With new the last 48 hours about the potential appointment of Thierry Henry following our takeover by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, reaction has certainly been mixed amongst Aston Villa fans.
The Forum Thread on Vital Villa shows the ranging viewpoints on what this kind of move would mean for us, whether positive or negative and such is the reaction the talk of Steve Bruce’s departure and Henry’s possible arrival spans a number of threads as members rushed to give their two-penneth worth.
Social media is no different having had a quick scan of that.
For some Henry is the type of name we should be looking to attract to give a further boost, for others even if they agree, not as manager owing to his lack of experience currently. He should cut his teeth is less of a powder-keg situation as despite our struggles this summer, promotion is high on the agenda regardless.
A new man coming in, experienced or not, needs time to assess the group, find his areas of weakness in the playing staff and improve that with signings or training as he gets his message across
Bruce, on the other hand, is a known quantity. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but we were 45 minutes from promotion and his biggest critics tend to conveniently forget his personal struggles and most certainly forget the mood of the first team when he arrived and how he changed that attitude around to get us that close. Promotion or bust was a ridiculous club led assertion that paid no mind to the fact that whilst the camp had improved, we were hardly flowing in confidence and we saw that from the get-go with results – we were not yet the team who went on our winning streak.
Does Bruce deserve another shot and the opportunity to move the group on in an attacking sense now confidence is better and we have Wembley disappointment to lean on, or is Henry with a presumed greater attacking ethos the next step for the club?
I’m in the former camp for the record and that’s not to say I don’t see Bruce’s flaws, I just can’t sit here lambasting the lack of loyalty and then back the sacking of a man who got so close in an incredibly difficult year – especially when the option is a thoroughly unproven but ‘sexy’ replacement that works well for the social media brigade who continue to praise Dr Tony Xia for realising he had no option but to sell the majority share.
They’ll be the first to turn on Henry when he doesn’t make us the ‘Villa Invincibles’ within 72 hours of being appointed.
Really don't know what to feel about TH. I'm sure he'd do a great job. But I do think that SB is the man for Villa. I reckon he's given us our Villa back and I personally would like him to stay and take us up. Villa till I die!
— Jason Piper (@fancya6x) July 24, 2018
We will be hearing about Arsene Wenger next. Bruce is the man
— Chris Brophy (@chris_brophy69) July 24, 2018
Henry would be disaster in championship like di nothing Matteo Bruce would get job at other club and they wud get promoted!!!
— Colin O'Kane (@Cokane69) July 24, 2018
#avfc all I see on here is Bruce is proven. All I can say he failed last year with the best squad in league. Henry will have contacts with pep arsenal Barca and Belgium for signings
— Ian Protheroe (@bigbadsuperaff) July 24, 2018
I for one will be incredibly disappointed to see Steve Bruce lose his job and us take a massive risk in appointing Thierry Henry, a completely unproven with zero Championship experience, as our manager… #avfc #utv
— Jack Ford (@iamjackford) July 24, 2018
…Bruce has been nothing but loyal to the club and given his all. What we need most right now is stability. Surely the last 6/7 years of struggle in the PL has proven that what we don't need is to keep replacing managers? #avfc #utv
— Jack Ford (@iamjackford) July 24, 2018
Thierry Henry has 0 managerial experience so not going to sit here and get excited about these rumours. Saying that like anything at Villa will back it regardless #AVFC
— Reece (@Reece_AV) July 24, 2018
We said that about Lampard pal, until he got the job and we all died of ecstasy.
— Dan (@danndannuk) July 24, 2018
In my mind it's got to be better than the same old Allardyce-Pardew-Moyes-McCarthy merry-go-round.
— Dan (@danndannuk) July 24, 2018
Bruce becoming DOF ????????????????
— George Adey (@george_adey) July 24, 2018
Starting to get concerned about the Henry rumours. It would be madness to appoint someone that has never managed before, whilst dispensing with one of the most experienced managers around. #avfc
— The Droyd (@The_Droyd) July 24, 2018
Well looks like Thierry Henry will be our new manager he will be an exciting prospect attacking football and will attract good players when we have the money #UTV #AVFC #PartOfThePride
— Jonathan Green (@Jonatha34694361) July 24, 2018
It’s a gamble I’m willing to go and watch week in week out! #AVFC #UTV
— Adam Clinton (@AdamClinton9) July 24, 2018
That's where I am at the moment. A mixture of excitement and caution!#avfc
— Crypto Adam AVFC & $LUPX (@BoscoJankovic1) July 24, 2018
Lampard @ derby, Stevie G @ rangers. Both welcomed with open arms. No Experience. Henry assistant manager for a World Cup semi final team, but no we would rather stick to the same no ambition footy that Bruce has brought. Oh and what experience has Terry had, none.why not Henry.
— james deans (@skippyjackson) July 24, 2018
As Villa fans we seem to be afraid of taking a risk in case it doesn’t work it’s always doom and gloom! Any managerial appointment is a risk at any club in any league!! How about we embrace Henry if he does indeed come in & be a bit more positive for a change #avfc
— Mike Land (@Mike_Land10) July 24, 2018