Gary Thomas

Problem is when we want to push some of our best players will be playing in the AFCON. We won't get automatic promotion now IMO, getting into the play-offs will be an incredible achievement - need about 19 wins, 7 draws (win just over half games) and we scrape in.

Steve the Bruce, the Bruce He’ll help us *** the Blues And then to go up too Steve the Bruce, the Bruce

Yes, and playing mostly as a sub hasn't helped him build any form or consistency since coming back. Think RDM has always preferred Cissokho, seeing him as more defensively solid option. Amavi is still raw, but the kid is a a class act, he has all the attributes to be a top top player, he just needs to tighten his defensive game. Maybe Bruce will help him do that and get the best out of him? Be really good to have him back playing regularly - offers so much more than Cissokho going forward.

Got a view on this which makes me sound like a boring git, but I think that would not sit well with him, even if he puts a brave front on. Some want to do it because 'they' think it's funny banter, but deep down I suspect Bruce will hate it and see it as a bit insulting. Just my view/gut feeling.

To tune of ELO Mr Blue Sky Hey there Mr Bruce, We’re so pleased to be with you, Now that your in Claret and Blue F**k the blues, lets get up soon or Stevie Bruce, the Bruce He’ll help us beat the Blues And then we'll go up too Steve the Bruce, the Bruce

[Moved post to chants graveyard]

It is possible, especially if we could go on a little run. Different people have looked at this in different ways, but in simple terms we have to win 'just over' half our games - so think 5 wins every 10 games, with a few more draws, and we'll be thereabouts. Do believe Bruce will get this team winning - all depends how quickly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04bxjlv?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_5_live_sports_extra&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=radio_and_music Bruce targets immediate Premier League return for Aston Villa New Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has told 5 live Sport he has not given up hope of an immediate return to the Premier League this season. Bruce has won promotion to the Premier League four times - twice with Villa's local rivals Birmingham - and is hoping he can do the same with his new club having replaced Roberto Di Matteo. "When I went into Birmingham we were 15th going up to Christmas and we managed to get out of the division and I hope we can replicate it," he said. "We need to go on a run but I have not given up hope of getting this club back where it should be, in the Premier League," Bruce added. This clip is taken from 5 live Sport, Thursday 13 October 2016.

Me too - looking forward to it now. Hope we get a big crowd. Evening kick-off. Derby should be a cracking atmosphere.

Of course, can/will make some mistakes, but trust him to get more out of the squad.

Back Bruce to make the right call - knows more about the game than all of us.

Still on sale. Anybody clued up on parking around there, recommend where to head?

3-1 to the Brucie boys.

https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/ Spoke well I thought, but acid test comes Saturday.

Yes, your point being? Aston Villa has parted with assistant manager Steve Clarke.

Well that was quick! Shame, was hoping Clarke would do well as a No2.

I am assuming this is common knowledge from OS New arrival: Clemence joins backroom team Aston Villa are delighted to confirm that Stephen Clemence has joined us today as first team coach. Clemence joins Steve Bruce’s backroom staff, having previously worked with him at Hull City and also at Sunderland.

Disappointed why? Could be the best year we have had for years. With Bruce at the helm, scrape the play-off places, win the semi-final second leg at a packed out VP and then have a day out at Wemberly where we win glorious promotion. No pressure Brucey but I've booked 30th May off work just in case.

Well if our fans want to f**k the club - they claim to love - over that is what they'll do yes. If they actually gave a shit about the club they would recognize, as most do, that Bruce is the right man to get us promoted and they would support him.

Really hope our fans put any personal gripes to the side on match days and give Bruce a fair shot at this. I have no doubt he can get us promoted IF our fans back him and allow him the time he needs to do his thing. Just imagine for a second what it will feel like when we get promoted! Imagine going to a Wembley play-off final and winning! That would be up there with the FA cup semi-final or anything I have experienced as a Villa fan. That is within our reach with Xia and Bruce. Like him or loathe him, we can all back what Bruce is trying to do for this club and where he is trying to take us - it could actually be fun being a villa fan again!!

48....that Twiter stat doing the rounds said 53% I think - i trust you - Bruce out!

Feel like we have got an adult in charge for once - expect him to get much more out of this squad. Be great to kick-off with a win Sat.

Don't know if people have seen this but felt it was a balanced article. Pretty much what I thought we were getting - good and bad. vhttp://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-championship-promotion-expert-12011357 Hull City fan and Hull Daily Mail writer Will Jackson gives his thoughts on the impending appointment at Villa Park. There is no better man in achieving promotion back to the big time than Aston Villa's new manager Steve Bruce. Fact. The stats do not lie, four promotions from the Championship in as many season sets the former Hull City boss apart from the rest. So if Villa are serious about bouncing back to the Premier League at the first time of asking then today's appointment of Bruce is a very shrewd decision. Having left the Tigers in unfortunate circumstances back in July, Bruce remains a hero in East Yorkshire, after overseeing two promotions, leading them to their first ever FA Cup final and securing the club’s first ever taste of European adventure, no matter how disappointing it eventually turned out to be. The truth is his position at the club became untenable after being consistently undermined by the owners in the transfer market, prompting his resignation. And Hull City fans are still bitter about it today. So what exactly are Villa fans getting with the arrival of Steve Bruce? Let’s start with the positives. Firstly, he’s one of the best English managers around, which might speak more for the alarming lack of homegrown talent, rather than the Geordie’s managerial prowess. His man-management skills are second to none. At Hull, every player has spoken highly about him after his exit, not a single bad word has been uttered. That has got to say something. Mainly because during his time he built a squad of top quality British and Irish talent, several for a small fee. The likes of Sam Clucas and Stephen Quinn for example, have been incredible coups and although Quinn has now moved on he became a crowd favourite. With a strong morale simultaneously comes a strong squad bond, which I think actually seemed to carry them at the start of this season, with no manager, new signings or a committed owner. In his first season at the KC Stadium, Bruce pioneered a flat 3-5-2 system, which worked wonders for us in the Championship, and while it had it’s teething problems, with the introduction of Ahmed Elmohamady and identifying the best position for Robbie Brady as a wingback, he lead us to promotion. It even worked in the top flight to an extent. But it is not all rosy. Four years at Hull has shown that while he seems to know how to get the best out of players, he lacks a certain tactical nous when it comes to the big games. Obviously Hull City aren’t expected to beat the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, but rather than rattling cages and going for the shock victory, I feel Bruce showed the bigger sides too much respect and more often than not an uninspiring performance prompted a predictable defeat. In fact, in most big games in Hull City’s recent history, Bruce got it wrong and the team ultimately paid the price as a result. As a small team we achieved a lot under him but it should have been so much more, particularly when you look at the amount of money he spent. There is no doubt that in Steve Bruce, Aston Villa have got a man with Championship pedigree, who despite the poor start could most definitely lead them to the play-offs this season. It’s his Premier League aptitude that’s the problem.

God no - would be essentially insulting our own manager. Steve Bruce's Claret and Blue Army for me.