As Syd I think mentioned in another thread Bennet reckons something is up at the club. Perhaps it is as simple as money Short has said he is not putting anymore money in or paying high wages? So the likes of Bent and Gyan will leave for more money cos' that is what footballers do, in Bedlington v Ashington money changes hands in the dressing room and when millions is involved and you are from Ghana you have no loyalty to your contract. So that point leads me onto the management it is a safe bet that SNQ and SB did not want Bent/Gyan to leave, but if a none football insider like myself can work out that they are all money grubbing mercenaries I presume they can or should also. This was Gary Bennet's point. So we should have had plan a,b, and c cos' we are now light on proven strikes, light on (L) wingers and light on LBs. But if the money is not there? SB in motivating/selecting a team is not good enough and the squad we have now is VERY unbalanced and unsure of itself that is down to him. I am aBoB
I said on a thread a few weeks ago that I think Bruce will have till the beginning of October. The next international break will give a good opportunity to change managers if the club deems it necessary by then, which on yesterday's evidence I believe they will. Chelsea didn't have to get out of second gear except for about 5 minutes right at the end of the match and we never looked like we could take the game to them. That is down to Bruce and so I do feel now his time is nearly up.
I think Short HAS reigned in the spending at the club and especially under Bruce over this summer. I dont think he was fooled, as most of us weren't, about that top 10 finish. Our home form is as bad as under any of the donkeys we have all suffered like Butcher, Buxton and Wilko. We have lost 8 out of 9 home games this year. That should be enough ion its own to sack Bruce and I just dont understand how anyone can still support him. There were players out there we could have gone for to solve problems and maybe they wouldn't be top drawer but they would have been good enough to play up front and on the wing. There were left backs and right backs out there but we chose to not bother and instead invest in players for a future that Bruce simply hasn't got here. If money is tight, you cut your cloth to suit your pocket. Why spend £10m on 2 players that were not in your immediate thoughts and neglect to bring in the players needed in the most vital areas - ie a couple of strikers to play NOW and a left sided winger? God help us if the club decide to try and limp along until Christmas, in the vein and misplaced hope things can turn around, as by then I think we will be totally knackered and firmly rooted in the bottom 3. We all know where the clubs in the bottom 3 at the turn of the year end up dont we.
Cyprus this is not a pop as I think times for pops are over. Like Cest I donât agree with most of your comments, however, I do think we have something in common 1) stubbornness 2) totally bemused by the Quinn out fraternity although I do this he should harbour some of the responsibility. IMO I believe Bruce has to go and we donât have the luxury of time in a division that isnât forgiving like the Premiership. Itâs now obvious thereâs an unknown festering problem across there. Too many things just donât simply add up! If his lost the majority of fans what the point in keeping him?
"Cyprus this is not a pop as I think times for pops are over." Agreed. "Itâs now obvious thereâs an unknown festering problem across there. Too many things just donât simply add up!" You could be rite. Unfortunately. "If his lost the majority of fans what the point in keeping him?" Can't argue with this either TBH. I have a terrible foreboding about the weeks ahead and it's mainly to do with Quinny. I've a horrible feeling he's about to walk.
Your right the best thing to come to Sunderland was Quin , how anyone csn criticise him I do not know. He has brought us from the brink to a stable premiership club. Lets not go overboard KTF
Cyprus - you are saying something a lot of people have been perhaps thinking, but didn't want to say it out loud. Can ANYONE tell me when we last had such a long period of silence from him???????
I was happy to let Bruce have til December - as long as an potential incoming manager has the January window to correct any immediate concerns, it was fair to give him a shout. I don't think he is totally at fault for losing Gyan but it's on his watch and as mentioned aboce, it's not the first player he's lost. It's time to go, we can't afford a crap run before christmas as we historically struggle after. Is this why money was witheld? He was ona last warning? We lucked out last year with loanees but needed some serious strengthening up front and down the left but neither happened. I'm still getting over the loss of Malbranque, who should've ben encouraged to stay for two years - he could've been loaned out next year or sold on, but we could've done with an extra flair player and his experience.
Forgot to say that losing Quinn could set us back and relegate us in the current circumstances. A lot of the goodwill we've built nationally and internationally is down to him. Yes Bruce isn't working but he had the right pedigree to do something with the club - it just hasn't worked. Blame Quinn for rose-tinting his views but chase him? We'd lose.
This Judge at the end of October - though if we do not get at least 4 points and improved performances in the next 3 games, I think SB and NQ will be history. All we can do as fans is support the players on the pitch. Bart