not a lot, well apart from not do it ourselves, saw a thread yesterday, The Fat Bastartd Speaks, that sort of thing
I certainly didn't join in with the pathetic insults, which in my opinion is also an insult to the thousands of Geordies who happen to support Sunderland, but having said that I also feel that a boundary was crossed yesterday , and that there is no way back for Bruce now...
No, I don't conde the abuse at all, nor should anyone have to accept it. However the comments about expectations from certain folk at SAFC has certainly exacerbated the problem. What was Bruce expecting, everyone to be singing his praises?! All I see in Bruce is someone under pressure, lashing out and looking for sympathy (i.e. his post match comments about his family being there, again what was he expecting?)
You can't tell me Bruce hasn't heard all this crap before, I seem to remember as Birmingham manager he got the same if not worse from us. Personally not what I'd do (Bruce Out fine) however what does he expect all sunshine and light from us when we can all see and know through experiencing relegations galore that we are in deep trouble.
I'm not one for changing managers and I do believe stability is important. However I have, along with many others had doubts about Bruce's motivational ability - he has a good set of players but cant seem to get the best out of them. I just think he likes to be one of the boys instead of their manager. I recall seeing some pre season set of training snaps on Sunderland AFC's website, showing Bruce play fighting with Bent ( not this years obviously) . At the time I thought would anyone see Ferguson play acting with one of his team that way, or seeing Cloughie cuddling one of his team. If you want to be a manager you cant be one of the lads and it seems obvious to me that that must be at least part of the problem, having been a manager in a previous life I found being liked was not one of the key requirements of a good manager, but being respected is.
He is in charge and IMO we are heading straight for the fizzy-pop league!! If he was a true professional then he would have admitted defeat and stepped down yesterday; he is hanging on for the payout and until that happens we will go from bad to worse. Do not agree with the personal abuse.........but the 'head-banging' agony and the utter 'bite-yr-nails' frustration at our performances over last season and this, up to the Wigan game, is enough to have sent any supporter stark raving mmmmmmad!
This thread was not intended to be another about Bruce's record or motivational skills but about how we respond to the situation. It's heartening to see that the balance of replies suggest that while many of us are understandably frustrated the lunatics have not entirely taken over the asylum. Next time you click through the turnstile bring your passion with you but channel it postiviely for the team and don't leave your brains and common decency in the car park.
I felt pretty sickened yesterday leaving the ground not because of the last minute winner for wigan as it was exactly what we deserved but at the sick abuse that was being thrown at our manager. I would like to see him leave the club but at the same time would never personally abuse someone just because of where they are from. Some fans in the ground yesterday would have physically assaulted Bruce if they had a chance to which is absolutely despicable. We have an honest guy on the sidelines fair enough he has cocked a few things up but shouldnt have to suffer that. apparently his family were in the ground as well what the hell must they have been thinking. Anyway yesterdays result seems so insignificant with the sad news we have recieved today regarding Gary Speed. One of the mags I could actually stand when he was there. True gent and a fantastic pro. RIP Gary
Well anyone who has read my posts know I am firmly in the BoB camp, however I did not like the chants I heard leaving the North Stand yesterday, some of the younger fans were absolutely raging, I like many Sunderland fans consider myself a Geordie, born in Gateshead and lived in Jarrow/Hebburn, there is nothing wrong with passion but some of the chants were not worthy of us, we are better than that, it was pure and simple OTT. I doubt there is a way back for Bruce now, I doubt he will resign as he would forgo 2 years pay at least. Short has to pull the trigger sooner rather than later for his and the teams sake.
I think it's important not to descend into insults, but frustration can get the better of many of us (I wrote the thread 'the fat bastard speaks' yesterday), I'm sorry for that, but the chants yesterday were bordering on racism, using the fact that he was born in Newcastle against him. My granddad's the most staunch SAFC supporter I know, and he's a proud geordie.
If you want people to bring their 'passion', you can't then expect them to not be bothered by what is occuring. It works both ways, you can't have the highs without the lows. Passion or indifference?
There is no contradiction here Bertie. Come and sit next to me at the next home game and I'll show you passion, without the assumption that if things go wrong that that passion has then got to be channelled into abuse of individual players or the manager. More the latter lately but I've seen players on the receiving end too in the past. The two things passion and abuse of our own team or management are not the same thing. It strikes me that those who have ago in front of everyone else are trying to show they care more than the rest of us which is just rubbish, many also just want their 5 minutes on the TV, the rest are usually young and easily influenced by the strong characters around them, and haven't found their balls yet in order to make up their own minds.
You can be a Geordie and support Sunderland and thats not a problem. To be perfectly honest, growing up in the 60's and 70's EVERYONE from the NE were called Geordies and there wasnt a problem. Its only in the late 80's/90's and especially post Keegan and onwards, that the term Geordie was used solely for nufc and Mackems for SAFC and then the derision started. You are all missing my points about this completely. If you are a 'Geordie' and the manager of Sunderland and you are openly a mag as well, then thats a major issue for me when it comes to derby days and especially considering our results in them under Bruce. If you are a Geordie but a Sunderland fan its not an issue. Can no-one else see this? I wonder what reactions we would have had over in NE1, if someone born and bred in Silksworth, who openly admitted to being a dyed in the wool Sunderland fan, became the manager of the mags and lost his first derby 5-1? He would have been hunted down and driven out of town the very same day. We stuck by Bruce for another year but his results in between this have been a disaster. He has to go.
Agree wholeheartedly with the OP - I believe the fans lost us the game at the weekend - until the "Bruce Out" singing started, the players looked comfortable - OK not likely to win but certainly not likely to lose - Brown never had to think about anything - but then the people at the back of the north stand started singing and the players heads dropped - lower than low - I wonder if these people would rather we lose games? Leave the "Bruce Out" chants till the end of the game FFS! My "mate" who is a season ticket holder said to me at lunch time on Saturday that he hoped we'd lose - that was like a red rag to a bull to me - Support the club and the players that areon the field - IF you support the club then you cannot want them to lose ever.
Okay. I'll say this again for the heard of hearing. Like Syd, I havent booed the team at the game. I didnt boo on Saturday and I didnt shout ANYTHING at Bruce. Its not my thing at the games. I wnat rid of Bruce the manager of my club 100% and will not move form that point but personally insulting the man aint my thing. On an internet forum, where we are asked to offer our opinions its different. We can all moan, gripe and let off steam (and theres a helluva lot of steam to let off after Saturday) so whats the problem. If the OP is having a go at me in particular, then I expect a full apology for him being completely wrong about me. That said, to blame the fans for 3 wins at home in 2011 and only 8 wins in the last 26 games at home is probably the silliest and pathetic thing I have seen written for many a year. Bruce is the architect of his own downfall. 100%. It has nothing to do with us as fans who have, me included, offered him the most incredible patience and support at games despite a horrendous run of results.
What does the fact he is fat, a bastard or has a squashed nose have to do with his managerial skills? What is the difference between calling someone a black twat (black being a physical characteristic) and calling someone a fat twat? Either both are wrong, or both are acceptable. Those supporters would have been arrested for racism if our manager was black, and "venting their frustration" and "being passionate" would have been no excuse.
The difference is simple. One is illegal and immoral and the other isnt. If you choose to link the two things then youre a fool and I would dread to live in your world. I bet you'd love to have secret police as well to ensure all of our lives are restricted and ruined. You seem to me to be the worst kind of torch bearer for a cause that simply doesnt warrant your passion. If you dont see the fundamental difference of calling someone a black anything derisory and calling a fat, big nosed football manager thus then I pity you.
