I’m in danger of rekindling the Bruce in Bruce out debate here but I think that whatever side of the fence we sit some things are simply there for all to see. The run from now until mid December and the importance for Bruce and Sunderland, IMO, are massive. Behind us are last season, injuries, Bents sale and any other reason or excuse. The transfer window is now closed and players brought in, did the club get their main targets, well in many ways I think the answer is irrelevant. The powers that be had time to plan and prepare, they knew the problems and their solutions and in the scheme of things had both the power and cash to bargain with. We are and always have been a club based in Sunderland on the North East coast so geography can be a bloody nuisance but not an excuse, so here we are, 2 days from Chelsea. Its my honest opinion that we don’t have a top 4 or even a top six squad but we do have a top half of the prem squad. Injuries and luck we all need and I would not blame anyone if these conspire against us. Team and player selection, team formation, tactics and use of the squad are down to the manager and with the sale of Anton and Gordon still out I think that Bardsley and Richardson are the only 2 potential first team players who are left from the Kean era, all the others are Brucies boys. I have been a big Bruce backer and still think that despite his failings he and consistency are the best way forward, but there now must be conditions. I would be shocked if Short has not had the very same conversation with Quinn, now is payback time. I don’t ask for or indeed expect miracles, a team needs time and players do have off days and get things wrong. We play Chelsea on Saturday and it would be no shame to lose to them, the manner of a loss however could bring shame. There really are no easy games in the premier league but that is a two way street, we are in the premier league so I don’t expect us to be easy either. Come on Bruce, I backed you so now you back me and prove me right. Pick the right team and send them out motivated and playing in their best positions. It really is that easy, best players in best positions with best preparation and best motivation. I go to Saturdays game, as ever, excited, confident but a little apprehensive, send me back home proud and happy. I so much want to look forward to football first and MOTD, don’t spoil it for me.
With it being Chelsea I don't think its going to effect the bibbledebob conundrum too much. A win isn't expected but if it happens I can't see any BOBs hailing Bruce the new Messiah, equally I don't think a defeat will have the BIBs reaching for their Cest Rules T-shirts. Like you say though if we lose, the manner of defeat I feel could shake things up. If we are are the wrong end of a hammering 4,5,6 - 0 then all fire will be directed at Bruce and he'll have nowhere to hide. In American political terms I'm a 'Swing state' when it comes to Bruce. I'm optimistic about Saturday and I hope we're Bibbing rather than Bobbing come 5pm
I think Bruce has the time until the window in January opening to prove himself - this squad is IMO better than we have had for some time, the issue is whether SB can produce a team which can play some winning football. The start of the season has been frustrating more than disappointing (I had feared we would lose to Liverpool - no shame in that - lose the derby - too much of a lottery to put huge emphasis on its outcome although bitterly disappointing and feared we might lose away to Swansea as they would be on some sort of new boy bounce akin to Blackpool). What can we genuinely expect against Chelski a point at best IMO..... The real concern has been form in front of goal - Bendy might help (I have my doubts) and I worry that we have simply not got the firepower to avoid problems this season...time will tell. Two tests for SB IMO - can he get the lads up front to start finishing (we are making chances) and can he avoid a third straight mid-season slump? Injuries or not I had massive concerns last year that something was going wrong on the training pitch/treatment table as we were full of similar injuries and rushing players back when not 100%... I want (as we all do ) SB to do well for the club - he has a few months to prove it. KTF
Syd i agree I am also a Bruce man but this season is massive for him if he wants to continue as our manager. I have always stated a manager needs 3-5 years but i did not expect to be building a whole new team in his 3rd season, i also don't care what people say about Gyan his body language still says he does not want to be here so its important we have a replacemet lined up for Jan just incase. There can be no excuses if we do not get a replacement in if he goes. The opening fixtures have not been to kind for bruce at the start of the season and its funny that a win against newcastle and the fans would have been cock a hoop we would have had 5 points and happy, there are no easy games in this league but a struggle against Stoke would certainly get the fans worrying. What is worrying for me is not the draw at Swansea its the fact of no goals. this is the reason its important for Bruce to sort it. We failed last year with injuries (which you can't do a lot about) and lack of goals which we could have addressed im sure bendtner will be good for us but spending £8m on Whickham and then not prepared to pay £10m for N'zogbia amazed me. we are not a club who can afford to spend £8m on a young kid for the future we need a proven striker now Wellbeck was never coming and neither was Abi Clancey i can't believe we went back for him, Pav may have been a better bet. I am still behind Bruce but they say after 10 games the table settles down lets hop we have improved. At full stregth our Defence and Midfield in my opinion are stronger than last year we just need to get the forwards ticking and if bendtner can kick on from his Denmark performance i think it will be ok.
