He is just being realistic. If you think anything else can be achieved under this regime, I'm afraid you are completely delusional. You might get the odd Pardew season, but over the long term what you achieve is largely dictated by how much you spend. So if Mike is only going to spend enough to finish say somewhere between 11th-20th, then that is largely what will happen. Its part of managers job to manage expectations from supporters. Our supporters do have an unrealistic view of where the club is and can be under Ashley. The fans think in terms of what could be done or achieved, rather than what is realistic to achieve under this owner. If the owner isn't going to invest there is not a lot you can do. Bruce is simply pointing out that the expectations of fans are high in comparison to what is achievable under these constraints. I'm not sure why anyone would be upset by this, bar I accept its a not very nice uncomfortable truth.
It’s a managers job to train, motivate and improve and develop players to help win games. Overall I’ve only really seen regression with our players. Remember £20m Schar? (Now worth £5m tops), £50m Lascelles (now £10m tops)? And don’t get me started on £40m Joelinton who at best is a £5m player right now. even Dubravka is Looking al lot more ****e now.
In summary, basically this season has been ****, with the incumbent ****ty manager, on at least a par at being as ****ty as the previous ****ty manager, who was at least better than the ****ty manager before him, who was as ****ty as the previous ****ty manager. All in all, all ****ty managers have managed to produce ****ty football out of a more or less ****ty squad. Simple really.
I did forget to add, it's been like watching paint dry on the whole for years. You must be easily pleased if you think otherwise.
I disagree that rafa is a **** manager... Built a well organised team.. I've never in my life seen a nufc side that was hard to beat and gave everything... They were also effective with the ball. there's no prizes for trying to play passy and getting humped that's all..
Dubravka has had a good season. Indeed he was a lock in for player of the season at one stage. Joelinton hasn't regressed at all, we just bought poorly. We've told him he's a striker and he isn't. Bruce seems to have decided he'll use him on the wing where he looks better. Bruce blameless here. Schar was just overrated by the fans. If he was so good, he wouldn't be 28 having graced Basel, Hoffenheim, Deportivo and Newcastle. All good sides to play for but clearly there are no top end clubs there. He is what he is, a very good footballing centre half who is prone to mistakes. Granted he was better suited to Rafa's style of 3 at the back uber defensive football. The other two defenders giving a bit of leeway. He looks less good in a 4. So yeah I think Rafa understood him better and got more out of him. His attitude has been poor, but its because he knows Bruce prefers Fernandez and Lascelles, so I can see why. That's football. Lascelles hasn't regressed or improved for me. 50m? Well whoever thought that needs to stay off the special brew. Decent centre half who since we went to a 4, looks better than he did under Rafa. But then Rafa when he first arrived had him performing similar in 4. Seems to be a formation thing. Fernandez I note isn't mentioned, possibly because he is having his best spell since arriving. He has been better under Bruce. Or Shelvey. Again having his best spell. Or Manquillo, having his best spell at the club. Again Bruce is doing no better or worse than Rafa, their performance is almost a carbon copy of each other. Some players were better under Rafa, some under Bruce. I'm surprised you've picked out our defence to vent about Bruce, its the one thing that's been really good under him We've kept like 10 clean sheets or something, which must be nearly as good as last year. We've conceded more in some games, but in terms of getting results in the games that matter, the defending has been good.
You let yourself down with your Schar bashing and quoting "he wouldn't be 28 having graced Basel, Hoffenheim, Deportivo and Newcastle" Er hello!!! Hoffenheim! Joelinton!!!
I think **** is a bit harsh on Bruce and Rafa. Both done a solid job. Generally I agree though, we are constantly comparing managers who are not exactly exciting. But then they are working on **** budgets, with average to poor squads etc. I have no doubt with better players and more money, Rafa would do slightly better than the rest. All in all, we need investment and we need to forget about the likes of Rafa and Bruce. Then we can have better players and play in a more exciting fashion.
Its true though isn't it, all joking aside. Very few footballers get to 28, have secretly been stellar and simply overlooked.The big clubs miss **** all, they are ****ing hoovering up 14 and 15 year olds on potential, nevermind full internationals. I like Schar but his ability was blown out of all proportion, not surprising really because a couple of his goals have been memorable. He's actually been error prone his whole time here. I also think Dubravka is overrated by our fans. I like him and he's easily good enough for us, but he wouldn't get in any top sides in my opinion.
I do agree! Though Vardy? There will always be one that slips throug the radar but as I have tried to point out on numerous threads that if we play a back 4 both Schar and Lejeune would be the ones to miss out. They are back 3 players only
It would be good if somebody came in and bought us. Will be interesting to see if there is any interest in a takeover in the close season.
