bobzy Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 14 hours ago, sidcow said: No no no. You have to understand this is a meaningless pre season friendly. That's the way it works. When we do badly in a pre season friendly it's really bad because we're supposed to be showing things are coming together, players are cohesive and we have a system. Bruce should probably be sacked. When we do well in a pre season friendly it's meaningless and doesn't count for anything and Bruce should probably be sacked. It goes the other way too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted July 24, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted July 24, 2017 I assume everyone who was shitting themselves after we lost 2-1 to Shrewsbury are now chuffed to bits, given our pre season record is actually pretty good? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 3 minutes ago, Stevo985 said: I assume everyone who was shitting themselves after we lost 2-1 to Shrewsbury are now chuffed to bits, given our pre season record is actually pretty good? We had a Bruce out meltdown after the Walsall game. I debated with fans that things will change quick when the season starts and results matter. It looks like didn't even have to wait that long. Then again it could all change again after Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted July 24, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted July 24, 2017 5 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: We had a Bruce out meltdown after the Walsall game. I debated with fans that things will change quick when the season starts and results matter. It looks like didn't even have to wait that long. Then again it could all change again after Saturday. It's almost as if pre season games shouldn't be taken too seriously! Who'd a thunk it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerner's Driver Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 1 hour ago, Stevo985 said: I assume everyone who was shitting themselves after we lost 2-1 to Shrewsbury are now chuffed to bits, given our pre season record is actually pretty good? Enjoy the temporary peace and rest for your eyes - there will be another essay of doom packed full of proof, before you know it... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DaveAV1 Posted July 24, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted July 24, 2017 Steve Bruce can be congratulated on a good summer off the pitch, he has put together a strong and reasonably well balanced squad. In JT and possibly Whelan too he could have signed players that will turn the whole attitude of the squad in an upwardly direction. However as people are very quick to point out, we haven't played a competitive game yet. I recall being very excited with the January signings only to be quickly disappointed. Hopefully with the summer signings combining with last January's arrivals and everyone having a period to settle in, then perhaps my days of disappointment will be over. Or at least more sparsely spread out. I know many of you think that those of us who are less convinced by Steve Bruce are always ready to leap on every little set back and perhaps that critical mindset needs to be tempered. However it must be said that there wasn't a lot to hang much optimism on based on the last 36 competitive games, and The Brelievers have generally kept the faith due to his strong past history. As the new season approaches, I intend to try not to judge anything on one game in isolation. The first few games are notoriously erratic and often throw up a few surprise results. Generally the table sorts itself out after about 6 to 8 games and by then certainly it should be possible to see a style develop and a pattern of play become reasonably consistent. The jury may still be out, but at least we will have had a look. I don't think posters should be criticised for what they offer up as their opinion, no matter how much we may disagree. The only thing that we're all guilty of is that we care and want what is best for our wonderful club. And if that's a crime, guilty as charged your honour. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TRO Posted July 24, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted July 24, 2017 59 minutes ago, DaveAV1 said: Steve Bruce can be congratulated on a good summer off the pitch, he has put together a strong and reasonably well balanced squad. In JT and possibly Whelan too he could have signed players that will turn the whole attitude of the squad in an upwardly direction. However as people are very quick to point out, we haven't played a competitive game yet. I recall being very excited with the January signings only to be quickly disappointed. Hopefully with the summer signings combining with last January's arrivals and everyone having a period to settle in, then perhaps my days of disappointment will be over. Or at least more sparsely spread out. I know many of you think that those of us who are less convinced by Steve Bruce are always ready to leap on every little set back and perhaps that critical mindset needs to be tempered. However it must be said that there wasn't a lot to hang much optimism on based on the last 36 competitive games, and The Brelievers have generally kept the faith due to his strong past history. As the new season approaches, I intend to try not to judge anything on one game in isolation. The first few games are notoriously erratic and often throw up a few surprise results. Generally the table sorts itself out after about 6 to 8 games and by then certainly it should be possible to see a style develop and a pattern of play become reasonably consistent. The jury may still be out, but at least we will have had a look. I don't think posters should be criticised for what they offer up as their opinion, no matter how much we may disagree. The only thing that we're all guilty of is that we care and want what is best for our wonderful club. And if that's a crime, guilty as charged your honour. I think that is a fair comment, but in my case not the only factor. I have always known what Steve Bruce is about.....He is not one of these ultra technical bods that swoons the fans with modern thinking.....He is pragmatic and old school.....but we must not get carried away with the notion ALL that is new is good. Old habits die hard and there is many a manager, like his mentor SAF that have relied on solid foundations and stability. I think Steve is under estimated, I think he is far more in tune with our problems than we give him credit for and I always believed he knew the size of this task. I have not been put off, by the calls for style or setup or attacking play or expansive football......I have always stood by the maxim " you win the right to play football" ....and i never have any doubt he wants to pummel the opposition, but first things first. How many times have you seen teams or boxers come out all guns blazing only to get picked of by those of a more composed nature......not so long ago ,we came out "hell bent for leather" only to fizzle out like a damp squib. Steve Bruce is not without mistakes no manager is, but I am convinced he knows what he is doing.......That does not mean you can do what you want, sometimes you have to wait to get the right players to make that balance/blend work. To look at his 4 promotions and say thats the only reason he will get us up, is selling Steve Bruce short IMO He has much more to his character and footballing makeup than just that.....not only do I think he is also a very engaging guy, but I also think at the time of our demise( and we was well and truly in it) this guy was one of the few that could have repaired this club. We still have a way to go to convince the fans......we/he has to get results know one knows that more than him.......but I would stake all my credibility ( not much) that he will do it. Ps I would also like to see more support for him resonate on match day to silence the opposition and to send out the message " all for one, one for all"...........show a united front. UTV 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazzap24 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Top post that @TRO Lot's to agree with. There is more to him than people give him credit for imo. He's not without limitation, but with the players we have now, I think Bruce will trust them and we'll be more expansive. