Bruce - Norwich, What Crisis?

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VitalFootballAdmin

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A much relieved Steve Bruce has now held his full post game interviews following victory over Norwich City today and he feels somewhat vindicated.


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In his after match interview tonight he was yet again saying we've been talking nonsense and it's ridiculous to criticise him after 3 games conveniently forgetting the utter dross served up as football for the majority of last season and the fact we were bottom of the league after continually being told he just needed a full pre-season!

Also, he has said financially his hands are tied due to FFP again forgetting we have assembled the most expensive squad in this league so who was it who spent most of that money Steve!?

Hopefully, the justified criticism made him reflect and change his ways but I have my doubts. Yes, it was a good and most welcome win today, however, I think he is kidding himself if he thinks one good win will stop the criticism because it will take a darn lot more than that.

I'd rather be supporting him than pointing out his mistakes and weaknesses however as with everything in life, time will tell.
 
I have been as critical of Bruce this weeks as anyone but it seems some people are quite happy to dish it out but bleat a bit when they get it back. Fair play to Bruce he is showing a bit of fight in my book. Shows he cares. I don't feel like he is having a go at me as everything i have said has been critical and constructive. He has said before that the fans have a right to complain and has praised us and acknowledged what we have been through.

Clearly he is pointing at a small minority who are being abusive and vile and hiding behnd their keyboards on other platforms. NOT anyone on here i will add. Everything i have read on here is pretty much a valid point whether right or not.

Its life, if you get stick but then things go in your favour then you are entitled to say your feeling. Its not as if he has come out saying its all fixed and that we have cracked it. Far from it. I would not want to hear that after one win, no way.
I guess whatever he does some will find a way to criticise him.
 
It works both ways, he needs 3-4 results (and hopefully good performances to boot) before he's out of the woods.

His management style still worries me, he even admits today his hand was forced - if it wasn't would we have won today?

The pressure and noise will have made him think and probably more determined than ever. Quoting expectation still annoys me, he knew what he was signing up for and constantly tells us he's got four teams promoted - so yes, we are expecting.

In Bruceys own words, let's go again Friday then.
 
A number of us have been, I think quite justifiably, pointing out that at no time since he took over have the performances been convincing, that he's been backed and hasn't delivered what was expected (after all he was heavily backed, to meet those expectations), and that his incessantly quoted management record wasn't actually that stellar if you look closely at it. I'd be surprised if it wasn't us he was aiming at.

He's also singled out, in particular, Twitter users for scorn. Wonder if he included the Dr in that! Xia has shown that Twitter can be useful in maintaining a bond between club and fans, and I'm not sure he will take kindly to Bruce's attitude.

Bruce keeps on harping on about 3 matches into the season, and just a poor week. It's a poor 10 months. During that time we've had the odd period of optimism, but it hasn't lasted. We are rightly cheered up today by a very good result. But will this set the standard for the season?

Xia said at the end of last season, no more excuses. We have to deliver. I suspect the club is already pondering a manager change, and it will take a string of consistently good results by Bruce for them not to put that into effect.

I think it does him no good at all to claim that "we were close to blowing Hull away", that Cardiff was simply "a poor second half", and that "we did OK against Reading".

If one thing today showed, it was that we do have some good players.
 
Yes we have good young hungry players.
We also have hutton , fat boy and richards. This clown played richards in his first game.
 
danvilla2 - 19/8/2017 19:57

It works both ways, he needs 3-4 results (and hopefully good performances to boot) before he's out of the woods.

His management style still worries me, he even admits today his hand was forced - if it wasn't would we have won today?

The pressure and noise will have made him think and probably more determined than ever. Quoting expectation still annoys me, he knew what he was signing up for and constantly tells us he's got four teams promoted - so yes, we are expecting.

In Bruceys own words, let's go again Friday then.
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It worries me greatly that he admits his hand was forced today - he would never of played Davis if he didn't have to. Hourihane getting into the box [a Villa mifdielder in the box?].
 
Exactly pvb - if he picks any of that trio again we will know that hasn't changed one jot. Lets see what the next game brings.
 
I understand the relief, the passion etc but I have to admit - and again, I like the guy - his interview put my nose out of joint a bit on the way home. The way he said things it sounded like he was having a go at all of us and it did sound like a chip on his shoulder.

However, if it's true that some ****s have been having a go at his family on twitter, then I get his rant. But it's crucial he doesn't get an us and them attitude. No one is going to thank him or any manager for the lack of performance v Cardiff/Reading etc. He should have been in the game long enough to realise that now.

