We have argued, debated and fallen out this season over the BiB and BoB thing, but, are we arguing over the wrong thing? Yes its Bruce who picks and manages the team and yes its the team that decides our views and moods but, Bruce is but one man and maybe its unfair to blame one man. Great things have been said, by the management team about the management team, said by Bruce, Quinn and Short. Each knows their role and each players a key part in the running, present and future of the club so it seems only fair that each take a fair share of any blame. Like everyone associated with our club, well fans at least, I am bewildered, depressed and feeling let down about our season so far. I still remember the excitement of the summer, new players arriving, that big name striker and left winger still to come, building on last season with a stronger bigger squad. In a few short months all that excitement has turned to despair and within a few weeks that despair could become total despondency, I hope and do believe it want but it certainly could. My point in this rather uplifting post is, Bruce is manager and must take his responsibility, at the end of the day we all know in football its his head on the block, but, he is not alone. Short and Quinn were also part, a big part, of the magic carpet ride and they to must answer questions if it all goes belly up, in fact they must take their share of the blame for, Bent going Gyan going No big signing in the summer, they did say there would be. Iâm losing interest in Bruce in or Bruce out and certainly have no interest in what might be, its simple, win some games but get the players needed in January, no promises, no excuses just sign them. It wont be easy but it is their job and they get well paid to do it, if we need a new manager, get one, if not then back the one we have with funds and contracts to get whatâs needed. If for some reason we cant do that then come out and explain why, seems fair to me so why not just do it.
The cold truth is Football is a fairly simple game. Spend big and you may just make it. Don't spend and you have no chance. Ellis has put money in, big money to the likes of us but in Football terms, peanuts. Short in particular and Quinn are far more at fault for losing Bent and Gyan than the manager IMO. They obviously left for money way outside our wage structure which Bruce has no control of. We along with similar clubs will never break into the top four without huge investment. No matter who the manager is.
Xmas defining time of the season... Sorry Steve, the next 4 games could be the defing time in your SAFC career. http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/su...ng-time-of-season-steve-bruce-79310-29766251/ He does have a point about all these bloody internationals mind.
yes, but I dont think smashing our wage structure is the answer. The FFP rules coming in means that many clubs will have to redefine their wage structure, and I think Short/Quinn are playing a waiting game to see how it pans out in the future. We need to be in the top ten, without spending sill money on wages, before we can assess and move forward once the full effect of the FFP rules has been felt. I hope that Quinn/Short are able to set up a good sponsorship deal with a big S. Korean company - shirt and stadium sponsor - so we get an extra revenue stream that can fund an increase in wages for key players.
Pardon my french but what the F*** is a Bib and a Bob...were beginning to sound like a discussion forum for teletubbies ........
I think Newcastle's progress proves that spending money isn't the only way. A settled squad, no prima donnas, honest and sensible manager and a sensational scouting system can work just as well. there are bargains to be had from across the ocntinents rather than paying th ebig bucks for the proven premier league players, just need to unearth them and get them into a settled team.
Mate. I'm not just saying this cause it's Newcastle but being in the top 5 or 6 in November is one thing. Staying top 6 till May? No chance.
Newcastle and Norwich have shown that huge amounts don't need to spent for better, returns. However, its very early days to be back slapping everyone and if both the aforementioned teams are still top 10 by the 13th of May next year, then the plaudits can be heaped then. Quinny and short certainly deserve some blame, especially Niall for raising our expectations and hopes for this summer and the fact Niall has been moved on now tells of that's his reward for that error of judgement. However, the simple fact is that the manager in any company has to operate within that companies wage, investment and ambitions and Bruce knew the score from the off. It's still his fault no credible replacements have been sought for Bent and his fault we have no left back, no left wingers and are lighter up front than one of twiggys bra's. Short and Quinn take 10% blame between them maybe but Bruce is 90% responsible for team performances, tactics and results imo. If he isn't, then why bother with a manager in the first place? I'm totally still a huge Bob.
Cest in the BoB camp.....................never in the world. I think he is to blame on the floods in Pakistan as well eh Cest?
