Well thanks for proving my point, we get the strory of Bruce and why he should go even though I said its nothing to do with Bruce in or Bruce out. Then we compound it with the happy clapper digs. I'm starting to think I must be incapable of explaining my point because it has nothing at all to do with Bruce out or Bruce in and I thought I said that in my OP. The Bruce out comes with posts that have nothing to do with Bruce in or out being highjacked and a Bruce out comment, if I need to explain them then either I'm not explaining or you are not reading the posts. Its a positive story turning negative and again I know its not just me, read the comments on this post from older posters. Think about posters who we dont see now, why, I dont know but I would guess. We have debated Bruce and like it or not he will be here for a few weeks at least and I say again that those wanting him out have and put forward good arguments, no problem with that, its the spinning everything into a negative that gets me. Maybe its me thats out of step, it could well be and its not my forum its everyones. All I am pointing out is my honest thoughts, dont need happy clapper jibes, I'm not. I have enjoyed my morning away from here and will enjoy the afternoon the same way.
Only 3 league games into a season, with two decent away points and a very poor home game. The signings we have made this window have been good enough for me but we still need a couple of additions. I watched the Arsenal game on Sunday and began to realise that we don't have anywhere near the issues that some clubs have. I'm was as baffled as anyone by the selection vs Brighton, but in fairness I can't remember Bruce having got the starting line up as wrong as that before. We should be fine this season as long as we keep off the players backs and concentrate on supporting our club.
I agree Ken but we all know things could be better and I have no problem with a thread saying Bruce is rubbish and should be replaced, noe at all and I'm sorry if the anti Bruce people think I'm having a go at them, I'm not.
Syd. The club are struggling to score goals (1 in 4 games); have lost another derby AT HOME; been knocked out of the cup to lower league opposition AGAIN and generally have seen some really strange decisions being taken on the field of play so far this season. What do you think SHOULD be the main debating points on a Sunderland football forum at this moment in time? If its not the manager, the players or the owners/chairman, there's precious little else to talk about in a footy club is there? Maybe you could initiate an in depth thread about the quality of the pies (I know you like your recipes Lol), the content of the match day programme, or the state of the grass on the pitch but I can guarantee there wont be many responses.
You see this kind of "its only 3 games or 4 games in" argument antagonises the situation. It isnt about 2, or 3 or 4 or even 6 games. Have a look at my thread on the last 45 games. A win % of only 28.8%. We have lost 19 games out of 45. 52 points out of 135 available and we have hardly set the world on fire in the 3 or 4 games you actually talk about this season. 1 goal in 4 games and knocked out of the cup yet again in the first round and again to lower league opposition. The failures are constant. The successes sparodic. Thus we are discussing SB's suitability as a top manager here. I dont think that is a bad thing, nor is it a good thing to support the man but do it genuinely and offer a better defence. Not having a pop btw, as your generally quite level headed as it happens on here and I enjoy your input. Bruce in or Bruce out is not the issue but debating the FACTS are and over a long term investigation, Bruces stats are rubbish bar the odd good game ie Chelsea.
well cest, it seems my ability to explain what I mean is lost, I give up and accept that I am out of step because I have read and re read my comments and said over and over again its nothing to do with threads about Bruce in or Bruce out, past performance, tactics or any of that.
Then I am lost too. What ARE you trying to say then? What should the fans of a club actually be talking about in your opinion? If not the manager, the players or the owner/chairman what else is there? You seem to be geting hacked off at people talking about the most vital things in a football club on a football forum about their football club? What topics do you think would be better suited, without mentioning the manager, the players or the owner chairman? I just dont get what you are looking for on here?
Personally I go through any number of roller coaster style emotions in each week I support this club. Its uncanny how one day (after Liverpool game) you are ecstatic about a battling point in a Champions League contenders backyard, disappointed we didnt sneak it, then go to the devastation of another derby defeat. Still I do try and step back a bit now and again and look at how I am feeling, then try not to come out with the mag style impulsiveness in a) calling for heads to roll and b) saying we are champions in waiting. Trying to look at this objectively Bruce took over a side who stayed up on the last day of the season, very luckily when you look at the sub 40 points total we achieved. The season after he spent a few bob on Bent/Cattermole/Cana etc but also recouped a fair bit on Whitehead/Collins etc. In doing this we achieved another bottom half finish, but undoubtedly progress from the season before when we were fighting for our lives. Last season again, despite a slight roller coaster aspect, we scraped into that top half, even with the sale of our England centre forward/top goalscorer in January. I know we could have blocked it but by keeping him against his will his performance would undoubtedly slip, and who knows what the fans backlash would have been towards him impacting negatively on the team. Still we battled on and finished 10th, progress again. Now we are 3 games in to a season with a lot of new faces. Fair play the cup performance isnt good enough but come on lets not turn into Newcastle and change our views on the club/manager/chairman on a weekly basis! Yes there may be the odd issue with the side but the guys in charge at our club arent stupid and I am sure we will do all we can to resolve them. If come the end of the season we fail to progress then fair enough lets review it then. Back to the original point I understand we all have a right to an opinion, I would just like our fans to rise above the standards that lot up the road set. Have a bit of class and show some faith in the club and get behind the team we all love!
