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.
Bruce since being linked to us hasn’t said he’s not interested & ruled himself out he’s not said he hasn’t been contacted or contacted no clubs have said they’ve gave permission to their manager or refused permission to talk to us.this is why I believe it’s already a done deal
Think your spot on Giddy with that assumption, Bruce as some people think has by passed the England job when big Sam was picked, possibly thinking Southgate now is England’s next man. I’m almost certain its Bruce now.
I do think though Clarke will be in charge for the wolves clash & Bruce watching on in the stands.
Were we harsh on Lambert considering the shower he had to deal with and the limits on wages. Yes it was time for him to go but how on earth did he keep us in the top flight
China is on national holidays this week. If you believe like me that Tony is just the English speaking front man for a group of Chinese businessmen, then it makes sense that nothing will be announced until next week when they are back at work in China.
So Xia says we’re down to two candidates now.
A pound to a pinch of proverbial says this is Bruce and Clarke.
And we’re only paying Clarke lip service.
I think it’s Bruce and always has been, possibly as far back as a few weeks ago.
why not Bruce and keep Clark as coach.
black will not be coming back.
We may well keep Clarke, although the word was Bruce wants to bring Keith Bertschin in.
That don’t work you have to have your own people in people you trust and sing from the same hymn sheet.
Seems between Clarke and Bruce. I suppose it begs the question whether RDM and Clarke were at odds – were the board aware of this and did it weigh against RDM?
If Clarke is a candidate surely the club would give him a few games to prove himself as he’s already in the door.I really don’t think this will be the case Bruce is already a done deal I think wolves will be Clarkes final game with us.
Not sure they would Giddy as they have already ‘seen him in action’ as it were. Once Dr. T speaks with Bruce I think he’ll be convinced off his credibility. Personally I would be disappointed if Clarke got it (rather than Bruce) as his CV as a manager just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
I agree hitch I think it’s Bruce all-day mate
Badger saying Bruce wanting Bertchin in could be Xia thinking ok we’ll do that wanting a quick result and having Clark as well. He’s so determined Dr T that it might happen. Anyway lads England u 21 Tuesday on BT 2 45 pm might have Grealish on show.?
Bruce, boring, turgid football it is then. Oh to be a Bristol City fan, with a young, inventive progressive manager. When will we ever get a manager that other clubs envy?
To be honest I’d settle for boring and turgid football so long as it had another adjective – winning.
Bruce is the best bet for where we are right now.
Lambert, Sherwood and Garde were all viewed as young and up and coming.
Understand where you are coming from Dave and have a great deal of sympathy for your viewpoint but now is not the right time for a young progressive manager. We need someone who has seen it all before, has a good track record where we need it and will not be phased by the weight of expectation that hangs like a pall of doom over VP.
What I disagree with is your analysis of Bruce’s football. I’ve always thought his teams played good attractive football but were also well organised defensively. I’d take that at VP plus a few wins!
It’s not yet rubber stamped we might get another mumbling boring jock.
Just as an aside I see Sean Dyche has shortened to 8/1 (from 33). Of those being mooted for the job, he’s the only one I would take over Steve Bruce.
What a coup that would be; make you happy Dave C?
I can’t see the hell why the media are bringing anyone else into the equation,Dr x has already stated there’s only 2 candidates left & Burnley to my knowledge haven’t gave permission for us to talk to dyche it’s all bollox personally I’ll be glad when it’s all over
I see Derby have parted company with pearson I hope we get a move on & put pen to paper regarding Bruce.
Ps obviously you don’t dave c.
Pat Murphy has said Bruce has spoken to Wyness 3 times since Wednesday, including what the article suggests was a 20 minute phone call yesterday;
http://www.footballinsider247.com/reliable-journalist-this-manager-had-held-three-talks-with-aston-villa-since-wednesday/
Now assuming that you’d think a phone call would be private, who’s giving the info to Murphy?
It seems it would have to be one of those two and most likely Bruce?
And not particularly professional, imo.
I mean, I know some managers will talk to the Press, but in a situation like this, where it’s pretty obvious where it’s come from?
If the phone call part is true, of course. Murphy doesn’t mention that in his tweets, in fairness.
The web-site couldn’t have made that part up, could they???? 🙂
But this is exactly the story that the BBC are also reporting on their website this evening.
I’m assuming that the information is actually being released by the club, as was the so-called ‘short list’ a day or two ago?
So it was a telephone call?
I’m surprised.
I’m not sure I can recall a club doing this sort of thing before?
It’s normally kept all quiet until the deal’s done isn’t it?
