Steve Bruce

[A'Villan]

6 minutes ago, Darth Villa said:

I wasn't suggesting that anyone wanted anything but a quick return to the top flight but he had two years from the off and was worried about our decline. That was the reason given for his overly defensive approach which has now changed.

I was simply suggesting that perhaps a more considered and sustainable approach has kicked in after we failed last season?

I agree Bruce would likely get the push if we failed again but I'm not so sure now as he does seem to be building something we haven't had since MoN left us. A winning attitude.

 

Sorry, I've probably misunderstood your post.

I'm with you I'm not sure Bruce would get the sack if we missed promotion, now that he has shown he can produce a winning team.

I'm interested to know if the board are intending to look for potential replacements regardless of outcome, or if they are impressed enough with Bruce.

[Demitri_C]

If there even is the little doubt on anyone's mind that Bruce is still not the right man...

 

Quote

Robert Snodgrass: Aston Villa's players would 'run through walls' for boss Steve Bruce

By Matt Maher | Aston Villa | Published: 1 hour ago | Last Updated: Less than an hour ago

Robert Snodgrass has revealed how Steve Bruce’s man-management skills are helping to drive Villa’s promotion push, declaring: “The players will run through brick walls for the boss”.

The Scot believes Bruce possesses many of the traits often attributed to his mentor and legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, particularly in the way he is able to get the best out of players.

Snodgrass and Bruce, who won promotion with Hull two years ago, were reunited when the winger joined Villa on loan from West Ham last August.

Villa were near the foot of the Championship at the time and Bruce’s position under scrutiny.

But as the season has progressed, Villa have been transformed and they have now won 10 of the last 12 games to sit four points outside the automatic promotion places.

Snodgrass said: “First and foremost I respect the manager as a man, he is top class.

“Players will run through a brick wall for him, He’s just got that hold of you, he has the traits of Ferguson in that he gets the best out of players. When I came here he was under a little bit of pressure, we were 18th at the time

“I can understand that pressure, because when we were at Hull we were used to being up at the top all the time in the Championship. I think you need to be behind the scenes to see how good he is. All the lads love him and respect him and he gives the lads a bit of license.

“But the one thing he wants is that you work hard for your team. And that’s one thing I’ve done since I’ve come here. He trusts you.”

 

Clicky

[Vive_La_Villa]

Now I’ve calmed down after the weekend it’s back to the reality of us still having a lot to do and relying on other teams to do us some favours. 

Credit to Bruce for getting them fired up on Saturday but for me Grealish is more important than the manager at this stage. I think the Preston and Sheff Wed games were evidence of this.

Im happy with Bruce but I’ll say the same thing that I do after a bad result. We won’t know if he has done a good job or was the right man or not until the end of the season.

It’s all or nothing. 

Edited March 12, 2018 by Vive_La_Villa

[A'Villan]

He is our first success story in 8 years. Credit to him.

I think that Snodgrass interview says as much about Snodgrass' attitude as it does Bruce.

We finally have a group of players willing to 'run through walls for a manager', and thankfully it seems Bruce is a decent man as well as manager.

I'm torn in a way. I knew the results would come under Bruce, even when it looked poor (the squad we were aquiring was just too good to continue to fail).

Now they have come and we are enjoying some success that we really haven't seen in nearly a decade.

That said, would I choose Bruce over say a financially backed Carlo Ancelotti (who is out of work)? Probably not.

I want us to take that next step as soon as possible, and although Bruce could very well be the man to win us promotion, it's an unknown how far he can take us.

[Stevo985]

32 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

If there even is the little doubt on anyone's mind that Bruce is still not the right man...

 

Clicky

This has been evident all season imo.

When we were having a bad spell people were saying the players weren't playing for Bruce or that he'd lost the dressing room.

Even though I fell into the Bruce Out camp eventually, I never got that impression. Even when it wasn't working I still felt the players were giving their all for the manager.