I think your concerned that the bulk of the stuff on this board is pretty negative. I'm also at a bit of a loss to remember a positive post. All the good vibes we had at the close season have evaporated after four games even though all the games were fine margins. We have yet to see who we bring in before tomorrow night.... So I Holding onto some hope! Cest, im certainly not in the happy clapping brigade bud. The start of this season has been poor and the end of last yr was grim. My main concern would be shifting Bruce at a cost when the transfer window is closed. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
I think this is a huge point. How quickly the good feeling of 4 weeks ago have turned to **** is indicative of the under lying current of opinion and leads into the 2nd part of your statement nicely. I think the vast majority (inc me) buried the hatchet after last seasons poor 5 or 6 months finish but it was always bubbling just beneath the surface. Bruce needed to get off to a good start and in particular needed to win the derby game to secure the little bit of good will around at the end of June/start of August when the new signings generally impressed. A credible draw after the 1st half Alamo at Anfield was quickly turned into despair at yet another derby capitulation, followed by an early cup exit and the most bizarre team selection and then another toothless performance at Swansea, which has meant any good will has all but gone now for many. The knives are sheathed at the moment but a no show top striker by tomorrow night mate and the daggers will be drawn and stuck right in by Thursday. He walked a thin tight-rope over the summer but has failed to ignite a comeback and he really, really needed to do that to survive. It’s why I think he is finished as he didn’t have much good will to play with and blew any he did have inside 270 mins of football of the new season. You know what? A draw a Liverpool and beat the mags and EVERY fan (Inc me) would have given him till Christmas without hassle, even if we had exited the cup game. That derby defeat (after last years 2 humiliations as we were ****e at home too) was just a bitter pill too many for a manager I had doubts about at the end of last season anyway. There is almost no way back for him in my books, unless he pulls off the 1 or 2 transfer coups of the window. That’s a very, very hard task for him now IMO. It would be a hard one for SAF to be honest but Bruce does need pull it off, or he will start to get major pelters at the game for the first time in his career here and we all know what comes shortly after that?
think i know what you mean and there has just been a prime example in 1 of the many Anton threads. Discussing the rights and wrongs of the move, how much etc, then newtonlee posts Agent Bruce Out! Why, it has nothing to do with the thread in question, and then it trascends into a Bruce in/Out argument and goes completely away from the OP, so gets all negative (lets be honest there isnt a lot of postive talk even for Bruce in camp, even i admit that). If its a Bruce out thread, fine post that, if its a Bruce in thread, fine post that (but a bit more from him would be nice) but when it has nothing to do with Bruce and we still get the bruce out crap, I just shake my head.
Happy clapping sheep? Ewe must be joking bonny lad! Also, I believe you have used the term 'realist' in the wrong context...I've checked out all of its given meanings, and there isn't a single entry for Mag tosser...
Steve - I have just responded to newtonlee2 and said that he is out of order with that post IMO and I am firmly in the BOB brigade. However, as I have tried to say above, this has all been bubbling all summer and the derby defeat, cup exit and 1 goal in 4 games (when we ALL knew a striker to replace Bent was a priority) has meant that the issues are all clouded. Even the most innocent of posts can be turned very quickly into a Bruce discussion because that IS the number one discussion point at the club currently. If he pulls off a transfer coup I think the heat and the hatred will abate somewhat and will buy him a few more games but we do need to start and put points on the board. Maybe signing this lad Cisse and say Bellamy would turn the fortunes of a decent squad around very quickly and in 4 or 5 weeks we can all revert to being fickle football fans again and get back on side with Bruce. As I have said, IMO he isn’t going anywhere (barring disaster of course) until at least Christmas. So I am refraining form the Bruce out debate for now. Woe-betide he fails to find that striker mind, as I think the boards will meltdown totally on Thursday in the absence of one.
Halilullah Give the man a prize, thank you Steve. I honestly have no problem with threads about Bruce, the board or the team, Cest says its what the forum is for and yes it is, agree 100%. I think its the wrong time to move Bruce and in those threads I will put forward my view. But like Steve has said, its also about other things, the variety of topics and points of debate are great and yes, sometimes we want a break from Bruce so we talk about other things but then in comes, its all Brucies fault and off we go. We cant stop people posting what they like and my only point is that we jsust may have other people who, like me, find it all to negative at times, spinning a thread into a Bruce in Bruce out debate. This thread itself seems to be trying hard to follow that path. not for everyone Cest, thats my point
Syd - but if Bruce’s position at the club is under scrutiny and debate and its no use denying that it is, then that will cloud every discussion at some point. He needed a good start and above all to win the derby game to keep the wolves at bay. He didn’t and therefore, rightly or wrongly, all roads lead back to his door at the moment. If he does sign 1 or 2 quality (and I mean quality not Macheda or Samaras either) he will buy himself time and may free up the board for a while to debate other issues. If he doesn’t, I'd just take a holiday because there will only be ONE topic being debated for the next 2 weeks and that’s guaranteed.
