Sam3773

In October, I could have written a 40 page document as to why Bruce should be picked. Point one would have been his promotion CV. None can argue with it, he even got Hull promoted a couple of months before. And thats what we wanted, a manager who could come in and get the results to take us up. It'll be easy though, right? All you have to do is turn some of those draws under RDM into wins. Play offs in no time! And it worked, for a few games at least. More wins came and we started to believe again. "Don't look back in anger". Unfortunately since then, each game has presented a new starting line up in a new tactical position and our form sheet has more L's in it than a Welsh town. It hasn't all been Bruce's fault though. Injury and AFCON have forced changes, but not wholesale changes. Throw yet another lifeline in the direction of a certain shisha loving striker, and you're as good as condemned. Bruce came with bags of experience and promise. Not the manager we wanted but the manager we needed. Now he seems to cut a shape of the opposite. A man who doesn't know what he's doing, trying this and that each week until something fits. Playing negative, very defensive football in winnable games. The squad do need time to gel, absolutely, but that can't happen if the team and tactics are changed weekly. Bruce seems to be legion. A poor mix of Sherwood's rolling the dice, O'Neil's buy all the players, Lambert's dour going again and the hint of a McLeish blue coloured history.. He was never going to get long If results went south. I think he's had long enough. We go again. Next.

I want Garde back.

Someone just said Mike Phelan to me.. Available, has a huge level of experience at the highest level. Not sure myself, but certainly not an awful suggestion.

If Xia builds it, Mancini will come, right?

Ah, the Tim Sherwood method. I like it.

Go on, defend him. One of you defend him. I dare you.

See last week's post.

Neither will the next guy.

Which one of you bastards broke the mirror?! And how long ago was it?

Presumably to find the ball he fired over there earlier?

Gardner hattrick incoming.

Isn't Bruce only on a short co.. I see your point.

I see why Kodjia doesn't cross..

Late substitution, Bruce off, anyone on.

Villa fans should get therapy on the NHS.

Why are they still calling him a rocket polisher?! He just put them 2 up!

I love it when Hutton channels the ghost of Traore.

I think Adomah on is a given.. But who for? Might even suit Grealish the way they're playing.. Draw the fouls.

The usual Villa sucker punch when we're playing well. ... 1-2?

In a weird way, I think we may play a lot better than other matches, simply because of the fixture. We're not expected to win this.. The Villa players thinking they're a bit of an underdog may work to our benefit. I don't think Newcastle will turn us over but who knows. We may just nick it..

Phew, glad all that is cleared up.

Is it the job? I mean, you can go to Hull and Birmingham and do your thing with relative ease. This is Villa and as Steve rightly said at the beginning, it's the biggest job he's had. And how true is that for some of the others? Sherwood and Garde had short times at 'big' clubs, but not enough to fully sink their teeth in. I just feel maybe these managers come here, realise its a huge club and instantly go into a 'do not lose' mentality instead of doing their normal thing. Honestly it's almost like we need a Ranieri type. Someone who's been around a long time in management, managed at the highest levels and won't go into negative mode because it says Aston Villa above the door. RDM nearly had that confidence and swagger we need. Almost. Except he knew he didn't have a long experience at the top to back it up and as soon as the crowd turned, he reverted to 'do not lose'. [/IMHO]

Has he done a post match interview or should I not read too much into that?

Soon we'll be one of those teams whose striker works full time as a builder.