Why the time is right for Steve Bruce to get Aston Villa axe
Steve Bruce’s 100th game in charge of Aston Villa at the weekend was marked by a truly memorable moment. For many fans inside Villa Park on Saturday, John McGinn’s goal will have been the finest they have ever witnessed at the club, but aside from that action of pure brilliance, it was a match to forget for the home fans.
An altogether too familiar display in which their side enjoyed some moments of pressure without ever really dominating proceedings or creating too many clear cut opportunities from open play. The eventual 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday may only have been their second in the league this season but a solitary victory in their last eight matches in all competitions - at home to the fourth best side in League One last season - has left the supporters disgruntled to say the least.
They have every right to feel that way too, after a string of uninspiring performances have seen the club drop into the bottom half of the table ahead of Friday night’s trip to Bristol City. After the victory over Rotherham last week, the manager was quick to write off justifiable criticism he had received from the local press as nonsense, citing the fact that Villa were three points better off than they were after as many games last season - in the process somewhat overlooking the fact that such an abject start prevented them from any real push for a top two finish and subsequently miss out on promotion.
Just one match and one defeat on they are now on the same points total that they were at this stage in the previous campaign, yet four positions lower. Failure to win the upcoming match with Bristol City would see the club fall below last season’s benchmark after ten games (16 points) and leave yet another uphill struggle.
For many Villa fans, Bruce has now overstayed his welcome, and understandably so. There are some factors that have played their part in his failings to now - all of which the manager repeatedly points towards - but injuries are to be expected and while the summer saga surrounding the finances at the club was far from ideal, there was enough time to patch up the squad in the necessary areas, not to mention a decent group of players already in place.
The signings of Anwar El Ghazi, Yannick Bolasie and Tammy Abraham bolstered an attack that already boasted the likes of Jack Grealish, Albert Adomah, Scott Hogan and Jonathan Kodjia, while the arrival of McGinn added to an area of the pitch where the side had not been weakened over the summer. Two goalkeepers arrived in quick succession to replace Sam Johnstone in another relatively unnecessary move, and while attempts were made late in the day to make defensive reinforcements, Villa have been caught short at the back.
Axel Tuanzebe was the only recruit in that regard, and his signing was simply a renewal of last season’s loan from Manchester United, meaning there are no new faces in the defensive department. That despite the fact that John Terry left before Tommy Elphick and Ritchie De Laet were allowed to follow suit, along with promising youngsters Easah Suliman and Mitch Clark on loan.
It should come as little surprise, then, that Villa’s defence has gone from being the third best last season to the fifth worst thus far this. The club has had ample time to build a squad strong enough to mount an automatic promotion push during a two year reign but has ultimately assembled one as imbalanced if not more so than the one Bruce inherited, and he must shoulder some responsibility for that.
The way in which they play, despite boasting an array of talent that would be the envy of the vast majority of the Championship, is still reactive. To call it defensive would be slightly awry, but they lack any identity and too often wait to see how a team sets up against them, rather than dictate the play as they really should do with the players at their disposal. They lead the league for shots, but so many are somewhat desperate, falling to tenth in terms of shots between six and 18 yards, highlighting a lack of ingenuity from open play.
The fact that Leeds and Boro are stuttering at the top of the table, with just one win apiece in their last four matches respectively, may well have kept Bruce in a job but, in truth, that should force him out of it. Aston Villa haven’t played well aside from a match against Brentford - still needing an injury time goal to salvage a point at home - yet are still within five points of first place. Imagine where they might be if someone could get the best out of them?
They are the Manchester United of the Championship. Unquestionably one of the biggest names and wage structures in their division, yet offering very little by way of entertainment and now falling well short of expectations in terms of results. Brentford are the toughest opponent that they have faced based on last season's rankings and finished ninth. The manager isn't overly different with the way he has reacted to the media of late either.
Jose Mourinho has won three Premier League titles, while Steve Bruce has won four Championship promotions and neither will let you forget it. The problem with living in the past is that it gives you an excuse to downplay the present or the future. The latter's ambition of finishing "there or thereabouts" in the race for promotion and overall cautious attitude is beginning to grate.
Match 101 for Steve Bruce could yet end in a Room 101 style fall for the former Birmingham boss. A victory might just delay the inevitable, but the new owners can’t afford to wait too long.
