Lerner's Driver

On 04/03/2017 at 19:39, TRO said:

Thats been part of our problem.....due to the massive demise.....the balance went for a "burton" and players were being ill-judged as a consequence.

as the 11 takes some shape and the round pegs go in the round holes and the square ones in square holes, suddenly players will start to look something. There is still a long way to go though.

slowly, slowly, catch a monkey.

We have created what we have and some of the players that have gone out on loan, was probably victims of circumstance and no more.

We do have to calm our jets a little and let the manager and coaches, get on with it, without every every juncture being a car crash.

Agree totally Tro, but none of this is new, so why do some fans forget and become obsessed with the idea of yet more managerial change? 

14 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

Sometimes some people have their colours nailed to a flag and it's impossible to change them. 

 

It's easy to spot. 

Sadly, Trump style shouting is all the rage these days

58 minutes ago, JE- said:

Then there is bringing back the useless gabby and Richards... Just these things are totally unforgivable for me

So don't forgive them, hold a grudge, harp on about it endlessly and make sure we understand why you are so certain that you are right. I'm bound to have forgotten by tomorrow, so I'll be grateful for your reminder.

12 hours ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

David Platt this guy ain't.

Correct... good spot, he's not David Platt, he's Connor Hourihane, who could end up being as good as David Platt - something neither you nor I will know until it either happens or doesn't. 

Just now, AntrimBlack said:

Absolutely, and I am delighted that we won, but it is because of the manner of the win that I remain doubtful.

Sure, nothing wrong with doubt. I doubt all the time. I'd argue doubt is actually intrinsic to success. You have to believe in what you are capable of despite the doubts, otherwise there is no point in bothering at all.

Just now, AntrimBlack said:

From what I hear about the performance, I am far from convinced.

Results are ultimately all that matter. That was true whilst he was losing and it's true now.

6 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Moan moan moan give it a rest. You sound ridiculous considering the last 3 results

Couldn't agree more.

Best bit about winning at the moment is the reduction, (however temporary), in the whingeing. Thank you for shutting them up Villa.

Couldn't be bothered to read the Mail article which said something like Hutton triggers contract extension, but can someone explain what that means because I would have thought it would be the club triggering it, not him?

2 hours ago, Grasshopper said:

There's no excuse for the results & performances, Gaby, SJ, the lack of cover for Kodjia, Jedi and playing scared.

That horrific, totally unacceptable run cost us the playoffs. Derby dropped off, so did Norwich, Leeds & ShefW are becoming inconsistant. Even a few blips wouldnt have cost us too much.

Bad management from either Bruce or both Bruce & above.

Anyway, We will labour a win against Rotherham so the 3 wins (although very welckme) just paper over the crack.

We had  a  chance with the Bruce Luck/Bounce but he blew it.

Clean sheets against teams struggling doesnt mean that SJ & Hutton are not making mistakes/have all of a sudden become good Ch players.

I'm more than angry that being 6pts off the playoffs whilst riding luck, Kodjia's indjvidualism, Grealish worldy and a few pens, Bruce bought/had bought for himself time to progress as a football team. But he didnt. he failed to capitalize.

We'l now go through groundhog day again a la Oct-Dec getting pts but not progressing as a team finishing unconvincingly midtable buying Bruce enough time to "go again" next season.

Take a good look who's coming down from the PL add 2 from Reading, Leeds & Hudds and I'm no where near convinced Bruce will have us on the front foot enough dominating games, results & the table.

Papering the cracks

Bruce Out

What do you think of Steve Bruce?

13 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

I think you underestimate football fans capacity for a good moan. There are some Albion fans still moaning about Pulis. 

Oh, you should never underestimate that, but f*** me does it become wearing sometimes when people go on and on and on and on. As they do, again and again, making the same point in a slightly different way. 

11 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

I'll continue to moan and pick holes if there's obvious and clear flaws IMO. 

Hope we fall so I can be proved right? What a load of shit. Yes I hope I can keep going to watch my club in the championship for many years so I can say I was right on an internet forum. Good lord. 

It's not as if everyone can't see the flaws, or crucially that the people in charge don't care about them (maybe under Lerner, but clearly not any more), so difficult though it may be, a break in the incessant whingeing would be more than welcome. 

22 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

A small start in improving. But he needs to promote us next year, still a long way from looking like that can happen. 

Correct and at this precise point in time you, me and everyone else has a choice... do we take encouragement from the signs and add our own support to the momentum, (despite our doubts), or do we continue to pick holes, moan and secretly hope for the next fall that will prove us right?

