'ello boys and girls- For the most of you who dont recognise my user name, I am an avid reader but infrequent writer who every once in a while likes to shove essay-length opinions down other peoples throats just to give myself a bit of inner-peace. After a very disappointing past two games, and chaos across this board I thought I'd pip in and let my thoughts be known as well. I don't write often because I don't have too much to say that hasn't already been written or for fear of being repetitive and thus mundane. Early in the transfer window when this board for red with anger towards bruce for not signing any players I called for calm heads and patience, in the belief that he would snap up a few players and thankfully he did. I went on to talk about JI and how he would improve our presence in asia (where I live/work, and btw it really has). I also gave my opinion as to what types of signings should be made etc etc. And this time around I call for the same patience in Bruce/Quinn/Short that I asked for last time around. Lets be very clear, losing to Newcastle at home and Brighton away in the span of 3 days is very disappointing. For me the most disappointing bit was that Ji and Wickham both didn't start but I am not the manager and I never intend on being one. That being said, I still stand by the fact the Bruce is a good manager that the players obviously feel comfortable with. The proof of this is with players like Larsson and Wickham saying the Bruce played a massive role in bringing up to Sunderland. I'd like to think that most of us on this board have played competitive football with a manager at the helm at one point in their lives, whether it be sunday league, school etc etc. My point is that the most important thing in management is retaining trust from football players. I know this, and we all know this because we have played under a manager before. The only person I have have ever heard say anything bad about the man is the angeleri and even that seemed suspicious in how the article came out. We all know Bruce isn't a tactical mastermind, and he may never have the talents to be the best, but for a progressing club like ourselves I think he suits us. We should never want a manager that is sniffing around for a better job, (ie. Martin Oneil) and in Bruce we have a manager who players will work hard for and get on with. We have 11 new players in the team, and I have one credible source in the industry (i work in the asian market but he is primarily based in western europe) telling me there will be one more, and we are going to need patience. In all honesty until about christmas I don't think the team will gel completely. However the one positive I do see coming from this season is that we wont have a second half slump. I think this team will go strength to strength as the team bonds and the young players keep improving. I also think that the idea of drip feeding the new signings is very savvy, if you give them an automatic spot in the starting line up to a new player then motivation just goes out the window. By introducing the new talent week by week it will create a real sense of competition for the positions, something we have never had before. In my previous posts the one thing I talked about was a good cup run, and to be honest I was extremely disappointed to lose to Brighton but I still have hope for the FA Cup. The one thing I would like to see more from the squad is players having the confidence to take men on and create chances. We lump the ball forward way too much and this doesn't fit the front pairing of gyan/sessgnon at all. However as the team finds its feet I think we will start seeing players with more time and freedom on the ball to do damage. Also, as grateful as I am for Mignolet, I long for the day we have a fully fit craig gordon. A solid keeper is half the team in my mind and for me there is not a single ounce of doubt the when fully fit, craig gordon is our number 1. Before this gets too long again, I will wrap it up by once again calling for patience. It's been two weeks into the season and I think we are letting emotions get the best of us. I do agree that this is very much a make-or-break season for Bruce, but I also want to point out that we are only 3 games and lets not get ahead ourselves. The players will find their feet, and the goals will come its just a matter of patience. You look at the real competition for us in the likes of Everton, Bolton, Stoke etc they have all had quiet summers and are afraid of losing their best players. We on the other handm besides losing henderson, (who in my opinion was a great sale) have had a busy summer signing quality players and players with potential (and we may still have one more coming!). I think we should all take a step back and look at the situation logically; yes it's been a disappointing week but lets not start pointing fingers and calling for the sack after such progress, it would stupid. Keep the faith boys, if in the winter we are sitting in well into the second half of the table- then I will join you in the Bruce out banter but for now I stand firmly by the man and think he has only done nothing but good things for the club. I actually look forward to games now with hope, three years ago i feared defeat every weekend. Just my extremely long opinion, do with it what you must!
Good post. The only part I disagree with is our cup exit to Brighton. I'm not at all bothered about the Carling cup. If we'd have progressed, ok, but it's a poor competition and could do more harm than good if we had a run of games in it. It should be used to try out new players and ideas. The FA cup however I would like to progress in.