But how do you know that Cest? Did he say we need and want N'Zog for instance but was told no, wont pay the cash, we dont know. The point of the OP is not to stick up for Bruce but to say its a team effort and all must share the blame. You may well be right and it is 90% Brucies fault, then again, you ay be wrong and thats my point, we just dont know.
Good OP Syd, as we stagger on through another season we have to have some joy soon. I know it is not as bad as the two low point score seasons, (some of those games were the only time I've left a game before the end) this time it seems we are not penniless, although not flush with funds, we are still hovering on the brink of yet another relegation struggle. The best striker we have (and he is on loan) has said he would like to be away, of our two 'apprentice' strikers one is knacked and the other is unfit and off form, one other striker, who may or may not be any good has had along term injury. Our expensive goalkeeper continues to be knacked and the less expensive replacement had his eye socket busted by Heskey. One of our more dependable CBs is some sort of sex molester. Our manager of some 2.5 years still has not got a balance side with players fitting into a recognisable format that they are obviously comfortable with, (gelling of sides should not take 2.5 years). We cannot hang onto decent strikers. We also seem to be stuck with a very average manager and if we cannot get a couple of Ws in the next two home games, most of the posters on here will know my views. Against Wigan I am going with 3 visitors and if we cannot put on a decent show I will really be pissed off, more than I obviously am now.
Bruce is no angel that can do no wrong, of course he can and has. He should never have been given a new contract last year when things were looking rosey, they should have waited till the end of last season, and then he more than likely wouldnt have got one. in all honesty with the game we are in, and the pressure of it all, any other club would have sacked him by now, but sacking sometimes (actually a lot of the time) isnt the answer, longevity is with the same manager (even though sometimes that can come back to bite you in the arse), but usually longevity pays off a lot more of the time than sacking manager after manager. This FFP is going to screw us over something rotton though, for moving up the table anyway, we wont go bust which is a bonus (but then i wouldnt have thought we would the old way either) but gone are the days when a team like ours, can spent 30-70 million in 1 transfer window and improve our squad (if we want to get into Europe anyway) we could do it, we could go and spend 400 million in the summer on 25 new players, win the league in 2012-13 but we wont get champions league football till 2016-17 (if we can keep the same players and win the league) but the players want CL football, so getting the players to come, when they know we will be banned, is impossible. back to Bruce though, he only has so much Money to work with, and when the average joe is going for 3-6 milion and are on 20-30,000 a week (unless you go abroad) then its a hard thing to do with no cash, or sell to buy policy which we have because we have to have it with the FFP lol This FFP in principle would be great if everyone had the same turnover accross the board, but they dont, Man Uniteds wage bill is only 45% of their turnover, their team cost 220 miilion (starting 11 against WBA earlier in the season) subs for that game were 80 million i think) and they had 5 home grown players in that squad as well. We can only dream about that, but they are in loads of debt, thts the only brightside, but to the FFP it doesnt matter, which is the bollocks end of it for me, s long as the interest is managable and within their turnover, its fair, which is a load of crap. bottom line is not everything can be laid at the foot of Bruces door, a lot can yes, but not everything, these next 4 games will be the catalyst for me, bad run and he has to go, good run and it will give him a bit of breathing space.
Would have said the same about us being 3rd in November at the start of the season. Very narrow sighted to say "no chance", we're not fvourites but it's not out of the question, especially with Liverpool playing so badly.
Quinn and Short have to take some blame for allowing Bruce to continue to drag SAFC down. They didn't insist on playing hoofball to two pretty good strikers and frustrate the hell out of them until they wanted out, did they! (If we were up challenging where Newcastle *spit* are, would they have been so keen to leave?) Did they tell him how to set up the team, especially playing with no strikers? Did they insist we buy a young lad for the FUTURE for £8,000,000 when we desperately needed experience. ( If so, do they think we are Man U? ) Sess looks the real deal but often walks off the pitch after being substituted looking very angry and frustrated. ( Could the rumours about him wanting out be true, and could Bruce's lack of tactical nous again be the cause?) Do they see something work in one game and decide that that is the only way to play no matter what? (No matter who we are playing!) Until injuries or suspensions change the game plan again, then something else works by chance and becomes the new Plan B! (No matter who we are playing!) No matter how you apportion the blame at SAFC our tactically inept championship manager has to take 99%.
