Bruce in? Bruce out?
That seems to have been the thread of much discussion for SAFC fans over the past 3 months. There are equally passionate arguments to be had on both sides of the great divide and it wouldn't be a Sunderland fans forum if we didn't all end up debating the current managers status at some point.
Ordinarily, it would be right at this point where I normally launch a very passionate and robust defence of the current manager. Bruce was a welcome addition IMO back in the Summer of 2009 and I truly believed we had found our man. He had learned his trade well, had 400 games as a manager behind him and generally was highly regarded in the media and amongst his peers. He started well, clearing out the rubbish without catching breath and recruiting some excellent replacements. After a promising start, we finished a disappointing 14th in his first year after a mid season slump (a common denominator in Bruce's managerial history) but nevertheless looked forward to his second season with some anticipation. It didn't disappoint either to start with. Apart form 'that' game, we looked on course for our first European place challenge since the Reid era and the football we played at times was very good. However, the events of the January transfer window and once again the customary mid season slump, has shown fundamental weaknesses in Bruce's make up and his petulance surrounding the Bent saga (letting him go so easily without a replacement because of personal issues surrounding his daughter) has ultimately led to our sad, pathetic demise in the second half of the campaign. Bruce and Quinn may want to direct the blame at Bents door but I lay it firmly and squarely at both Bruce and Quinn's. Bent didn't decide to let himself go and did not make the decision to do so without a replacement. Thats the managers and chairman's call and they got it very, very wrong indeed.
Bruce knew Campbell was out for the season (something the club kept quiet on) and gambled with the hope Gyan and Welbeck would stay fit and perform. We all know the outcome of that now and the gamble has spectacularly back-fired. Now the constant wailing about injuries we hear time after time, after 9 defeats in the last 11 pathetic and woeful games, is to be frank, getting right on my ****ing tits. He bemoans the defensive frailties whist continuing to pick the worst centre half Ive seen for 25 years in a red and white shirt in Turner (bring back Nuggsy for me, who was also extremely crap but not so crap as the hapless donkey Turner).
Players are played constantly out of position and square pegs and round holes comes to mind with EVERY Bruce team formation. To cap it all the team formation during the second half display yesterday was for me, the final straw. We had a young striker on the bench but he chose to play a central defender (who Bruce plays right back) as centre forward instead of giving the youngster a chance. Only when the game is lost does Lynch then come on anyway? Clueless management in anyone's book.
So to the injuries? You have to ask why? I have been told stories that the physio team keep telling Bruce that players are not fit but he ignores them and plays them half fit, only to see them injured all over again. Then there is Ryan Noble. When we have not one fit striker at the club, why sanction our ONLY striker to play in a totally meaningless youth fixture only to see him injured as well? Clueless and ****ing thick management.
As for his motivational abilities? I think we all saw in that 2nd half performance that he has lost the plot completely. This job is too much for Bruce and he needs to go back to a smaller club with no ambition and expectations of improvement. For Wigan fans, survival is the only target. At Sunderland, we want much more. We have been fed a diet of utter ****e for 40 yeas and we need a manager that can stop us being a parcel of ****e every year and develop us into something much better. What I have witnessed recently is no better than the Buxton, Crosby and Sbragia regimes IMO, that meaning we are simply whipping boys in the big league again under Bruce.
9 defeats in 11 games with Bolton (a), Wolves (h) and W Ham (a) to come. Anyone think we will have more than 1 point form those 3 games? Honestly? I think we will be beaten in both away games and will only get a point v Wolves who will be scrapping for their lives at the SOL. We don't have any fight any more.
Bruce is finished. To retain his services to keep Quinn happy will only result in a long, painful and embarrassing death next season. We attracted 40,000 for 2 games in a row at the SOL (that's 80,000 people passing through the gates Niall after your ranting and raving) yet ultimately all were left thinking your time is up Bruce. Even v Wigan, it took something extraordinary after going behind to win a game we should have cantered home to victory in. Yesterday we were just an embarrassment to ourselves and the EPL. A sorry excuse for a top flight club. AGAIN.
Martin O Neill simply HAS to be contacted and before the likes of West Ham or Blackburn come knocking. I'm finished with Bruce now and can no longer defend the indefensible. He is clueless and out of his comfort zone. He should look towards the top half of the Championship for a small outfit to manage not a club that attracts 80,000 people inside 7 days to watch a struggling pile of ****e. Wigan would take 6 home games to attract that amount of people through the gates and our return this season simply isn't good enough.
Ellis Short may well tell Quinny to either find a replacement for Bruce ASAP or he may well find he himself is ousted from office and Short replaces both of them. One thing is absolutely guaranteed. Ellis Shorts cheque book will not be opening for business with unlimited resources for Steve Bruce, with this shambolic campaign now on his c.v.
Come in boat Bruce, your time is well and truly up.
