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Aston Villa News and Views News,Opinion POLL; Simple question; Bruce, yes or no?

POLL; Simple question; Bruce, yes or no?

3 October 20163 October 2016| Badger123Badger123| 229 Comments| 11:39 PM
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bruce

Ok, I’ve stuck my neck on the block and said that I believe Steve Bruce is the man that we should appoint as our next manager.
But I’ve also seen some disagree vehemently, which is of course, fair enough.

We can go into the ins and outs of what he’s done in the game, but what it all boils down to, is can we swallow another ex Blues manager managing our club?

Yes, you can cite reasons why we might go with someone else, but I’m more interested in the specific question, as in the headline, because I believe it’s important in that the fans’ views might swing opinion.

Please base your vote on the assumption that he’s the only option we have and whether you’d give him a fair chance, as opposed to turning on him and calling him a Bluenose as soon as we lost a game or two.

229 thought on “POLL; Simple question; Bruce, yes or no?”

  1. What will be different under Clarke? If he was RDM no 2 then surely what we have seen up until now is what he has been coaching on the pitches of BMH. I say give Steve Bruce a 2 year contract and a big bonus to get us up

  3. It’s laughable now, they say interviews have been taking place 3 or 4 have ruled themselves out we’re speculating more to be seen by the end of next week ,how are things going to change? The coaching staff are the same so how it going to improve, is there anyone that can run a football club like Aston Villa we are a joke.Please Dr T get a board of fans in and let them run the team because so called paid professionals can’t.

  4. McLeish on Clarke’s chances of being a permanent Villa manager:

    “Why not?

    “He’s got good experience. I think the guys with experience, notwithstanding me sitting here, experience is forever.”

    “You have to consider guys like Steve Clarke, but there are some big names in there beside him.”

    1. Had? HAS great potential and a great win ratio with 60% of games won – if only that was an option.

  8. Bruce is fav for a reason, the bloke is the best candidate for the job.

    Get on with it Xia and give the bloke a job!

  9. Well technically according to win ratios Bruce is not the best option when considering the names.

    Wagner 40.9%
    L. Johnson 39.1%
    Bruce 37.6%
    Clarke 33.6%
    Smith 33.5%

    Given the mess the club is still in and the turn over this past summer you would have to assume Bruce’s closest comparison was his time with Sunderland; where he won a massive 29.6% of games. To put that in perspective that is the same percentage as Lambert’s time at Villa and surprisingly less than Sherwood’s tenure at the club.

    1. The problem with stats is they can say what you want them to. Sherwood, Johnson and Wagner’s win ratios are over very few games compared to Bruce (Wagner 11 games) and only Sherwood has managed in the Prem.

      Given that Bruce has managed clubs with relatively low budgets between the Chamionship and Prem pretty successfully then his win ratio over 10 (?) seasons with four promotions stands up to scrutiny. His teams also play pretty good football and I believe he would have recruited better than RDM realising that central midfield needed addressing which RDM has clearly failed to do.

      1. Stats – yes can be slanted one way or another, although win ratios do tell a lot about experienced managers and if Bruce was compared with his peers he would still come up short. McLeish, Lambert, McClaren, Holloway, Redknapp all have better record than Bruce and to be honest that doesn’t fill me with a lot of hope.

        Fair point on experience, but this bring up the real issue with supporters when Villa are faced with the task of appointing a new manager. Does the club go for a quick fix and appoint Bruce who everyone knows cannot cut it in the EPL or do they build something with a promising manager who could take the club farther in the long run? Because the last thing I would hate for is the club to get relegated it’s first season back or the team culled by another new manager.

  10. It will be a case of ‘stand up potato head’ rather than the classic ‘sit down potato head’

  11. Well whoever it is if they don’t hurry up they’ll miss the international window. Unless Dr. Tony has a surprise up his sleeve that is?

    While expecting Bruce I am wondering why its taking this long.

    1. I reckon the answer to this lies somewhere inbetween what we’re reading.
      The Mirror says interviews this week, where others say interviews next week.

      I’d guess we’re going to interview a very select few this week and they’ll be assessed and summarised so Xia has a good briefing before he interviews them himself… next week?

      I could be talking rubbish, but it backs up what I think, in that Xia appreciates the opinions he has around him.
      But ultimately makes his own choices.
      It’s how all these high flyers work, isn’t it?

  12. Anyway according to the BBC Lee Johnson has ruled himself out so one less to interview.

    Was he ever ruled in though? Anyway it goes on…

  13. According to Pat Murphy –

    ‘Aston Villa have interviewed no-one yet for the vacant manager’s job, with none planned until next week.

