Aston Villa fans have been offering their views on the news that Steve Bruce was appointed as their new manager.
Bruce, who left Hull City in the summer, is all confirmed as the new man in the Villa Park hot seat.
The 55-year-old will take over the vacancy left by Italian Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked early last week.
The fact that he was the manager of local rivals, Birmingham City for a six-year period may be something that holds Bruce back from being a success.
There seems to very much be a ‘Graham to Tottenham element‘ about it, following the Scotsman’s departure from Arsenal a few years earlier.
Former Birmingham managers have a history at Villa Park of course, following the decision of Alex McLeish to move across the city in 2011.
McLeish who has since managed Nottingham Forest before a couple of spells working abroad, never really developed a relationship with the Villa fans and not many football fans were surprised to see him depart after only one season.
Bruce will start, however, with a much larger chance of winning over doubters at the club than McLeish ever had.
He will take over a side that has been used to losing and therefore, realistically, it is hard to see anything getting any worse than it already is.
McLeish took over a side with much higher expectations. It was relatively the same side that had experienced such a successful period under Martin O’Neill, after all.
Will the Birmingham link matter to some fans? Below are some thoughts.
Fans comment on Twitter about Blue turned Villan
However like all managers it will be based on performances & results nothing to do with his blues links hope it works out let's see #avfc
— Simon Uvl 🦁 (@simonuvl) October 12, 2016
doesn't bother me Bruce is ex Blues.more hurt by that goal he scored for Man U vs Sheff Wed in the 37th minute of stoppage time in 93#avfc
— Ginge (@DeanoB24) October 12, 2016
I didn't like McLeish because of his football philosophy not because he was an ex Blues manager.I have no problem with Bruce. Welcome#avfc
— Ginge (@DeanoB24) October 12, 2016
As I continue to convince myself over Bruce, he was never 1 of those rival managers obsessed with #avfc like Pulis is, when at blues. #utv
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) October 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/fierce_biotech/status/785080763121303553
Bruce's time at Blues should be totally irrelevant. It was 9 years go.
He's a good Championship manager, think he'll do well for us. #avfc
— The Villa View (@TheVillaView_) October 9, 2016