Ah the Bruce debate, no manager alive or dead ever gets transfers right. IMHO cos we did not have decent striker and never really replaced Bent, although some other of SBs signings were good, we were always in trouble and in the last 11/12 months SBs results were not good enough and he deserved the push.. As for him being a Geordie so what...he is probably more red devil than anything else.
P.s. I was born in Gateshead and lived in Hebburn Jarrow and London and now in Durham, this place of birth argument is rubbish it may be a new 'ism' regionalism! Of course you cannot forget the chopra miss either. SB was born in Corbridge and was fat...but he had to be sacked cos of very poor results over nearly a year not cos of physique or place of birth,...it was good job that MoN came in when he did cos if not we were likely to be relegated!