The euphoria of Sundays result and performance is starting to subside and the question is, well at least in my little brain it is, is this the kick start or just a stay of execution. I think that more of the same will see the threats hanging over Brucies head dissapear until summer at the earliest but after 2 years second half slumps and some disasters on the striking front, that threat will always be hovering. Now despite the odd accusation from others, we Sunderland fans are realistic, been there and done it far to many times to get carried away. We know that the euphoria was relief and not delusion and we know that we will have bad days, we simply hope and indeed expect to have more good days. Personal I can take defeats, I find it a lot harder to take capitulation and I live in hope, mind I always live in hope. My main hope lies in two players, OâShea and Brown and their pedigree and experience, I simply donât see these two allowing capitulation. Of course injuries will play there part but surely we can have another season of such disastrous injuries and the one big plus is the squad. Bardsley was not missed on Sunday because of being able to bring OâShea in, midfield we have Catts, Colback and Meyler ready to grab the chance if Gardner or Vaughan drop out or drop form. The scary bit is attack but both Ji and Wickham have shown to me that they may just be able to step up if needed and we do have Campbell to come back. I know Norwich away will not be easy but I am no longer interested in settling for a point a week before kick off, lets get our head round winning games, Man U away is fair enough, a point would be good but, with the greatest respect, Norwich away we need to get that winning mentality and be looking for a win. All good stuff sitting in Coxhoe on a Tuesday morning but, in the cold light of day, what realiscally lifts the threat from Bruce this season?
I think its lifted if we are 'comfortable' at xmas and looking up the table rather than nervously over our shoulders.
Morning lads, it has definately been a big problem stringing a few reuslts together since our time back in the Premier League. I would like to think we may go on a little run over the next 2 games and defeat at Arsenal would be no shame just as long as we can pick ourselves up. I also echo that our attack doesnt look strong but our defence showed on Sunday that even 4-0 up we defended that goal with our lives and that tells me we will be a hard team to crack this season, even if we are pretty toothless upfront but that is an area I expect to improve in January. So if we can maintain a mid table position until the January transfer window then I would hope with 1 or 2 aquisitions we can push on again in 2012 and finish strongly instead of the famous slump.
Can we beat Norwich? Yes Should we be aiming to beat Norwich? Yes Would it be end of the world if we only got a point? no, and I wont be jumping onto peoples back if we do - though i will be disappointed
I don't think any faith in Steve Bruce is possible until May at earliest. Even if we're top of the Prem at Xmas it won't mean a thing - look at the last two Springs. But, while I find faith in Bruce extremely difficult, I'm much more impressed by the midfield and defence he bought this summer. You've said all that's necessary about O'Shea and Brown, Syd. But the threat from Larsson and Gardner is very welcome. Defenders can't just crowd round our striker and forget everything else, as they could with Catts and Hendo, with these two around. And, once the striker(s) are free, Vaughan can play balls to their feet instead of hoofball like previous seasons. I suspect Bendtner will have a much happier time here than Bent and Gyan did. Liked what I saw on Sunday. These guys can do something. But I'm still very, very jittery about Bruce's ability to solve a problem when we hit one. May at earliest before I'll have any faith at all in him.
Norwich decent win at the weekend for them, but we should have enough to beat them... Our away form has been pretty decent for a while,and should be a good open game.. Hope we are practising penalties this week, any idea who would be our taker? Sess or maybe Bendtner.
probably going to regret asking this - its a bit like opening pandora's box... What problems has Bruce been unable to address so far, apart from the injuries? He seems to have solved our issue with performing away from home, and he has improved our defence and midfield no end. edit: After thinking about my question, I guess it depends if you see the injuries as the reason for the slump last season or not....
Ups and downs imo. Last season I'm sure we thrashed Villa 6-0 and then got beat the following week. Similar situations happen to many other teams. I just wouldn't rule out the general rollercoaster ride that is the footballing season. These days, "previous results" never seem to mean much as there are far too many unexpected results going on. In fact, I'd be more weary of overconfidence due to a previous result than anything else. That's bitten us on the arse countless times.
