Steve Bruce Criticises his Players

Arthritic Toe · Dec 14, 2016

It baffles me when managers resort to publicly criticising their players - how is that ever going to have a positive effect? Steve Bruce is now at it after their defeat last night. in summary, the players are crap but he's the solution, being so wonderful n all....

"Norwich were on the back of a tough run but we didn't put them under any pressure at all. You have got to play at a certain level if you want to play for Aston Villa and they didn't come anywhere near to reaching that.

"Having seen that I can see why the club decided to make a change and bring me in."

jimhigham · Dec 14, 2016

Arthritic Toe said:
It baffles me when managers resort to publicly criticising their players - how is that ever going to have a positive effect? Steve Bruce is now at it after their defeat last night. in summary, the players are crap but he's the solution, being so wonderful n all....

"Norwich were on the back of a tough run but we didn't put them under any pressure at all. You have got to play at a certain level if you want to play for Aston Villa and they didn't come anywhere near to reaching that.

"Having seen that I can see why the club decided to make a change and bring me in."

With any luck Villa have had their "Dead Cat's Bounce" (apologies to Glasfryn) and will now settle back into mid-table inconsistency.

BensGrandad · Dec 14, 2016

You cannot argue with what he said though as it is perfectly true.

Simster · Dec 14, 2016

I don't see much wrong with it to be honest, particularly as he has backed his players when they've deserved it. They were excellent against us, and he was very forthright in telling everyone as much.

So if his players can't or won't respond to some deserved criticism then I think he's entitled to wonder whether they should even be at the club.

Papa Lazarou · Dec 14, 2016

BensGrandad said:
You cannot argue with what he said though as it is perfectly true.

To a degree, but how long has he been there? And he's not only just noticed this and surely by now he's part of the problem?

Blackadder · Dec 14, 2016

I remember Alan Mullery criticising Graham Moseley back in the day, stating that he had cost us a few points that season with his mistakes. (We were in another relegation battle in the First Division at the time). A few of us wondered how such an outburst in the national papers, would instil confidence in our keeper.

Didn't Mark McGhee say Leon Knight was "Inept" on Harty's phone-in once? Seem to remember there were discussions as to actual word said.

fat old seagull · Dec 14, 2016

Simster said:
I don't see much wrong with it to be honest, particularly as he has backed his players when they've deserved it. They were excellent against us, and he was very forthright in telling everyone as much.

So if his players can't or won't respond to some deserved criticism then I think he's entitled to wonder whether they should even be at the club.

Or even if his Assistant should be......great to see Calderwood making his presence felt. :clap:

Cowfold Seagull · Dec 14, 2016

Arthritic Toe said:
It baffles me when managers resort to publicly criticising their players - how is that ever going to have a positive effect? Steve Bruce is now at it after their defeat last night. in summary, the players are crap but he's the solution, being so wonderful n all....

"Norwich were on the back of a tough run but we didn't put them under any pressure at all. You have got to play at a certain level if you want to play for Aston Villa and they didn't come anywhere near to reaching that.

"Having seen that I can see why the club decided to make a change and bring me in."

Strong words certainly, but if all else has failed . . .

Arthritic Toe · Dec 14, 2016

Simster said:
I don't see much wrong with it to be honest, particularly as he has backed his players when they've deserved it. They were excellent against us, and he was very forthright in telling everyone as much.

So if his players can't or won't respond to some deserved criticism then I think he's entitled to wonder whether they should even be at the club.

So criticise in private - its a sign of weak management to blast them in public in my opinion. It's basically saying, it's not my fault, its the players.

BensGrandad · Dec 14, 2016

He is obviouly now settled in and realizes that the performances are not consistently good enough for what he wants to achieve so conversly nor are some of the players.

Simster · Dec 14, 2016

fat old seagull said:
Or even if his Assistant should be......great to see Calderwood making his presence felt.

When he left, they were 13 points behind us after our game against them (10 points nearly half way through the game). Now the gap is 17 points.

Lovely stuff.

Arthritic Toe said:
So criticise in private - its a sign of weak management to blast them in public in my opinion. It's basically saying, it's not my fault, its the players.

I am not quite sure about that. I think if you moan at them every week then I have no argument with your point of view. But if you are the sort to publicly back your players when they do well, I think you're entitled to occasionally go public with a well deserved bollocking when they fall well short of expected standards. As I say, I agree that it won't wash if he continuously does it. Then again, he doesn't do that and Bruce is pretty well proven at this level.

dazzer6666 · Dec 14, 2016

Arthritic Toe said:
So criticise in private - its a sign of weak management to blast them in public in my opinion. It's basically saying, it's not my fault, its the players.

This. First step to losing the changing room......

........good

Cowfold Seagull · Dec 14, 2016

Villa have been inept for a long long time, goes way back before Bruce's days as we all know. Maybe public criticism is the only thing that will work. Certainly all else seems to have failed.

Blue Valkyrie · Dec 14, 2016

Before Villa played us there were stories about them signing Kayal and Stephens.

Would you believe it but the day before they played Norwich there were stories about them signing Brady.

Pack it in Bruce. It's just desperate.

Captain Sensible · Dec 14, 2016

I understand how some people rate Bruce, yes he backs his players when they do well but does publicly criticise when they play badly. However I think he chooses the wrong moments to be critical and his latest blast at his players has an air of arrogance about it that probably won't go down well with his players. I can't imagine Hughton saying something like that. He'd talk about levels and that we weren't playing at a level required to win football matches but the guy has too much class to proclaim himself the Messiah. That's the gulf in class of our manager verses most others in Football.

LamieRobertson · Dec 14, 2016

Having watched the game last night Villa seem to have too many prima donnas ..and didn't match Norwich for effort ...arrogant bunch much as i found there fans who fail to realise that currently they are just a mid table Championship side

Easy 10 · Dec 14, 2016

Blackadder said:
Didn't Mark McGhee say Leon Knight was "Inept" on Harty's phone-in once? Seem to remember there were discussions as to actual word said.

That was the whole inept / inert saga.

Easy 10 · Dec 14, 2016

I can't believe Bruce actually plays Flabby Agbonlahore.

He strayed into Norwich's box last night, and the ref booked him for timewasting.

Blackadder · Dec 14, 2016

Easy 10 said:
That was the whole inept / inert saga.

Inert. Yep, that's the one..

(Still think he said inept).

Randsta · Dec 14, 2016

Remember when Villa were a top premiership club ....a few years a go now; the way they are going they're going to be like Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday

Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Steve Bruce Criticises his Players

Well-known member

Je Suis Rhino

New member

"the man's an arse"

Living in a De Zerbi wonderland

Brighton Bhuna Boy

New member

Fan of the 17 bus

Well-known member

New member

"the man's an arse"

Well-known member

Fan of the 17 bus

Not seen such Bravery!

Well-known member

Not awoke

Brain dead MUG SHEEP

Brain dead MUG SHEEP

Brighton Bhuna Boy

New member

Share this page