[Demitri_C]

42 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

This has been evident all season imo.

When we were having a bad spell people were saying the players weren't playing for Bruce or that he'd lost the dressing room.

Even though I fell into the Bruce Out camp eventually, I never got that impression. Even when it wasn't working I still felt the players were giving their all for the manager.

I would say I too am in that camp stevo.

However he has my support until the end if season without question.

Even the way he celebrated on the weekend it meant so much to him. I loved that passion for the 4th goal.

[VILLAMARV]

16 hours ago, markavfc40 said:

I have hardly commented in this thread the last couple of months as everyone has been so complementary you feel there is nothing to debate.

I have to say though as one of those who was happy with his appointment and felt he was the man to lift us, then wavered twice (both after Brentford this season), the job he is doing at the moment is remarkable.

The squad he has put together has a lot of ability but in fairness given the stature of the club and the fact we can pay big wages for this level getting players of good ability was never going to be hard.  We needed more than just good players though. We needed players of the right character and I think yesterday was the perfect example of just that. We had two wide forwards in Snodgrass and Adomah who spent just as must time in our defensive third as the attacking one such was the extent of the tracking backwards. We had an attacking midfielder in Grealish who covered every blade of grass. We had a lone centre forward in Grabban who ran the channels as well as drop into midfield to help out. As a team performance in terms of grafting and giving your all it was up there with as good as I have seen at this club in years.

I think the biggest praise I can give Steve Bruce is that performance yesterday was a reflection of him. No nonsense, honest and giving every last sinew to ensure a positive outcome never wavering in belief. I am so thankful that we finally have a team to be proud of and grateful to the man who has given it to us.

Well said Mark, as ever. And as usual I find myself agreeing with you. That's the commitment I want to see from a 'Bruce team'.

11 hours ago, TRO said:

Thanks, but what i would say its only opinions.

I don't believe Steve Bruce is doing anything different to when he first arrived.....its the players, he had just brought in better players to gel and build a team.....we was short of an attacking coach, he's fixed that.....He has instructed a strength and fitness programme for jack and so on and so on......all these things take time, its just we don't know how long it takes.....its all coming to fruition.

there will be set backs for sure.....but we are heading in the right direction.

He is most importantly for me the right type of character to create the right environment to prosper.

i have always said, he is not a miracle worker......but he is made of the right stuff to get us back to respectability.

ps and he is not as dumb as some would have you believe,

Tro!!

Weird how VT has affected the way the brain works! One of my first thoughts after the match was I wonder where Tro is and I wonder how big his grin is right now!! And not in a yah boo sucks kind of way but purely because the doubts were starting to creep in. I'm sure I saw you described as the godfather of on topic once! And that's why the Bon Jovi came out the other day in the pre/post match thread. Keep the faith mate. We can do this and it seems weird in the context of this season in this thread to be saying that to you. Like you said - you never saw it coming - I think that means your joy levels were higher than mine

I think for those of us of a certain age we can remember GTmk1 and the terrible start to the season we went up last time we were down here. Not that it means we are now or were with any certainty back in september going to emulate that but we could see a way out of the mire at the start of the year. And I continue to think the parrallels between now and 30 years ago are getting a bit spooky.

I think the effects of Terry and Snodgrass and their mindset and application are the very thing you and I (and countless others) have been having chats about on here since I joined. Why we have time for players like Jedinak and Whelan despite their obvious shortcomings at times. Heart and desire basically and if I'm honest I think Petrov and at times Delph are the last time we saw players properly up for the battle before the Dr came along.