Suppose that’s the difference between Lerner’s way and Xia’s…
To be honest lads, I actually quite like Bruce, he seems be a sound bloke, I just find his teams tend to be a bit boring…., solid but boring. Apart from the FA cup final v Arsenal, Hull seemed to be a very dull side to me. I think he’ll steady us, and we’re probably not far off clicking anyway, I just hope he uses all the attacking talent we’ve got. The reason for my moan is, I see Bournemouth with a manager who plays exciting football who everyone seems to love, I’m convinced that Lee Johnson is going to be the next Eddie Howe, he’s doing a great job at Bristol City, and he certainly knows how to play Kodjia.
We’ll be safe with Bruce, but I don’t see great success coming with the likes of Bruce, Moyes, Pearson and the like….I really hope I’m wrong though!
I know what you mean Dave.
But I don’t believe a young buck will get us up this season, which has to be our immediate aim/priority.
Bruce possibly won’t either, but I believe he’s our best bet, purely because he’s done it a few times.
If we don’t do it this year and look to be nowhere near, then might be the time to go with a young buck.
As for using all the attacking talent, so do I. But not all at the same time.
That’s what’s made the team so unbalanced.
Having said that, I don’t know what any manager would do with the mids we’ve got (Westwood impotent, GG out of form, Jedinak just poor and had a shocker for the aussies), so any new manager might be forced to play similar to RDM.
Plus I think you forget the level of expectation at Villa, even now, which is something Bournemouth don’t have yet.
I want Bruce would prefer Dyche but hey thats life. Some people dont want Bruce, why are fans abusing each other throwing that word fickle about again.
Its not on here its on twitter, and it always happens Villa dont win for 10 games, fan who pays to watch matches gets pissed off with it and says manager needs to be sacked. Armchair fan attends two maybe three games a season says no he needs more time ‘Rome was not built in a day’ and then calls the ST holder fickle.
Am i the only one who gets annoyed with it
Fickle is a word I don’t like using to a fellow VILLAN, everyone’s opinion may differ in this case certain fans feel strongly about something & feel they have to act accordingly,that is their right & shouldn’t be knocked.we all love the club as an equal.
Well said Giddy – is it safe now for me to declare my admiration for Westwood……… 🙂
I wouldn’t go that far 😀
Reading between the lines I get the feeling the job is Bruce’s to accept or not – the sticking point may be the make up of his back up team with Villa (Steve Round) wanting Bruce to keep Clarke as his number 2.
Just a thought.
Whoever it is – how do they solve our midfield problems over the next couple of months – whatever Dr. T will have to get his cheque book out in January.
Bruce would be a very short term appointment. He isn’t good enough for the Premier League , so either way he will be sacked in 18 months.
If we fail to go up by the end of next season he’ll be a goner.
if we do go up, he’ll have to be sacked to give us a good chance of staying up ( similar to what Southampton did with Adkins when they were promoted).
Let’s just wait until he’s through the door before he’s being thrown out of it.
I had a very realistic dream last night, we won a home game 1-0 and Gabby scored a cracker!! Anyway back for him under a new manager I wonder?!
Some speculation on that point Dave but reckon he’ll have to win over Dr. T first!
And the fans!
f**k**g hope not.
his attitude and lack of commitment has been a major contribution to where we are now.
I see Bruce has identified Steve Agnes of Middlesbrough as his number two, what does that tell you?
i would have thought villa would have hired bruce by now. strange this delaying or dilly dallying. swansea hired the yank before the italian left the building.
i don’t agree with our midfield being weak granted its not our strongest link. but in this division its by far the weakest. players like Jedinak westy and gardner all are adequate midfielders.
bruce will get the team settled to a system. then players like jedinak will start to settle. some fans are too quick to judge. RDM was clueless to his strongest 11 or a system. so new players which we have alot off, must also have been unsure,too what the manager wanted.
whether we like some players or not. we have a squad capable of winning games in this division, but i feel next manager really needs to get off to a flyer. then confidence in this squad will see us up at the right end of the league, wether this start will handicap us we’ll have to see ( i think we can still get promoted this season)
Certainly agree with you that RDM didn’t seem to have much idea what he really wanted the players to play to.
IMO what Villa desperately need is a ‘system’ so that the players know what the manager wants them to do – and that takes a bit of time; I imagine that Bruce is the sort of manager who would build that [whether we end up liking the ‘system’ is another question…]
well i would like any systems, that will see villa finally win games home and away. something we haven’t done in close to a decade. we have had too many managers, we lost our identity. we always played decent football, i think its back to basics. first you need to stop this spiraling downwards spin, bruce can achieve that.
doesn’t matter to me the style of play. we are in a desperate state at present. bruce can get this club moving back in the right direction. then if we need another manager to move us on again to another level, then iam sure they will hire somebody else.
but i am sure had bruce had these players from the start of this season, he would have a system and players with more confidence than we currently have now. RDM was wrong man we all were sure at the time he was hired. and iam sure this time if bruce comes he is the right man to stop this club falling further down the leagues.
amen lol
Nath, our midfield has been awful up to now, imo.