That seems to have been the thread of much discussion for SAFC fans over the past 3 months. There are equally passionate arguments to be had on both sides of the great divide and it wouldn't be a Sunderland fans forum if we didn't all end up debating the current managers status at some point.
Ordinarily, it would be right at this point where I normally launch a very passionate and robust defence of the current manager. Bruce was a welcome addition IMO back in the Summer of 2009 and I truly believed we had found our man. He had learned his trade well, had 400 games as a manager behind him and generally was highly regarded in the media and amongst his peers. He started well, clearing out the rubbish without catching breath and recruiting some excellent replacements. After a promising start, we finished a disappointing 14th in his first year after a mid season slump (a common denominator in Bruce's managerial history) but nevertheless looked forward to his second season with some anticipation. It didn't disappoint either to start with. Apart form 'that' game, we looked on course for our first European place challenge since the Reid era and the football we played at times was very good. However, the events of the January transfer window and once again the customary mid season slump, has shown fundamental weaknesses in Bruce's make up and his petulance surrounding the Bent saga (letting him go so easily without a replacement because of personal issues surrounding his daughter) has ultimately led to our sad, pathetic demise in the second half of the campaign. Bruce and Quinn may want to direct the blame at Bents door but I lay it firmly and squarely at both Bruce and Quinn's. Bent didn't decide to let himself go and did not make the decision to do so without a replacement. Thats the managers and chairman's call and they got it very, very wrong indeed.
Bruce knew Campbell was out for the season (something the club kept quiet on) and gambled with the hope Gyan and Welbeck would stay fit and perform. We all know the outcome of that now and the gamble has spectacularly back-fired. Now the constant wailing about injuries we hear time after time, after 9 defeats in the last 11 pathetic and woeful games, is to be frank, getting right on my ****ing tits. He bemoans the defensive frailties whist continuing to pick the worst centre half Ive seen for 25 years in a red and white shirt in Turner (bring back Nuggsy for me, who was also extremely crap but not so crap as the hapless donkey Turner).
Players are played constantly out of position and square pegs and round holes comes to mind with EVERY Bruce team formation. To cap it all the team formation during the second half display yesterday was for me, the final straw. We had a young striker on the bench but he chose to play a central defender (who Bruce plays right back) as centre forward instead of giving the youngster a chance. Only when the game is lost does Lynch then come on anyway? Clueless management in anyone's book.
So to the injuries? You have to ask why? I have been told stories that the physio team keep telling Bruce that players are not fit but he ignores them and plays them half fit, only to see them injured all over again. Then there is Ryan Noble. When we have not one fit striker at the club, why sanction our ONLY striker to play in a totally meaningless youth fixture only to see him injured as well? Clueless and ****ing thick management.
As for his motivational abilities? I think we all saw in that 2nd half performance that he has lost the plot completely. This job is too much for Bruce and he needs to go back to a smaller club with no ambition and expectations of improvement. For Wigan fans, survival is the only target. At Sunderland, we want much more. We have been fed a diet of utter ****e for 40 yeas and we need a manager that can stop us being a parcel of ****e every year and develop us into something much better. What I have witnessed recently is no better than the Buxton, Crosby and Sbragia regimes IMO, that meaning we are simply whipping boys in the big league again under Bruce.
9 defeats in 11 games with Bolton (a), Wolves (h) and W Ham (a) to come. Anyone think we will have more than 1 point form those 3 games? Honestly? I think we will be beaten in both away games and will only get a point v Wolves who will be scrapping for their lives at the SOL. We don't have any fight any more.
Bruce is finished. To retain his services to keep Quinn happy will only result in a long, painful and embarrassing death next season. We attracted 40,000 for 2 games in a row at the SOL (that's 80,000 people passing through the gates Niall after your ranting and raving) yet ultimately all were left thinking your time is up Bruce. Even v Wigan, it took something extraordinary after going behind to win a game we should have cantered home to victory in. Yesterday we were just an embarrassment to ourselves and the EPL. A sorry excuse for a top flight club. AGAIN.
Martin O Neill simply HAS to be contacted and before the likes of West Ham or Blackburn come knocking. I'm finished with Bruce now and can no longer defend the indefensible. He is clueless and out of his comfort zone. He should look towards the top half of the Championship for a small outfit to manage not a club that attracts 80,000 people inside 7 days to watch a struggling pile of ****e. Wigan would take 6 home games to attract that amount of people through the gates and our return this season simply isn't good enough.
Ellis Short may well tell Quinny to either find a replacement for Bruce ASAP or he may well find he himself is ousted from office and Short replaces both of them. One thing is absolutely guaranteed. Ellis Shorts cheque book will not be opening for business with unlimited resources for Steve Bruce, with this shambolic campaign now on his c.v.
Come in boat Bruce, your time is well and truly up.
