Covers himself by playing down clubs potential, uninspiring stuff that there was no excuse for here where he was backed reasonably and Villa where he was backed ridiculously for a championship side. Its like he's happy just to blag his way by for a bit longer than kick on with the club. Whilst that makes him perfect for Ashley, that probably two-fold why he's hated there.I think between Newcastle, Sunderland and even Villa the reasons all three sets of fans dislike Bruce are probably the same. The excuses, the diverting of blame, the way he makes out he's a victim of circumstances and just unlucky. That the fans are wrong. Three big fanbases all united in their dislike of the same manager. The common denominator being Bruce.