Most doubts are certainly not over 2 games in my opinion, there are some fans who don't like him, never wanted him and will never warm to him but I thhink he's had an easy ride and loads of support from the majority.

Hope he doesn't lose sight of that.

 
For the record, my criticism of Steve Bruce - even after a good win isn't because I can't accept a good win from him, it's about giving balance to the debate.

There are those who think he will eventually be fired based on an overall opinion on what we have seen over the last 10 months and there are those who want him gone just because they have never accepted him which personally I disagree with.

I didn't want him because I could see faults in his style of management but he became the Villa manager and like any previous Villa manager, he gets my 100% backing until It all goes wrong.

That's football, it's all about opinions and for the good sake of the Villa, I sincerely hope you who believe he will eventually get it right are correct but please forgive me if I don't read off your hymn sheet!
 
Undoubtedly he cares....let's hope injury issues boost some and mean Bruce has realised on others and he's playing the PR game.

Next selection will tell everything but if he cares there's a pattern to our best two performances this year - Colchester and Norwich.

I can't be the only one to see it.
 
The Fear - 19/8/2017 22:26

I understand the relief, the passion etc but I have to admit - and again, I like the guy - his interview put my nose out of joint a bit on the way home. The way he said things it sounded like he was having a go at all of us and it did sound like a chip on his shoulder.

However, if it's true that some ****s have been having a go at his family on twitter, then I get his rant. But it's crucial he doesn't get an us and them attitude. No one is going to thank him or any manager for the lack of performance v Cardiff/Reading etc. He should have been in the game long enough to realise that now.

Most doubts are certainly not over 2 games in my opinion, there are some fans who don't like him, never wanted him and will never warm to him but I think he's had an easy ride and loads of support from the majority.

Hope he doesn't lose sight of that.
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Yes I agree with all of that and it came across like that to me as well.

With all his experience you think he would rise above it which sadly is part of the media scene these days but that's no excuse to be crude and insulting towards him and as reported to single out his family is disgusting but these trolls love to say these type of insults they would never say to your face.

It's pretty stupid really because any point they are attempting to get over is automatically lost and rightly so.

Something must be wrong with me though because I keep on agreeing with you :3: :17:
 
It's all about his ego now. If he puts that aside and doesn't feel the need to prove he's the man to rehabilitate Gabby (and at some stage Richards), and recognises that Hutton (if not moved on) should be dropped down the pecking order, that Lansbury needs to up his game before dislodging Onoma and that Hourihane offers nothing when played out of position, then he sticks a chance of surviving. If he decides he knows better, there's only one way this will go....
 
This :106: :106: :106:

He has been afraid to put his "reputation" and future employment in the hands of our youth, prefering to buy in the best in the Championship in January and some aging (even if still useful) pros who "know how to handle the pressure" - SB's words.

We will never trully know why Keinan Davis got the start on Saturday - but a small bit of insight might be gleaned from the conversation at the day/night test match with a fan highlighted in another thread. Perhaps SB is keeping things behind closed doors and won't say things like Gabby is lazy (and useless) and Hutton is a shocking defender and yes some of the purchases I have made haven't worked out because he wants to protect some resale value for the club.

I think SB is seething about a number of issues and can only vent at the media or vile keyboard warriors. We don't know what is going on behind closed doors and some have asked why he won't give McQuarterpounderwithcheeseandbacon another shot, when in reality he doesn't want to play for the club again, just pick up his considerable pay packet.

Hope he sticks with the youthful approach, Jedi covering a back four (with Bree RB) and the rest allowed to play and express themselves (with Davis CF). Anyone else thing Davis and Hogan would be effective and worth a shot?
 
Yes, worth a shot, mainly because Davis looked MORE than capable (the best I have seen a good while for us) of holding up the ball. Hogan might be able to feed off that, he HAS to have the service, he's not the sort (like Kodjia) to just make goals himself, most strikers aren't.

I don't care if Bruce has found a team by fluke or otherwise, many managers have done the same, stumbled upon something. I will care if he reverses it, but if he takes this forward now, great.

I hope Bruce has now sussed Gabby, I did warn him when we met why some (wasn't talking for all) fans were so angry at Gabby and his attitude. Not saying that I like to be right but, well, I like to be right :3:

 
Don't know whether he listens to you Mr Fear, but please keep on banging the drum every time you make his acquaintance.

I think I amlike most on here, it is not the results perse, but the performance that has, or has not come with them. There will always be a Cardiff type result over the course of a season, but then not to even compete against Reading is just unforgivable. Hey ho, onwards and upwards :94:
 
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