The point about it taking time though, the need for stability - walking before we started to run basically - Some of us felt this was key and thankfully it's coming to fruition. No one could predict the future and we all had our wobbles after certain games. But its a vital part of the equation. However much we might have stood up for Bruce at the start of the season I don't think anyone could have predicted the transformation in Grealish for instance or the improvement of Johnstone. There's something happeneing here

I also think expectation has played a massive part in people's reactions and I've said it before. I think the banter with @Grasshopper is great, cant say as I like reading anything too OTT though as the only difference between me and him (and he knows this I think with me) is that top 2 is the minimum requirement for him, I however started the season thinking play-offs is the minimum I'll accept and hopefully we can challenge the top 2. He's not watching a different game, when the football was called awful it was, when the start was unacceptable it was. But as ever there are more things that bind us than divide us. I also have this nagging thought that we are going to do this and IF I'm right then one of the first things I'll be wondering is if we can all go round Grasshoppers to share in the biggest outpouring of joy in the history of VT! Again, not in a yah boo sucks kind of way but just because VT. We all want the same thing

If we miss out on promotion this year then I think it's hard to argue at this stage that Bruce hasn't, at the very , very least, given us some pride back in our club and regardless of the manager, who honestly asked DrXia for anything else when he bought us?

One thing is for sure, if we end up in the play-offs, no one can say we wont have a puncher's chance after the weekend's display!

The other thing is the sad personal time for Bruce. I have no doubt, this TEAM, want to do this for the gaffer. Whether they do or not is kind of secondary to me. Finally, I'm watching a team again in claret and blue who want to win games as much as we do.

Bring on the tickly bit

[TRO]

43 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said:

Well said Mark, as ever. And as usual I find myself agreeing with you. That's the commitment I want to see from a 'Bruce team'.

Tro!!

Weird how VT has affected the way the brain works!

One thing is for sure, if we end up in the play-offs, no one can say we wont have a puncher's chance after the weekend's display!

The other thing is the sad personal time for Bruce. I have no doubt, this TEAM, want to do this for the gaffer. Whether they do or not is kind of secondary to me. Finally, I'm watching a team again in claret and blue who want to win games as much as we do.

Bring on the tickly bit

I agree.....brilliant post VM

I have always been confident in SB ......but sadly have had my neggy wobbles, of which i am not proud of.

I get a bit disappointepd at times when folk begrudge SB any credit by citing the quality signings and wages we pay, like its a given to be where we are.

may i remind folk.....snoddy was a failure at West Ham.....Johnstone was 3rd placed Keeper....Adomah was unfancied at Middlesborough......Taylor a swap.....Hourihane and Lansbury budget buys.....Hutton a product of the bomb squad.......chester was a reject from Albion, they wanted rid.

No, for me he has worked wonders and continues to work wonders.

as for for my faith, i do have long term  faith now......just match to match, i am nervous.

I play games with myself.....In games like wolves, i declare a my negative side to lower my expectation.....then go off like a bottle of pop, when the team prove me wrong.

I guess its a way of milking the euphoria.

[A'Villan]

1 hour ago, TRO said:

I agree.....brilliant post VM

I have always been confident in SB ......but sadly have had my neggy wobbles, of which i am not proud of.

I get a bit disappointepd at times when folk begrudge SB any credit by citing the quality signings and wages we pay, like its a given to be where we are.

may i remind folk.....snoddy was a failure at West Ham.....Johnstone was 3rd placed Keeper....Adomah was unfancied at Middlesborough......Taylor a swap.....Hourihane and Lansbury budget buys.....Hutton a product of the bomb squad.......chester was a reject from Albion, they wanted rid.

No, for me he has worked wonders and continues to work wonders.

as for for my faith, i do have long term  faith now......just match to match, i am nervous.

I play games with myself.....In games like wolves, i declare a my negative side to lower my expectation.....then go off like a bottle of pop, when the team prove me wrong.

I guess its a way of milking the euphoria.

I was in two minds whether or not to post this, as I don't want to dampen the view of SB's efforts but I will be nit picky and post anyway as I think it's worth pointing out.

