Well it’s hardly a surprise, but it looks like Bruce will be announced as our latest manager tomorrow, with Keith Bertschin, Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh joining the background staff, according to the Telegraph;
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/11/aston-villa-to-appoint-steve-bruce-as-manager-on-wednesday/
The Beeb are running the story too.
Seeing as I tend to call most stuff wrong, I’m going to blow my own trumpet and say “I told you so”.
Not that it means much, as it was looking more obvious by the day, wasn’t it?
So on the assumption that the story is correct (and there’s no reason to think it isn’t, except the Telegraph actually says “within the next 48 hours”), I’m going to make a plea.
I realise that while there are many that support Bruce being our next manager, I also accept that there is a sizeable minority that don’t and will quite simply never accept him because he was once at Blues.
Without wishing to upset those who don’t like him, I have to say I think it’s just pathetic.
I’m not going to go into the ins and outs, but for me, it’s summed up easily.
He hasn’t been near our neighbours for 9 years.
And he’s got promotion from the Championship 4 times.
That latter point is enough for me in itself and I believe he’s simply the best man for the job that’s required at the moment.
I’m not saying we have a love-in and make the bloke a messiah.
Indeed, as far as I’m concerned if he gets us promoted and proves dodgy in the Prem, I’ll probably be one of the first calling for his head.
But for now, we need to get behind the bloke and give him a proper chance to get us back to the Prem.
Most of us knew that RDM was the wrong bloke for the job and similarly, I believe most of us know that Bruce is the best bet of bouncing straight back up, as much as some of us might not want to admit it.
What we need to do is give Bruce a few weeks at least, same as we did for RDM. Hell, I’d like to give him a lot longer than that, because I know he will at least set the players up properly and have them drilled, even if results don’t come instantly.
Basically what I’m saying is we’ve seen that we have a panicky squad that needs settling.
There will be no chance of that happening if we’re getting on Bruce’s back from the off.
I see James Chester was saying what a knowledgeable bunch of fans we are.
You know it makes sense.
For you younger supporters, you might need a nudge as to what the headline’s about.
Just replace the word “Peace” with “Bruce”;
As it happens, I remember we used to sing the words “All we are saying is give us a goal” to that tune.
Things don’t really change that much do they?