The Steve Bruce debate

Paul Devlin asked an interesting question on social media this weekend. ‘If Steve Bruce goes to Villa, does all the good work he done at Blues go out the window in Blues fans eyes?’.

Judging by the responses, Blues fans seemed torn on the issue. The only unanimous verdict was that Bruce was a fantastic manager for this club.

I’m also torn.

On one hand, what Bruce achieved was, at the time, the stuff of dreams. He took over a mediocre Blues side languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship and within six months, the club was preparing for Premier League football for the first time.

Another memory that latches Blues fans to him fondly is his record against Villa – it was outstanding.

On the other hand, Blues are currently the top dogs in Birmingham for the first time in too many years. With Bruce at the helm, the current gap of ten points and thirteen places is bound to shorten.

What Bruce offers is experience at this level. Villa’s squad is awash with big money signings and Bruce will get the best out of them.

Of course, if Bruce fails to rejuvenate Villa, then he can remain safely in Blues folklore. And as a Villa fan pointed out on Twitter, Bruce being an ex Blues player and manager means he will only be a couple of defeats away from being ‘that Bluenose’.

The pressure on any manager taking the reigns at Villa Park will be immense. Their owner, Tony Xia, is expecting a promotion tilt and the fans continue to live in cloud cuckoo land.

I’d love Bruce to snub them. I’d love for him to see the light. But at the age of 55, can an unemployed football manager turn down such an opportunity?

The work he done at Blues will never change or be forgotten. He was the manager who took us forward and many still believe he was sacked long before his time. But one thing Bruce can’t expect if he becomes Villa manager is the warm standing ovation that he’s become accustomed when returning to St. Andrews.