Snodgrass averages 6 goals a season in the prem if you take out his season with WHU. Johnstone will command a fee of 6.5million, and I assume you mean 3rd place at Manchester United? Hardly a discredit to SJ's abilities. Adomah played 3 seasons of 40+ games for Boro averaging 8 goals a season and was only unfancied in the PL. Taylor a swap for a decent Ayew. Hourihane had an average of a goal in every 3 games and Lansbury a modest goal in every 5 games over 8 seasons. Both from midfield. We all know Hutton is really a reborn Cafu. And I'll give you Chester (what a gem that turned out to be).

Not to mention the purchase of Hogan, McCormack and Kodjia. Then the loan deal for Grabban. It's not as if he was gaining a squad of players that was underperforming in the championship, and SB magically turned their career around. No, he astutely went out and assembled a team worthy of a promotion push. So I would also like to add I am not trying to take away from the nous of SB to make such signings, I simply don't agree with you downplaying the value of each individual mentioned.

I was and have been a supporter of Bruce since day 1 this season. I knew the results would come eventually, but I knew this because of the signings he adeptly made and was afforded, not because he was some tactical genius. That's why I backed Bruce despite a draw at Hull, 3-0 loss to Cardiff, loss to Reading and 3 draws that came after the victory against Norwich.

Not once have I called for the sack. But it goes deeper than the good job Bruce is doing here for me. Someone was going to get it right eventually, with the backing from Xia, and instead of speculating as to who else might've done what, I'm thankful that we appointed Bruce as it would seem we have found someone capable of getting us out of this league.

[bobzy]

3 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

This has been evident all season imo.

When we were having a bad spell people were saying the players weren't playing for Bruce or that he'd lost the dressing room.

Even though I fell into the Bruce Out camp eventually, I never got that impression. Even when it wasn't working I still felt the players were giving their all for the manager.

I seem to remember him constantly saying about "players giving it their all" or "players didn't give it their all" or whatever after games as well.  People kept commenting about a lack of tactical nous, how Bruce doesn't do tactics, dinosaur manager etc. etc. but, it turns out, that he just really, really believes in having players giving their all for the team.  If you don't do it, you're out.  His message is pretty simple and the team have responded massively.

Probably the most united Villa squad I've seen, or noticed perhaps, in my lifetime.  His man management has been superb.

 

As an aside, I remember a lot of people saying "Bruce is fine for now, but if we go up we should sack him".  Now, we're still 3rd and definitely not promoted.  But everyone is positive, we're generally playing pretty well, we're certainly a very together group... would anyone who did think this change their mind?  

[DCJonah]

11 minutes ago, bobzy said:

I seem to remember him constantly saying about "players giving it their all" or "players didn't give it their all" or whatever after games as well.  People kept commenting about a lack of tactical nous, how Bruce doesn't do tactics, dinosaur manager etc. etc. but, it turns out, that he just really, really believes in having players giving their all for the team.  If you don't do it, you're out.  His message is pretty simple and the team have responded massively.

Probably the most united Villa squad I've seen, or noticed perhaps, in my lifetime.  His man management has been superb.

 

As an aside, I remember a lot of people saying "Bruce is fine for now, but if we go up we should sack him".  Now, we're still 3rd and definitely not promoted.  But everyone is positive, we're generally playing pretty well, we're certainly a very together group... would anyone who did think this change their mind?  

Me. 100%

[TheMelvillan]

18 minutes ago, bobzy said:

I seem to remember him constantly saying about "players giving it their all" or "players didn't give it their all" or whatever after games as well.  People kept commenting about a lack of tactical nous, how Bruce doesn't do tactics, dinosaur manager etc. etc. but, it turns out, that he just really, really believes in having players giving their all for the team.  If you don't do it, you're out.  His message is pretty simple and the team have responded massively.

Probably the most united Villa squad I've seen, or noticed perhaps, in my lifetime.  His man management has been superb.

