Footy’s a fickle game.
It was only a week or so ago that we played Brentford and quite a few of us said that it was the best that we’d played in a very long time.
But from what I’ve been reading on the net, today’s performance was worse that the 0-3 drubbing we suffered at Cardiff last season, which was a massive low point in itself.
I didn’t see the game and it’s probably just as well, as I’ve no doubt I’d be saying Bruce has to go.
The good news is the fact that I didn’t see it somewhat tempers my attitude for this post.
Not that it matters much, as I’ve come round to thinking that Bruce’s departure is now looking inevitable, regardless of what I think.
It’s all a bit of a shame really and it seems strange that we’re talking about Bruce’s departure when a couple of brilliant signings in Bolasie and Abraham haven’t even played for us yet.
Yet Bruce has lost the support of the away fans.
When that happens, it’s only a matter time.
I’ve often said that all that matters is the result and it means the performances don’t matter so much as long as you get the three points.
But that thinking is only good when you’re winning.
In the last five games, we’ve drawn three and lost two and apart from the Brentford game, have performed very poorly.
And that’s simply not good enough.
It’s not just the performances for me though.
Some of Bruce’s decisions are not making sense to me.
We’re playing Jedinak in defence, something the vast majority of fans don’t agree with, yet we’ve let Elphick, who played well and was unlucky to be dropped, the last time he played, go out on loan.
How will we stand if Chester gets injured?
Then there’s Bruce’s slating of the team in the Burton game.
While I thought he was very honest (and probably 100% correct) in that interview, I also had to ask if that was the best way to do it. I wonder how many of those players will be willing to go the extra mile for Bruce now?
I commented last time, that I thought Bruce’s treatment of Adomah was disgraceful.
And now there’s the fact that he’s playing players who aren’t fit.
In the manager’s defence, he’s saying that all the players wanted to play and declared themselves fit.
But it all seems to me that losing games in the style we did today, with our squad; making seemingly dodgy choices and alienating your players all means your days are numbered.
And there’s still the matter where we don’t seem to have any sort of plan and the players are playing simply because they’re good.
Even if we get a result in the next couple of games, I can only see the away fans itching for Bruce to lose again.
And the protests will be bigger and louder.
I think now might be a good time for a “mutual agreement” settlement, but I don’t think Bruce will look to resign.
As I said, it’s a shame it’s come to this, but the only way Bruce can redeem himself is to suddenly go out with a much more attacking outlook.
And we all know that just isn’t going to happen, regardless of all the attacking players we’ve signed.
Which is something else that doesn’t make sense to me.
Comments
84 responses to “Sheff Utd 4 – 1 Villa; Just a matter of time for Bruce’s sacking”
Bruce and his coaching staff need to go. Our only style of attack is long punts in Kodjas direction or pass to Grealish and await a foul to enable a long punt into box. He said there would be a reaction after he rested first team against Burton, and he was right, we were even worse! Now he is blaming players, congested fixture list, international break with players departing so they can’t train. He is sounding desperate and doesn’t have the answers except for put your boots on and roll up your sleeves, which is surely the basics of a pre match team talk. He isn’t going to get boot just yet but it feels like only a matter of time. Trouble is if we don’t get promoted this season, he has thrown all his eggs into the loan system basket, so that he or whoever comes in will have to start from scratch again next summer. Starting to sound a bit like Groundhog Day!
Holte – don’t think we can blame SB for using loan system given that we probably do have FFP to deal with although I’ve never believed the size of the problem – that was always going to be a cover for Dr. T’s financial problems.
The other point is that we know a couple of the loans include options to buy which is an improvement on last season.
The real issue for me is that the squad is unbalanced and Bruce got it wrong in not prioritising or, at least ensuring we got in a CB and LB. Massive risk as we can’t address either now until January – unless JT does return (maybe on a match by match contract?).
Of course it’s easy to criticise from a distance and in Bruce’s defence he had an absent owner, no CEO and a reduced period within which to deal in the market once Sawiris and Edens miraculously appeared.
