ciggiesnbeer

Well said. I fully respect fellow fans who do not like the way he sets up the team to play. Its a completely fair criticism and its fair to want him gone because of it. But its not fair to label him useless and so on. He didnt get us promoted but you know what? We played some pleasing stuff under Bruce and we won 47% of our games, when was the last time that happened? I am glad you asked, 1934. So yeah, if he goes I will be as excited to see what a new manager can bring as much as the next fan, but I wont be throwing a kick Bruce's was as I do. Hell I will even clap him if he rocks up to Villa park with another team, only if he loses mind

I do wonder what that play style / formation would look like. Brentford was known to play 5-3-2 with Hogan. I can see how we have the players for that. Have those two wing backs push up to make it a 3-5-2 as needed. My worry would be the central three defenders, they are adjusting in pre season already but I feel there is a long way to go. For me Alan Hutton is one of my favourite players but he does not look that comfortable in that back three yet. He always wants to get forward (which is why I like him) but that can be disastrous in his new position.

I dunno about that one.. the rest I give you.

Insightful! I missed that. Cheers.

I would be happy with a better manager too. But again Steve Bruce is the most competent and all round professional manager we have had since MON. Yeah I know not a lot of competition but still, I would be worried about losing him until I knew the replacement.

Villa legend.

Quick call up Lyngby! I am sure advice will save the day! We seemed to think it would for them.....

I dunno, I saw his reserves game after he came back from loan... I wrote him off after, it was that bad.

I had no idea what that sign meant either. Shrug. No doubt Richards is a massive drain on the club and I do not forgive his attitude during our relegation, but being hoaxed by a bitter blues clearing in the woods is not something I blame him for I still want him gone mind.

I am planning on the old standby....

So with the best will in the world, we have an acting CEO who is a novice in this sector (he has never been the CEO of a football business before) who is juggling finding funds and selling players. In the latter case he has less than a month to do so and so far he hasn't sold one. If he doesn't manage to do these things in the next 3 weeks, Aston Villa quite literally may go out of business. Righto then, seems like I need to lower my expectations even further for how this year is going to go.

I think the flaw with that shifting of the deadwood plan is paying off contracts as a lump sum. I dont think we have that cash. We dont know how bad it is obviously, but we do know we couldnt find a million quid a month ago. I think the club as well as us are trying to mentally shift gears from "biggest spenders in the league" to "can we stay up with whats left after we sell the players other clubs will buy?" Its quite a shock.

Harsh, but fair.

On the plus side we can now focus on club football! oh right....

Correct. But they have been solvent. I wasn't exaggerating, we may have less to spend than Ipswich next season.

I agree. Honestly would you trust the club in its current freefall to pick another manager? Even if they could who the hell would come? We have no money. Ok I know the answer, MickMcarthy. Which if anyone seriously thinks that would be a stepo up football wise, well, I dont think they have seen Ipswich the last few years and they had more money than we will.

I agree. Unfortunately the strategy of building a squad for "right here right now" did not pay off. Much of that squad as we now know must leave, either back to their clubs or we cannot afford them so must be sold. While I know we as fans are mulling over the "do we want Bruce or not?" question I honestly think he maybe wondering "Do I fancy being manager at another nutcase club as it collapses?". Its not like he is going to struggle to find work, no matter what we think he is a well regarded manager by club owners.

I am starting to feel the same mate. But dont feel bad, nothing wrong with trying to enjoy your club again and wanting to believe the deathride decade was over. Sadly it isnt but fans are the last people to bear any blame. It just sucks

I appreciated the letter. Although its all bad news. I sure am finding it very hard to get excited about a season where our goal is survival in the Championship though . Sigh

Its a nice thought and sure we all hope that. But lets face it, more likely he is just the new Habib Beye

I am willing to bet Leeds fans will have more fun watching their team this season than us watching Villa.

Leeds got Bielsa??? DAMMIT. well fairplay to them they have done their time in the wilderness. I guess we are taking their spot. Bloody hell our club has had a disastrous few years.

Cardiff is a better run club than Aston Villa. I cant believe I just typed that and its true. jesus what a state.

I still do. To be clear Mick is excellent in game and is very good at bringing in decent functional players on the cheap. But bloody hell, I have just about lowered my expectations enough that I can "enjoy" Steve Bruce's football. Mick would be yet another massive step down. Sigh.