Ironically that’s how many we ended up with last season and we finished 13th. But the way teams are playing this season that could seal top 10!
I'd wait and see what they want first otherwise you might not have the balls to do it either. They like chopping things off when people upset them!
Ha ha come on a bit harsh. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want him in charge but he has done ok. Has he not? I think he knows his days are numbered.
Just because he's done better than every single person expected does not mean he should be in this job. This is what the Mike Ashley ownership has done to fans. It has allowed the ****test of the **** appear to be acceptable.
Bruce deserves a massive amount of credit and has done a very good job. To be on course to better the previous incumbent who was so revered, is a pretty good effort. Still needs to go if the takeover happens. No room for sentiment, we'll need the best.
SB wasn't my first choice, probably wouldn't even make the top 10 but he's what we ended up with. Forget about what you think of the bloke as a person or a manager or what he has or hasn't achieved in his managerial career to date. In his time as our manager he's gone about his business very quietly and professionally with an obscene amount of anger and despair aimed at him.....none of which he deserved as he was unproven as our manager. Whilst the football has not been pretty to watch we've had some memorable victories and put in some very reasonable performances all things told. We certainly look to be playing better football now than at times under Rafa. Whilst there will naturally be calls for him to be replaced when the takeover goes through it is hugely disrespectful to him and even more disrespectful for him to be asked questions about his future. Until he is told otherwise he is our manager and he will get my full support. He's not stupid, he will know what's going on and he will have a fair inkling as to what is on the horizon for him....or maybe he doesn't....nobody knows. One thing is for sure is that if the time comes for him to be replaced, and aside from the fact that he is our manager, he's one of our own, he's a geordie and more importantly he's a fan, he will say fair enough, thank you for giving me the opportunity to manage this club and he will walk away with his head held high knowing that he's done what was asked of him. If there were people behind the scenes calling the shots on players and targets etc in consultation with SB i wouldn't be too upset for him to be given a crack next season, yes we could probably get much better but we could also have someone far worse in charge. Next season is gonna be a transitional one for us and I think SB deserves the chance to be part of it. Nobody could argue that he hasn't earned it. He has my respect for how he has conducted himself and got on with the job.
We have been somewhat conditioned to accept no ambition. Personally I wouldn't get hung up on Bruce or the situation. If/when the takeover happens, just roll with it. The first thing will be a restructure and implementation of senior people to completely renovate the club, top to bottom. I'm not sure Bruce will be seen as an urgent decision, because there'll be enough investment in players, backroom and facilities to take what we have comfortable into the top 10. From there the questions being asked of a manager won't just be "can we play better" - it'll be "what makes us better". This is where the big hitters come in, when we start talking about the fabric of the club, the DNA of how we play from U-12's to the first team. No matter how amiable Bruce is, how good the results are, etc., he just wont have enough knowledge about how to help rebuild the structure of a club to keep him there. In a properly funded NUFC, with ambition and serious investment, someone like Bruce is the kind of appointment you'd have for your U-23's, hence why I agreed with ACS's thread.
Be that as it may, I'm talking about his time with us. Loyalty gets you ****ing nowhere these days mate, you need look no further than the primadonnas these guys have to work with day in day out. I don't think many would argue that he hasn't earned himself another crack next season regardless of what happens. Would I trust him to spend £200m on players? **** no. Would I trust him to spend £200m on players with better infrastructure and advice behind the scenes? Absolutely. I'd take Bruce + Saudi's + challenging in the top 10 + spending money on players and keeping the good ones we have over Rafa + Ashley + treading water each season + doing loan deals and odd £20m player any day.
Exactly...he's done more than enough to deserve another season to help bed all of the changes in, then step aside somewhere else within the club if he's up for it and wants to be part of our future. If not he can walk away, head held high with a very successful stint as our manager on his CV and into another PL job.
Well of course but that is down to not wanting Ashley plus not sure what Rafa had to do with this? Bruce is a truly awful manager. The best way to get the best out of our lesser players is by having a quality coaching team. All Steve Bruce deserves is a thumbs up and a thank you for keeping us up. Now on your merry way.
I think it is one thing that would be hugely unappealing about our club to potential new owners. The fans judge on reputation and name, rather than deeds. So you get managers who don't get a fair crack of the whip regardless. In the fans defence, I would say some of that has come about under Ashley (not all), due to him being such an odious owner and some managers being viewed like a patsy. He got rid of Allardyce - Massive tick from fans as the bloke was stifling **** out of the club He appointed KK - Massive tick from fans who still harboured love for the man. All going well. He ****ed KK over - Massive negative for fans and one certain breaking point He appointed Kinnear - Massive negative for fans and went on to embarrass himself Appointed Shearer - mainly positive reception but all too little too late and reality was he wasn't the answer He fell into Hughton at various stages- Fans fairly neutral on this but quickly saw an ally in Hughton who was genuine and did a solid job Sacked Hughton - Not as unpopular with fans as many would have you believe, some were on the turn but generally negative reception Appointed Pardew - Massively underwhelming for fans, massive negative and he was hated before a ball was kicked. Went on to actually do the best of any manager under Ashley, but was hated every step of the way. Didn't help himself by being a ****. Appointed Carver then McClaren - fans struggled to get behind either both prior and during. Partly because both were inept, but also the catalogue of **** decisions at board level took their toll on fans - now every decision treat with suspicion Appointed Rafa - massive tick from fans based on reputation in the game. Also seen as act of desperation by Ashley rather than well thought out plan. Quickly got fans onside too by going to war with board. Fans overrate his time as a result of him being an ally. Appointed Bruce - massive negative for fans. One he replaced someone they liked. Two viewed as cheap option. Three didn't have an amazing track record. Went on to at the very least match his predecessor in every department. Many would say bettered him. Fans still on negative tip, so give credit to Rafa in bizarre effort to keep him relevant and discredit Bruce. Just too much change, too many punts with the odd one working out, Ashley has single handedly dragged us down to the point where the fans can't even be objective. Its always emotionally charged because they expect the worst all the time, and are constantly simmering with the ownership. I think as fans a takeover can be great on so many levels. One of which would be nice would be just getting behind the team/manager/player regardless. Reset the whole relationship between fans and custodians. I think its easier to do when you think the owners actually give a **** about the club and trying to do the best for it and the area whether that is genuine, or as bi product of their overall goals. Regardless I think we have to be looking to do better than the Bruce/Rafa types. Why restrict ourselves to defensive football which is a tough watch? Why not go for a more progressive manager who will entertain? I have no doubt with finance Bruce or Rafa could improve us. The point is though why do it being bored the majority of the time? There are countless managers out there who will achieve the same if not better, but do it in an entertaining fashion. You have to think the objectives will be to win, and do it playing attractive football. Bruce and Rafa aren't going to contribute to that and are a bad fit for the model.
Bruce is a **** stain. You may be happy to have him but I'm not. I didn't want him with Ashley as owner and I don't want him as manager with new owners.