If Bruce can turn it round in the next 5 games (as I agree with posters it’s unlikely he will be removed just yet) I will be a happy bunny – but can he?
Fair comment Hitch about loans and right to buy option. Trouble is the right to buy will probably depend on promotion being achieved, and i think it is unlikely based on current form. My issue is that once new owners arrived, Bruce went head first into loan market shop and blocked any progress from our U23s. Green, Steer, Doyle Hayes, O’Hare, Hepburn Murphy, Clark to name the obvious ones. If he gets promotion then great but failure will set us back to the beginning every season. New owners can’t really escape FFP restrictions whilst in the Championship.
See your point. The irony is that Nyland is a permanent deal. SB’s logic with Steer / Green is they need regular football after a year out with injury.
I sort of get that – O’Hare is injured I think and we haven’t taken any loans for mid field. RHM cannot yet play as a loan striker imho
O’Hare has returned to U23 duty after injury. He scored a pen in the last match. I would like to see him given some pitch time when deemed fully fit, even if it’s 15 mins. Of course it’s a difficult position in a game like Sheff Utd, but even so.
You are right about RHM, and certainly with the way the team play not being suited to him.
Agreed DS – need to try and give both O’Hare and Doyle-Hayes first team game time – sensibly that should initially be from the bench in a winning side playing good football. So there’s a contradiction to resolve!
Reading the papers this morning it seems the JT story is gathering a lot of momentum. Will Sawiris / Edens sanction it?
I see a lot what’s going on in the amateur football league ranging from 11 -15 year old kids, whether its a directive from the coaching fraternity they are told to play players in other positions, its now part of coaching, I’ve posted about our coaching staff and blamed them as being guilty to how Bruce’s play’s his team.
I have to admit football has changed that much its boring to watch, all this passing from side to side then back makes me cringe, if we intend to move on we have to have a manager that more ambitious than Bruce an his staff.
See not everyone is convinced over JT coming back. Someone posted on here about his influence off the pitch and in particular with JG. If the owners are prepared to sanction a deal and JT is prepared to return it can only be a good thing for the club.
Maybe we should offer him a player / coach deal?
Bringing back Terry is a sign of desperation – no thanks. Use the money to pay off Bruce – that will get a far bigger seal of approval and allow us to move forward progressively instead of looking to our failed past under the dinosaur.
Bruce has left us with one recogised centre back until at least the new year.
Says it all.
If we are to sign JT then we need to beat Sporting Lisbon to capture his services. I would think that if we can get him it would dig Bruce out of a hole that he has dug for himself. Dean Ashton one of the latest critics of sending out Elphick on loan. Apparently Mitch Clark has received positive feedback on his displays so far. Bruce’s best form of defence till January is attack, but most on here including myself think this approach is beyond him.
Holte – not sure about the Sporting Lisbon story. We have a man seeking to be President of the club in an election on Sunday (against four other candidates) making grandiose (and unsubstantiated) claims about the players he will sign if elected!
But then again the link with Villa is only press conjecture!
The next few days should decide whether there is any substance to the speculation Hitch. Frankly Bruce should move heaven and earth to try and sign him. He could save him his job, or replace him!
Now this a joke, Villa going for James Collins. please say its not true.
It’s a bit late for Bruce to suddenly realise we desperately need another CB.
Aston Villa preparing swoop for James Collins
According to West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee, Aston Villa will make a late offer to snatch James Collins from under the noses of Ipswich Town.
What’s the story?
Collins left West Ham at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract, but was actually linked with a return to the Hammers before the club’s head coach Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that the stories were false.
Bill, being reported that JT has dropped another big hint he’s coming back to Villa – on instagram ‘back to school for the kids and back to for me’
I just don’t see him going to Portugal and leaving his family here in the UK.
I really do hope he resigns we need him in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.