a I'm not, never have been and never will be a football manager, I was however a manager of a national sales force full of strong characters. If I was Bruce I would know 100% if Gyan wants out and why, he mut know. If he wants out then its not a hard conversation to have,"I know you want out Asa and we both know we can do little until January. You give me 100% and place yourself in the shop window and I will get you your move in Jan". I would know how much I will get for Gyan and what I would have from Short then have a replacement lined up. I think that Pav will be that replacement.
As you stated Syd, we shouldn't really expect to beat Chelsea...So why is it that I have such a good damn feeling about this game? I just sense that Bendtner is destined to become an instant hero at Sunderland, and it will all begin on Saturday. If we win, I may very well try and start the chant " Oh when the BIBS go marching in"...
Good OP Syd, Well As I expect us to be a mid table side (fingers crossed) half our season is over as we are out of one cup and have lost a home game against the mags. Other problems, we are still an unbalanced side, no LB or LW after 2 seasons. Plus I am still not certain if two young lads plus a danish loanee = one Bent? So on saturday what I have is some yardsticks or benchmarks, other than the obvious one the result (and it will be in hope rather than expectation for a result), to judge SBs performance... is Rico LB, is Elmo RW, where are Sess, Bentdner and Gyan playing, what happens with our second half display and how is the players motivation, what about SBs subs are they timely (rather than panicking and just throwing forwards on), if Catts is playing and gets a yellow what does SB do. That is my list, what have others got. As you might guess I am in the BoB camp and SB has a lot to do to win me back.
Don't like the manager not sure about some of the team but, it's all about supporting SAFC for me. As a Sunderland supporter I want Bruce to succeed as it means we are doing well I just can't see it and, hope that we do not return to the SAFC of old and are involved in the relegation dogfight up to the very end. Blatantly on the fence at the minute.
There's a lot of pure observation firstly and then common sense thoughts/conclusion, in the posts from parker, yellow and mitch. IMO you have to give a manager 2 1/2 to 3 seasons before you can hope to say the man's right for the role or not? There are many +'s from what SB has done so far, and there are also concerns that have become apparent in his tenure. The squad has undergone massive reshaping, and with the exceptions already mentioned, this is HIS team, and it should therefore follow that he can set up that team the way HE wants. I'm not expecting a result (given our record at home against them) but I AM expecting that our performance is one that we can proud of. I'm currently sitting on the fence re SB and I hope that I don't take up the kind offer from the BoB's of a free SB OUT badge for that will mean we are in the mire. Come on one and all, lets give it everything this Sat - both on and off the pitch. KTF
Any chance we can stop using this 'Bib & Bob' ****e. It's bollocks, and does nowt but puts a divide. Why can't we just be 'Sunderland fans with differing opinions of the current manager?'.
Sorry to rain on your parade but the branding appears a little more like a target with a big fat bullseye.
At the start, when the mutterings of discontentment towards Bruce began, those of us who didn't agree with the norm, were branded with the BOB tag, I'm kinda proud to have it. It makes it clear from my signature where I stand in relation to Bruce, I would love him to make me change my mind about him and his abilities, but I don't think he will. (sorry if you don't like that) I think we've got well past the great divide between us on here, and the BOB/BIB is all just banter now, different standpoint but same support for the cats. Whatever our pov on Bruce we all want the lads to do well, if Bruce is at the helm when we do that, then all well and good and I'll cheer for him as loudly as the most ardent BIB/happy clapper (what you'd like to be called).
Think you put that well Syd, ,,,but,,,my stance on Bruce is well known, and I for one will never change that opinion, the well being of SAFC is however the most important issue here, under his watch we will never amount to much.
