I’d be very surprised if this forum either member or non member hasn’t attracted someone from the pitchfork brigade: No big deal either way really.
I always believe that if you're having a pop at someone it's best to know if they exist or not. Otherwise it can look as if you're twisting about nothing.
I didn't realise Bruce's record for the calendar year. That is pretty worrying. But I still think in hindsight, giving him more time would have proved fruitful for our club in the long run. I think short started to lose interest in the club when Martin O'Neil failed. The managers that followed had shoestring budgets. The one thing Bruce is able to do is pick up bargains, especially from abroad. Sess was around 5 mill. Mignolet 2 mill Bent 13 mill Gyan 14 mill W brown 1 mill Larson 2 mill J mensar 2mill Catts 6 mill O'Shea 5 mill Those signings would suggest that Bruce is not a chancer. I'm no way suggesting he's a world class manager. But after him we had: O'Neil Poyet Di Canio Advocate Big Sam Moyes. Apart from big Sam, he's streets ahead of the rest.
I agree with much of that but would balance his good signings with some stinkers. Also I can't accept he's streets ahead of Advocaat who managed half a dozen nations, managed club sides in a dozen countries and won a fair few titles. Bruce is a plodder in comparison imo.
With an all ready proven income stream, the important bit. The club is, as Johnson says, 'Oven Ready' Alternatives to Sunderland are few if the truth be known. The inane speculation and petty spats by some on here and RTG are just winding people up. I suspect many know nowt about business, you can guarantee FPP do.
Bruce is a glorified coach / scout - he can spot a player but can only get the best of them for one season - he is poor tactically and do you remember the injuries that mounted up -
My concern now is donald selling to any cheapskate who has 40million - do you think he is proud enough to sell us to a party who can take us to next level?
As you pointed out, after O'Neill, the managers budget was slashed. From that list, I would disagree strongly that Bruce is a better manager than Advocaat. Not only was Advocaat given considerably less a budget to work with, but he also had Cogerton to deal with. Do you remember the week when 2 targets failed medicals (Lombaerts and Fer), and Lombaerts came out and denied it vehemently? A day after Lombaerts 'failed medical', Congerton signed Kaboul and then brought in Adam Lambert from Celtic. Wow! These were Congerton signings, and undermined Advocaat, who was head and shoulders above any manager we had had for a very long time. I firmly believe Advocaat was sold down the river, realised it and got out asap. We should have backed him to build his own team,like we backed O'Neill.
I doubt he can afford to be choosy tbh. He's in quicksand and doesn't have much wriggle room. Once due diligence was done it was inevitable FPP would have found enough skeletons to rattle at Donald. He, in my opinion, tried to tough it out and stick to his valuation but, by then, FPP could just sit it out until he cracked. They don't have to lift a finger, Donald is doing all the work himself.
Virgil van dijk would have signed for us from Celtic when Advocaat was here.. funds refused apparently
The problem is that FPP have little to gain by diving straight in, frustrating for us. From what I was told there was a huge difference between the valuations. If FPP get their way the club might just fall into their laps. The less they spend the more there is to invest in the club ... .... in theory.