Also might not make a bad plan B as manager if they do end up sacking Bruce
Been busy wife not to good, late replies, Hitch didn’t think that Collins was on the cards and glad, now the Terry one makes feel better, I wonder if he did come back it would be to work closely to Bruce as he hasn’t a clue in positional play.
If we look over the amount of times he’s clock up in players positions that alone tells me he’s not tactical minded…
WOw TRAILBLAZERS Aston Villa kits have sold 750 per cent more this season – thanks to trailblazing fashion designer Luke Roper
Villa snubbed big bucks to turn to Luke, creative director of Luke 1977 and Aston Villa diehard, to design their kit this season
Bill, I’ll guarantee you that’s 100% BS, if you think it’s an overall figure.
It’s most likely to be in one single shop/ online store, where they only sold about 3 in the first place.
God, I detest hype.
Where did you get that from?
Best wishes to the missus mate.
Thanks Both,
I get news feed off the interests I monitor . I also spotted it on face book from someone that posted it. I’ve no reason to disbelieve it to be honest as its more than likely Villa fans have broken away gates records.
Oh, it’s in the Sun, an advert disguised as news.
Voted the best Championship shirt by GQ magazine?
That’s important, isn’t it?
Call me a cynic, but people are not going to rush to buy a Villa shirt unless they support the Villa.
It’s admirable that the shirt’s been designed by a Villa fan, but at the end of the day, it’s a championship footy shirt, very similar to what we’ve had recently.
And definitely not something I’m rushing to buy, even though I have loads of previous shirts I’ve hardly worn
Sorry, Bill.
As I suggested, I detest falsely based hype.
Anyway, sod the shirts, I’m more interested in who’s wearing them on the pitch.
Bill, sorry to hear your wife not good – best wishes from us; hope she soon feels better.
Best wishes to your wife Bill, hope she makes a speedy recovery mate.
Thanks Guest, we’ve been seeing specialists over the last few months and she being monitored. It’s the pain she has.Thanks all.
Bill – my wife has suffered with differing forms of arthritis for over 30 years so we fully understand the issues around pain management and the side effects that can bring.
Wish you both well.
That’s the problem now Hitch .
Hey Bill, we have arthritis in our family too, I too suffer with it but mainly in my fingers, it’s usually fine in the summer but in colder weather I really feel it, I take two turmeric tablets a day which really helps, not a miracle cure by any means and might not do much if your wife’s arthritis is severe but it does help and also combats a lot of other things, because they are a natural remedy you can take them on top of any medication too, you can get them from any Holland and Barrett store.
Thanks Guest, will try that,we have an Holland and Barret in Nuneaton will get some. Off now to take a monitor back to the doctors. Speak soon.
England’s u21 play tonight, how come sky has every game next week and the itv and BBC not televising any.
Abrahams come on for England chance to see him in action.
Elphick has criticised Bruce for not getting a chance and loaning him out with no CB’s to replace him. Hard to argue with that. We beat Hull and Elphick scores and he gets dropped next game. Tuanzebe and Jedinak have been hopeless so far yet they seem untouchable. Starting to think that either Bruce is a stubborn idiot or clauses in contracts are being enforced.
he is an idiot
I had a chance to see Abraham in the young England game last night, hey has some wonderful touches, going to be a big asset to us. I’m still hanging on in hope That Terry with us soon.
A super computer has predicted the final championship league.
Middlebough promoted with Leeds. Here it comes
17. Millwall
16. Bolton Wanderers
15. Sheffield Wednesday
14. Blackburn Rovers
13. Bristol City
12. Wigan Athletic
11. Aston Villa
10. Nottingham Forest
9. Preston North End
8. Stoke City
7. Sheffield United
6. Swansea City (play-offs)
5. Derby County (play-offs)
4. Brentford (play-offs)
3. West Bromwich Albion (play-offs)
What a load of bull shite this is…….
It wasn’t very accurate last season either. You just cannot predict football in the Championship using algorithms. Easier in the Prem but then you don’t need a computer for that!