There seems to have been another twitter spat between Steve Bruce’s son Alex and some Villa fans.
Alex replied to one tweet accusing his dad of playing with negative tactics:
Negative Style…..72 goals scored 3rd highest in the division….. not that bad for a defensively minded hoof ball team…. £2.5million spent last season, £18million brought in……
3rd bottom when he took over and led the team to a play-off final in 18months. Failure ???? https://t.co/0HwlToqOOE— Alex Bruce (@AlexBruce84) June 3, 2018
“Negative Style…..72 goals scored 3rd highest in the division….. not that bad for a defensively minded hoof ball team…. £2.5million spent last season, £18million brought in…… 3rd bottom when he took over and led the team to a play-off final in 18months. Failure!”
But many did see that side of the argument.
I’m really never convinced that Twitter is the best place for these sorts of conversations. Of course a son is going to defend his dad. But wouldn’t it be better to rise above? To ignore? I did note on earlier tweets on his page he was wishing Villa luck for the play-off final but his first and foremost priority is naturally going to be Bruce.
Is it an argument he really needs to get into? I guess maybe I miss the point, perhaps people enjoy the endless arguments on social media and thrive with the abuse that often ensues. I don’t get it. I like to discuss things, I do at times get a bit heated (in the moment) but I quickly remember it’s just social media, it’s ‘just’ football, no one is dying here, we could all try a bit more courtesy couldn’t we?
On social media? Meh, to be honest, no, I don’t think people can.
I digress.
Some of the discussion:
Highest wage bill in the division, 5 players that finished against Fulham have gone , Hutton out of contract, Grealish , Chester May have too be sold , 8 out of final 11 , built nothing for our future ! , 1 up front all season home to Barnsley & burton ! Massively underachieved!
— steve beach (@steveandkaren13) June 3, 2018
It is hard to argue that the first half at Wembley was anything BUT negative really. It was yet another no-show by Villa and we have had an awful lot of those. As much as I’d like to argue against this because I like Steve Bruce and I dislike the idea of another manager-merry-go-round, surely the buck stops somewhere? If it was a one-off no-show, fine. But it wasn’t. But too many point the finger straight to the manager instead of questioning the players. Did Bruce miss the three good chances Jack Grealish had for instance? No, Jack missed those. Are fans looking for Jack to be sacked? No, they are desperate for the £40million transfer rumours to be wrong.
I know he’s your Dad and you back him but I’ve watched the team a lot more than you as have others and it’s awful at times If he’s so good at this league why hasn’t he ever won it? Why did he go so negative in 1st half at Wembley?
— David Nealon (@Dpn76) June 3, 2018
VillaBoy is a very anti Steve Bruce poster on Twitter. He pointed out:
Purchased a whole new team in Jan 17 Alex was it £25m spent to get us promoted and we finished 13th!!! This season's top scorer was signed by RDM even after being dumped for the 1st 7 games!!!Our player of the season was also signed by RDM!!!! #DefendingDaddy
— Villa Boy (@VillaBoy68) June 3, 2018
Third highest scorers (without a regular centre forward) .Third best defence. MOST clean sheets worst long term injury list .Possession alone doesn't win matches.
— Steve (@VillanK7R) June 3, 2018
Should be stay or should he go poll in the Forum thread, join in the discussion
It is split between keeping Bruce or going for young and hungry. I’m glad, at least, that the other option ‘tried and tested’ hasn’t got many votes, because that would be ridiculous in my opinion. The likes of Moyes and Allardyce are no different to Steve Bruce. That’s not a criticism of them, it’s just what it is. I’m (going off subject slightly) pleased to see Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard moving into football management, we need a new breed now instead of the same merry-go-round of older managers.
And in defence, Pete does quite rightly in my humble opinion, point to the underachieving high earning players. Trouble is, you can’t sack the players under contract, you can the manager so the manager is always the easy target, isn’t he?
Bruce in ! Why oh why don't we ever put the reasons down to our overpaid players ?There's players who happily signed new deals years ago and they don't even appear in the squad…Ross McCormack for one. It's about time these underperforming players got sacked like the rest of us
— Pete (@1874avfc) June 3, 2018
Let this sink in villa fans.. 3rd from the bottom!!!!! when Steve took over within 18ths turned this club around and got us to playoff final!! 72 goals!! Brought whole new meaning to team spirit..Brought the best out in players.give the man the respect he deserves.
— ᒍᗩᑎEYO (@janeyo_jane) June 3, 2018
Spot on Alex. Hopefully your Dad is staying UTV
— Dan Renshaw (@danrenshaw17) June 3, 2018
It is an argument where there are merits on both sides with Steve. I still think that the players have to take a huge amount of the responsibility, whether they are told to sit deep or not, for the nature of the strolling around at times. But then, and yes, I really am agonising over this as I keep arguing with myself, the boss is still the boss, ultimately he has to get the players doing what he wants, otherwise………………..
And it is the otherwise I am wrestling with.
Should be stay? Should he go? I have no idea, I will now go and listen to The Clash though!