 

As an aside, I remember a lot of people saying "Bruce is fine for now, but if we go up we should sack him".  Now, we're still 3rd and definitely not promoted.  But everyone is positive, we're generally playing pretty well, we're certainly a very together group... would anyone who did think this change their mind?  

With Brucies background this could be interpreted in one of two way. I like both 

[Vive_La_Villa]

23 minutes ago, bobzy said:

As an aside, I remember a lot of people saying "Bruce is fine for now, but if we go up we should sack him".  Now, we're still 3rd and definitely not promoted.  But everyone is positive, we're generally playing pretty well, we're certainly a very together group... would anyone who did think this change their mind?  

I would still prefer a different manager but I wouldn’t have a problem with him remaining as manager either. I still think the level of difference in the team and how we play without Grealish is a slight concern. 

[TRO]

3 hours ago, A'Villan said:

I was in two minds whether or not to post this, as I don't want to dampen the view of SB's efforts but I will be nit picky and post anyway as I think it's worth pointing out.

Snodgrass averages 6 goals a season in the prem if you take out his season with WHU. Johnstone will command a fee of 6.5million, and I assume you mean 3rd place at Manchester United? Hardly a discredit to SJ's abilities. Adomah played 3 seasons of 40+ games for Boro averaging 8 goals a season and was only unfancied in the PL. Taylor a swap for a decent Ayew. Hourihane had an average of a goal in every 3 games and Lansbury a modest goal in every 5 games over 8 seasons. Both from midfield. We all know Hutton is really a reborn Cafu. And I'll give you Chester (what a gem that turned out to be).

Not to mention the purchase of Hogan, McCormack and Kodjia. Then the loan deal for Grabban. It's not as if he was gaining a squad of players that was underperforming in the championship, and SB magically turned their career around. No, he astutely went out and assembled a team worthy of a promotion push. So I would also like to add I am not trying to take away from the nous of SB to make such signings, I simply don't agree with you downplaying the value of each individual mentioned.

I was and have been a supporter of Bruce since day 1 this season. I knew the results would come eventually, but I knew this because of the signings he adeptly made and was afforded, not because he was some tactical genius. That's why I backed Bruce despite a draw at Hull, 3-0 loss to Cardiff, loss to Reading and 3 draws that came after the victory against Norwich.

Not once have I called for the sack. But it goes deeper than the good job Bruce is doing here for me. Someone was going to get it right eventually, with the backing from Xia, and instead of speculating as to who else might've done what, I'm thankful that we appointed Bruce as it would seem we have found someone capable of getting us out of this league.

then, I am not referring to you in my thoughts...

my comments were merely a defence of the insinuations aimed at him in a begrudging tone IMO......not a boast on his behalf.

Personally, turning Villa around was potentially the hardest League, close to Sunderland.

I have nothing more to add.

 

[srsmithusa]

So, tell me again, why me still having some concerns about us after the Wolves win was so ridiculous..   

Edited March 14, 2018 by srsmithusa

[DCJonah]

Horrendous result and pretty much kills automatic promotion. 

Can't afford to slip up like this. **** shit night

[Rodders]

wow, i think that "achievement" is pretty impressive, to orchestrate an implosion of such shitness after such a high, wow. only **** villa.

[Dr_Pangloss]

Total **** farce today, absolutely unacceptable to get turned over 3-0 at home to a shite team like QPR.

[Demitri_C]

Diabolical from the players.  No fight, no.passion and just waved the white flag.

Losing **** 3-0 to QPR. Completely unacceptable

[andym]

Shocking performances away to Cardiff, Wolves, Derby and Fulham.

Blowing a 2-0 lead at home to Sheffield Utd

0-0 at home against a Boro team who had 10 men for 85 mins, 0-0 at home to Milwall and Brentford, losing at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

And then tonights disgraceful performance.

For as much as he's capable of getting the team to put in great performances, these type of games have happened too many times this season, and too many times under his tenure, and it is highly likely to cost us automatic promotion.