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 8 minutes ago, wazzap24 said: Top post that @TRO Lot's to agree with. There is more to him than people give him credit for imo. He's not without limitation, but with the players we have now, I think Bruce will trust them and we'll be more expansive. thanks we will, sure of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I tell you what folks, got this crazy idea but how about we just see how we're doing 4 or 5 games in before we start hailing him as the messiah or the anti-christ? I'm not saying we shouldn't therefore discuss opinions on the potential outcome but some of the posts over the past six months have been ridiculous, even for VT standards. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 3 hours ago, TRO said: Ps I would also like to see more support for him resonate on match day to silence the opposition and to send out the message " all for one, one for all"...........show a united front. I think he gets pretty good support from the crowd generally. I agree that starting the season with a raucous and supportive full Villa Park can only be a good thing. I'll be there and 100% behind him and the team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Have always thought as an absolute bare minimum that Bruce has to have a summer window before anyone decides on him as a manager. I mean, if he is denied that right, then where on earth do we stop? Offer one month rolling contracts? So with that in mind, I am glad to see the squad HE is building, and right now we can hand on heart with all honesty say that this really is the best squad in the league. I'm not even going to end this with a 'well he'd better get us promotion' conclusion - this squad and this manager will deliver promotion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted July 25, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted July 25, 2017 1 minute ago, Jareth said: Have always thought as an absolute bare minimum that Bruce has to have a summer window before anyone decides on him as a manager. I mean, if he is denied that right, then where on earth do we stop? Offer one month rolling contracts? So with that in mind, I am glad to see the squad HE is building, and right now we can hand on heart with all honesty say that this really is the best squad in the league. I'm not even going to end this with a 'well he'd better get us promotion' conclusion - this squad and this manager will deliver promotion. Yep. We're going up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carewjust4u Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 we're gonna win the league. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Shame that the game yesterday was called off, I would have hoped it to be the first time we see more of an opening day 'shape' and first XI taking hold. I guess we will have to wait until Saturday. I've stuck to my pledge in not taking pre-season games too seriously, but I would like to see us go out against Watford with a renewed purpose as we saw in Germany. Generally though I am pleased with Bruce's conduct this summer, he has managed the squad well, got rid of or tried to get rid of the players that I myself would like to subtract and he has made some absolutely magnificent signings in Terry and Whelan, age be damned. All bodes well but we MUST hit the ground running. By that I mean the first 5/6 games, not the first 15 minutes. If we haven't won 3 of them and put somebody to the sword fans will (rightly) be in revolt. I'm confident we will have, because if he can't get this squad buzzing his career should be terminated. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosmicVillan Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) 7 hours ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: If we haven't won 3 of them and put somebody to the sword fans will (rightly) be in revolt. I'm confident we will have, because if he can't get this squad buzzing his career should be terminated. I'm expecting at least 9 points from the first game or I expect Bruce to quit Edited July 26, 2017 by CosmicVillan 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 8 minutes ago, CosmicVillan said: I'm expecting at least 9 points from the first game Ha. Not the vibe I was trying to express at all. I don't even mind* if we lose the first game, but I don't think 6 or 7 points from the first 5 or 6 games will be enough to quell people's fears, nor should it. *I say I don't mind, I will likely have a good cry-wank to alleviate the pain. Possibly on the train home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosmicVillan Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) 4 hours ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: *I say I don't mind, I will likely have a good cry-wank to alleviate the pain. Possibly on the train home. I'll be in the 82 lounge drowning my sorrows..keeping an eye out for Steve Bruce Edited July 26, 2017 by CosmicVillan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjvilla Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 1 hour ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: Ha. Not the vibe I was trying to express at all. I don't even mind* if we lose the first game, but I don't think 6 or 7 points from the first 5 or 6 games will be enough to quell people's fears, nor should it. *I say I don't mind, I will likely have a good cry-wank to alleviate the pain. Possibly on the train home. What train will you be on? I wont be at the game but can make time for voyeurism. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazzap24 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 4 hours ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: Shame that the game yesterday was called off, I would have hoped it to be the first time we see more of an opening day 'shape' and first XI taking hold. I guess we will have to wait until Saturday. I've stuck to my pledge in not taking pre-season games too seriously, but I would like to see us go out against Watford with a renewed purpose as we saw in Germany. Generally though I am pleased with Bruce's conduct this summer, he has managed the squad well, got rid of or tried to get rid of the players that I myself would like to subtract and he has made some absolutely magnificent signings in Terry and Whelan, age be damned. All bodes well but we MUST hit the ground running. By that I mean the first 5/6 games, not the first 15 minutes. If we haven't won 3 of them and put somebody to the sword fans will (rightly) be in revolt. I'm confident we will have, because if he can't get this squad buzzing his career should be terminated. Bang on that. Good start = Great season imo. If we get off to a dodgy start, things will turn quickly and it will do nobody any good. I'm confident we'll be ready. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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