As I said, Jedinak had a shocker against the Saudis, so maybe you can’t pin it down as just the players around him.
Gardner has shown nothing, whatsoever, as much as I like him.
And Westwood, well you’re entitled to your opinion.
Tshibola is the only one who’s looked anywhere near decent to me.
Of course, playing effectively 4 up front doesn’t help.
And I don’t think Bruce will continue that, as it’s suicidal if we don’t get enough goals early enough. We just can’t withstand any pressure, let alone an onslaught and the defence side of the game will be beefed up over the attack side, imo.
Indeed, it’s what any sensible manager would do imo, as any pairing of our attackers should be good enough, let alone trying to get all 4 on.
No doubt we’ll see.
Anway, I was looking to write another post, but I don’t think I’ll bother just yet, as it’s pretty much all being said here.
The Express are saying Bruce will be appointed by next weekend, which figures, if Xia is coming back over here, as he’ll want a face-to-face.
Interestingly, they’re saying this will happen “despite a number of high-profile managers making late approaches over the vacancy this weekend.”
You can bet your boots Pearson has thrown his hat in, but has blown it.
But I wonder who any others might be?
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/719219/Aston-Villa-manager-Steve-Bruce-unveil-Roberto-Di-Matteo-replacement-Nigel-Spink-coach
I read that article Badger – seems that the poisoned chalice is still too attractive to turn down – I find that interesting although they didn’t actually name any of these ‘high profile fortune seekers’!
agree badger on your points on our non existent mid field, on to bruce why? do we need more staff how is that what we need more upheavel more staff to pay off we only had HOUILLERS MCLEISH LAMBERT SHERWOODS GARDE RDM IN LAST 7 SEASONS give bruce the job till end of season let him bring 1 one helper in and no promotion bye bye bruce no pay offs needed
forgot to mention in that time 6 different fitness coachs and look at the shape of gabby
You won’t see me arguing about a short term contract and minimal other staff, Jvillan.
It’s whether we could get a manager in on those terms though, I suppose.
our results have been awful, doesn’t mean its the midfield fault. jedinak has barely had time to settle. hes got one niggle to another how many games has he actually played. i think he needs to be given time and a settle system before we pull the trigger on his value.
gardner was able to play championship very well for other teams. again i think another, who is given games in a VILLA SHIRT finally. might actually be able to show his value.
westy well why don’t we just shoot him and be done with it ~ some fans blame him from the black plague to the great fire of london or is that baker
i think the system RDM has tried to play, is the reason why so many players look out of tune. four strikers leaves midfield short. that also makes the defense make mistakes. lets wait for bruce almighty. to give them so order to their play. a system they can play too. then if the midfield is pants well sue me.
we have one of the best sides, squads in this league and reason we are were we are is bad luck and bad tactics and also bad game management by the players, but as each passed and we only managed a win over rotherham the confidence evaporated.
Well, as everyone keeps saying (not just us fans), we’re still a monster club in the scheme of things, aren’t we?
Yep, very interesting.
I wonder if some of rumoured (and wanted by some) names actually put themselves forward?
Who’s a high profile manager whose job in the Prem is looking iffy? Moyes maybe?
Regardless, surely it must mean Bruce is now a shoe-in?
Because it doesn’t make sense that you’d discount what might be good options, even if they are late, otherwise?
I see Ian Atkins is the new European scout worked with Bruce in the past just a coincidence??? Hmmm
Agreed. It’s looking more and more like a done deal, with Xia just giving the nod.
Did it really have to take this long???or is it due to Dr x being out the country???I think this was/is valuable time Bruce could of spent with the players before wolves.
Agreed again.
I guess it’s about Xia having the final/only shout?
Or maybe we can’t appoint until Xia has given his feedback to his masters?
But look at the publicity – Dr T must be loving all the exposure – or is that a too cynical view?
Depends on the point you’re getting at 🙂
It’s reasonable that if Xia has seriously high ambitions, he needs the club to maintain as high a profile as possible.
It could be a personal thing, but I’m not sure what he gets out of it?
Mind you, Ellis liked to blow his own trumpet didn’t he?
I just get the feeling Dr. T loves the theatre of it all and, yes, he’s not exactly the shrinking violet! If one believes the press Bruce was in the frame in the summer – was he interviewed then?
Don’t know but it all seems a bit ‘stage managed’ including Bruce’s ‘convenient’ appearance on Sky. That’s not a dig at Steve Bruce as, with respect to Clarke, his CV just doesn’t rate alongside Bruce so Bruce for me.
Reporting to his masters is about right Badger. China is back at work today after a week’s national holiday. I think we are going to have to become familiar with the Chinese calendar ruling our timetable. Hopefully not with superstitions about the numbers 0, 4 (bad) and 8 (good).