"I don't think any faith in Steve Bruce is possible until May at earliest. Even if we're top of the Prem at Xmas it won't mean a thing" Couldn't agree more. Makes me wonder why people were calling for his head after only four games. Lets see where we are after all 38 games. Top half is my prediction, and always has been.
Well, let's deal with improving our defence and midfield no end because we agree on that completely. I did say "I'm much more impressed by the midfield and defence he bought this summer." Bruce signs well, and I'll give him credit for it. I'll also give him credit for bringing us a step on from the Keane days. Bruce has done some good things here. He's done for us what he did for Wigan - established us as a bottom to mid-table Premiership side. But, whilst he's got decent results away from home since April, the home record has been shocking - and it's lasted for nine months. The injuries went on for months (two seasons running) and he made matters worse by playing his fit players out of position - we've been crying out for a left winger and he played Muntari in CM for four months solid and then returned him to Inter as though it was the lad's fault! The trouble is Bruce won't bend - it was obvious early on that Muntari is no CM - but he kept him there. It was obvious that strikers were unhappy being isolated when Bent left - but he did the same thing with Gyan! He doesn't help himself with the lame excuses - I mean to pin the last nine months on one Newcastle result is ridiculous. There were a lot of people wanting rid of him in May - but it's all the fault of one game that wasn't even played till three months later. How the hell does he work that out? He'd be better off saying nowt at all than making himself look silly like that As I said, I'll give credit for the good he's done - and he has done some good. But he's got serious flaws, and if we're top of the division at Xmas, I'd still be very cagey about getting excited. You never know with him.
I think we all can agree that Bruce has made a mistake or two but, I may be grasping at straws here, was the dropping of Catts and Colback for Vaughan and Gardner an act of desperation or the action of a man who is learning from past mistakes. The answer to that question will, IMO, decide our future and Brucies future, we will only get to know that answer over the coming weeks.
If we were top of the league at xmas it would mean we had 40-45 points, Bruce would be bloody knighted given a 5 year contract and presented with the Freedom of the City of Sunderland by cest.
Ok, so we had injuries - which I think is mainly bad luck more than anything else. However, I believe Bruce changed his backroom staff etc after last seasons crisis to try and improve things. Lets see if that is problem addressed or not. However, I think it is difficult to know what caused so many injuries - his training techniques would not (I believe) have changed from Wigan and Birmingham and I dont think he had the same amount of injuries at those clubs (where is our resident statistician ?). I know people have doubts about Bruce's insistence of playing Ricco at LB (I think Ricco can still do a job there if given time), but Muntari is a CM and plays in the centre for Inter... I agree that the left side needs to be strengthened, and I think Quinn and Bruce tried to get one in this summer - but we will never be sure as the club dont make statements about failed bids. Our recent home record is an interesting one, was it to do with the injuries or not? again, we will never know certain.
Yep, Bruce is not perfect (what manager is?) and has made mistakes and we will see what happens over the next few games - will he put Cattermole back in the starting XII? I hope not, unless its due to injuries (heaven forbid).
Agreed. I was very pleased with that midfield on Sunday, and think it should be left to settle for a few games at least.
i may come across as negative here, the result at the weekend was a good one and lady luck was on our side for 3 of the goals and it was a much improved performance but that does not detract from the fact that we have been poor since janauary. hopefully this is the sign that we are turning the corner and from now on we will start improving and have a decent run of results. vaughan proved at the weekend that he should have been in the team from the start of the season and i disagree with bruce saying that he had to stick with the players who got to 10th last season (football is no place for loyalty anymore) as the game is results driven and the fans want to see improvement. bruce has his positives but also has a lot of negatives to his game and needs to win back a lot of fans and we cant blame injuries for our slump as it has happend two seasons in a row roughly around the same time. bruces tactics especially his central midfielders tend to be too defensive but on sunday with a change of personnel who are more attack minded we saw a much more improved attacking style and long may that remain and will do as long as he doesnt bring cattermole back into the team.
