Aston Villa Fans are Right to Criticize Steve Bruce

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Mile Jedinak of Aston Villa celebrats with Steve Bruce, Manager of Aston Villa after scoring his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final First Leg match between Middlesbrough and Aston Villa at Riverside Stadium on May 12, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Mile Jedinak of Aston Villa celebrats with Steve Bruce, Manager of Aston Villa after scoring his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final First Leg match between Middlesbrough and Aston Villa at Riverside Stadium on May 12, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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The recent run of form for the club has not done Steve Bruce and his job security any favors, and supporters are growing increasingly frustrated with the direction of the team.

Aston Villa are not playing good football right now. There is no hiding that fact. Cup games aside, the club have gone 1-3-1 over their last five, which could have easily been 0-3-2 had it not been for some late game heroics (twice). That’s how close the club are to being on 6 points, hovering a measly 2 points above the relegation zone.

There could be a number of factors causing this poor form. There may be some lingering injury issues, struggles with off-field personal matters, or maybe just bad luck. However, many would agree, including our own Dean Caffrey that the main problem be rooted in the selection of players on defense.

This criticism is beyond fair; it’s warranted. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It’s impossible to sit idly and support something that is by definition, insane.

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According to statistics aggregated on WhoScored, Aston Villa’s best defender (other than the departed Tommy Elphick) has been Mile Jedinak. That’s right.

However, anyone that’s seen the matches understands that he has not passed the “eye test”. So Bruce trotting him out match-in and match-out is just not something that’s going to work. Fans have the right to be critical of this selection. (And what that selection has subsequently meant for everyone on the back line)

In addition to the defense, it should also be noted that much criticism has been directed at the transfer activity, most pointedly at the players being loaned out. Loaning out André Green left the club with one fewer attacking option to come off the bench. The aforementioned Elphick was somewhat surprisingly sent packing after scoring a goal against Hull City in week one. Also surprisingly, long time player-in-waiting Jed Steer was loaned away after a solid week one performance.  These moves make sense if there is a plan for what happens afterward.

After some tumult between Bruce and Albert Adomah, it is uncertain what the future holds for one of last season’s best players. That leaves Anwar El-Ghazi, Ahmed Elmohamady, and eventually Yannick Bolasie as the three wing options. Jed Steer was replaced by a goalkeeper who last season played for a mid-table 2. Bundesliga side, and has been inconsistent so far this season. Tommy Elphick’s presumed starting role was filled by a CDM which then caused a domino effect of positional fallout on the back line.

So tell me, does any of that make sense? I would guess that the vast majority surveyed would say “No”.

Then should we be calling for the sacking of Steve Bruce? I think not. But should we be criticizing his recent selections, tactics, and transfer business? Absolutely.