is because the wrong manager's have been chosen.

by **Trotters** Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:21 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:What I'm certain of, is that we can't not sack him, if this continues just because changing managers hasn't worked in the past.

Sure we can. If he's tactically inept (which he seems to be), if he cannot organise a defence - and surely this would be hís strong suit, and if he cannot motivate players (I'm looking at the conversation he had with Amavi after which Amavi went to total shit), if the team cannot even do the basics of football and if we stay hovering just above the relegation zone or worse with the most expensively assembled side ever in this league then yes we can and should sack him.

His first half dozen games in he showed signs of improvement but being humiliated 3-0 at Brentford - and it could have easily been a LOT worse - isn't what Aston Villa are about.

He can say sorry all he likes. Just fix it. Fast. Or do one.

by **De Kuip** Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:12 am

I think if he was RDM or Garde or Sherwood I'd be worried as fuck do to their lack of previous experience and results, but I can't believe SB would become a bad manager overnight and I don't believe SB is a bad manager. Let's see what we do for the rest of the season now he has a lot of his players at the club. If by then we're still shit I'll say it's the Villa curse and it's turned SB shit as well! I know last night and our general situation is cause for anger and frustration but fuck me there's some hysteria on this forum over the last 12 hours as well. Fucking embarrassing at times.

by Villa_Dan Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:26 am

I'm still fucked off at the farce that occurred last night. But I won't turn on Bruce yet, even at Hull last season there were seriously rocky periods. Between Feb and April they went 12 games with only 3 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses.

We won't make the play offs this season but hopefully we will at least show a run of form now until the end of the season to lift the mood and make us an attractive prospect for summer targets.

by **Trotters** Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:56 am

How active is he in the training ground? Is he fully hands on or is he like MON stuck in his office masturbating over football manager?

Maybe it's the coaches that need to take the flack here but there was nothing for 80 minutes that resembled a football team. That's on Bruce for throwing all the newbies on from the get-go.

by AstonThriller Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:25 am

He's on a rolling contract so sacking him wouldn't be hard financially that's for sure. My thinking right now is to see how he gets on until the end of the season. If the finish is a total disaster and we're in the bottom half then I think Xia and co will have to have a serious think about what to do next. If we finish in decent form then lets give him the first ten games of next season and go from there.

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