    Background checks and due diligence are still being done on the favoured candidates and Villa have to consider if an approach should be made to clubs employing any of those. Money is no object in terms of compensation but Villa realise an approach may be knocked back’

    Oh well no point in keeping an eye on Twitter then.

    It will be interesting to see if there’s a difference in the game against Wolves with Clarke in charge.

  14. Interesting that Dean Smith was a Villa steward with his father, i cannot remember him being one of my lot, still I moved on in 91. So we have 3 interested Smith being at the front.Pat it seems he his on the list with Bruce being fans favourite. All this from the Birmingham rag and if you asked me they don’t know.

    1. Smith is a nice guy but job too big for him he won’t last beyond Xmas trust me

  15. It’s starting to make me wonder if Bruce is our number one target, he’s unattached & would be a straight forward deal.almost a week wasted imo

  16. it must be a nightmare trying to get a manager to come in and be successful.
    a lot on here including myself wanted either pearson or moyes last time round. One has lost his job and the other looking over his shoulder.
    At the time of their employment most were happy with Lambert, Sherwood and DiMateo. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
    Bruce however on the whole has done well with the resources at his disposal wherever he has been. So you decide on experience or the hope of somebody new coming good in the long run.
    Experience for me this time around.

  17. See that Dr. T tweeted he was ‘rushed into RDM decision not to be repeated’ (I’m paraphrasing).

    I really find this strange as we were led to believe he was clearly Dr. T’s preferred choice and contrary to advice it is said he was given by the then board.

    I find the whole issue perplexing; I wonder whether there is significant disagreement around the board as to whom to appoint – otherwise why not go for Bruce (unless of course he’s stalling over the possible England job). It does seem that part of the delay may be in order to give Clarke an opportunity to make a case – don’t think this is finances driven, more likely perceived benefit from continuity.

    Would be good to get a view on Steve Round’s role and input.

  18. Quote from Neil Warnock –

    “I spoke to three or four clubs since the summer – two went with foreign managers, one went with an English manager, and one’s not got a clue what they’re doing.”

    Wonder which one was us?

  19. Same here Hitch.
    It’s hard to have any opinion, as we don’t know what Clarke’s views are, do we?

    If he agreed with the way RDM set the side up, I’m not sure why he hasn’t gone too?
    But if he disagreed with things, perhaps he should be given a run?
    The trouble is, I just wouldn’t find his appointment very inspiring, although agree, it might be a continuity thing.

    Not that it would matter if he were to get wins.

    I’ve just been reading a blog in the Mail, where the writer says he wants a more long term appointment and it’s a valid point.
    Me, I don’t care as long as we get the wins to get us promoted asap.
    Then worry about anything else after.

    The longer it takes to get up, the more difficult it’ll be to stay up.

    1. With regard to Clarke a good number 2 should voice any concerns but at the end of the day they have to follow the manager’s lead and back up his decisions.

      I’ve worked with bosses and disagreed with how they did things. I did my duty and made suggestions but they were the boss. I’m bloody certain in most cases that I’d have done a much better job than them if I’d have had the chance.

      Hope Clarke falls into this category too.

  21. I’m worried now, lost all believe in the club don’t seem right that we run with the old staff with them knowing their jobs might be gone with a new manager, who can work like that? We’re not going to win another game for weeks.

    1. That’s a very valid point Bill – although there have been a few interim managers that have done well. If Clarke and Bond believe that the team can be successful and had issues with RDM then they would go all out to get wins that would see them appointed long term. We shall see.

        1. OohAh – could you let me have this weeks winning lottery numbers as you obviously have an infallible crystal ball – or are you just wise with hindsight 🙂

  24. Well it looks like Bruce, to be honest I don’t mind, all the poll’s indicates him now the bookies , i won’t look at him saying he’s a blue nose he’s here to do a job let him get on with it, at least hes British and has the CV.

    2. Joking apart – barring a short term ‘Warnock fix’ I reckon he’s the best available. Always thought he was a decent, honest manager (now there’s a rarity), knows the game, plays decent football and has the CV which meets Dr. T’s criteria.

      Like others I don’t get this hate towards the Bluenose connection. Peter Withe came to us after playing for them and Sir Ron managed them – I don’t remember any of this extreme reaction. Seems to me that it has all been blown up from the McCleish fiasco which was always far more than just coming from Blues.

      Anyway, who knows with money to spend he might just be a good long term appointment.

      Probably be Dean Smith now 🙂

  25. I think if Dr x weren’t overseas on business we’d have our manager inplace now,I think Bruce has already been given the job but no confirmation of this will be released until tonys back here for the unveiling that’s just my opinion but I think that’s pretty close to the mark

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