Early days, but those screaming for the managers head were wrong - being patient is beginning to show its rewards. By no means has he put everything right and he has (by his own admission) made plenty of mistakes, but there are signs of continued improvement and that is all you can ask. Well done Steve Bruce and Aston Villa football club.

Another team in relatively poor form. If we score first and early 2-1, otherwise 1-1.

1 hour ago, Dale said:

Awful performance, terrible set up but we won. I'd sack Bruce tonight regardless. 

Brilliant idea. 

As predicted. 

Beat Bristol City, which is doable and it's Rotherham after that, so small steps, but we have sight of a little run now.

Well done Villa.

Derby are nothing special full stop and their away form is also average.

By comparison, our own form is shocking of course, but if there is going to be an upturn in fortune, then it could well come against a meh, you win some you lose some, type team.

Derby's most replicated away scoreline is a 1 nil loss, meaning like most away teams they keep it tight, frustrate their opponents, look to nick one on the break and frequently don't quite manage it.

This strategy has worked all too easily for opponents coming to Villa Park recently, but assuming we finally get some luck and can get our noses in front before they do, I think we'll win ugly today.

A dour 1-0 to the Villa.

18 hours ago, Morley_crosses_to_Withe said:

So the parachute payment doesn't even cover half of the wage bill! 

 

Hmm, could be seen as baiting the authorities, which is never wise... Ahoy Football League, if you had any doubts about our financial viability without my money, then f*** you, fine me and see if I care. All very well being confident and powerful, but you can't hope to ignore the rules forever.

Not saying we will be sanctioned, or that we have breached Financial Fair Play yet, but if we have, or are close to doing so, then we could be served a transfer ban and that takes away one of Tony's only fun toys.

The last thing we need to do is buy more players of course, but at some stage we will, so not sure about the braggadocious style in this instance. Why invite a challenge when he already has plenty on his plate? 

1 minute ago, DCJonah said:

I didn't answer the question because for the first time this season I chose not to go. 

I just don't see any faith in an improving 3-1 loss from a 1-0 loss. 

 

Don't blame you for not going. I'm trying to apply a management performance template to Bruce and his contribution.

Anyone who has been through this process knows that it's likely you are on your way out because you are not rated, but if you engage with the process and can demonstrate your improvement, they won't sack you because you are meeting the criteria.

He's got 3 or 4 games at most to continue showing improved performances and results, I'd say.

1 minute ago, DCJonah said:

Improvement from what though? 

The last few games?

The games when he first joined?

Games under RDM?

If it's just the first, then I don't see why losing 3-1 but playing better than losing 1-0 or 2-1 is any indication that more time should be given. 

For me, performances are worse than RDM. Results are worse than when he first joined.

There's nothing happening to suggest more time will see the sort of turn around that will compete for promotion next season 

 

Yes improvement over the last few games. You didn't answer the question, I notice.

Of course it's debatable as to how long a run of defeats can be sustained and there's no doubt each one tightens the noose, but...

If performances are improving, they buy him time because it shows he is learning, responding and having an impact, even if it's not enough (yet), to produce the win.

When all these things stop being seen in his performance as manager and we go maybe 3 or 4 more games without a win, then yes it's time.

Not quite yet, in my opinion.

I wasn't there last night, only listened to two thirds of it on the radio so, this is a question for all those on here who are certain Bruce must go... were there any signs of improvement last night?

Putting aside the recurring individual errors, the fragile mentality and the hideous inevitability of yet another defeat, did his line up, the overall team performance and his approach to the match show he had learned something and there were some signs of improvement from his players?

Of course, the things I've asked you to put aside are important and must be dealt with, but when hate sets in people lose their sense of balance.

If there were any signs of improvement, he still has to be given time. If there were no signs of improvement then sure, sack him.

6 minutes ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

There aren't any real leaders out there and it's a major problem.

We just bought a team of captains, perhaps that is part of the problem. They all feel emasculated by each other... 

12 hours ago, Woodytom said:

The jobs too big for him. He's a journeyman manager used to journeymen footballers and perhaps the odd star (dugarry for example). He's the ultimate grinder out of results at a poor level. Any higher he's pretty useless.

He has no experience of taking a decent footballing side (which we have the players to be) anywhere and has no (to my knowledge) any proof he can stop a rot. He just ends up looking sorry for himself and closing his eyes in response to the latest **** up.

Enough of this 'stop sacking the manager nonsense' and just start employing the right one!! 

Oh okay, good idea, let's do that then. Hang on though, what if appointing 'the right one' doesn't work immediately though?

Should we get angry, frustrated and sack him in 5 months too, despite the fact we were all sure he was progressive and a much better fit than Bruce?

Ok, yeah, let's do it right now. No time to waste. Can't take this pain any more, we absolutely have to have new hope immediately.