Team against Ipswich...

[Quill]

3 goals
I cant see that happening more than a couple of times this season

Neither do I. Which makes me worry for Lewis.

 

[Lewis92]

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From the man who sounds like he'll commit suicide after every City game where they don't score at least 3.

Only 3 goals? Yet you still reply whenever I make a negative comment. Keep it up

 

[King Curtis]

Let's see what comes from these next two games at home. Two drab performances and results then questioning of Bruce's position is seriously justified. Hopefully we can get the results and performances we need to get back in the top 6. Either way, it seems like a big couple of weeks coming up and we need to make sure we can put ourselves into the best position possible heading into the busy November/December period.

 

[johnbo]

McGregor
Elmo Dawson Bruce Davies Robbo
Livermore Hudd Maloney
Hernandez Akpom

and tell Akpom to bloody pass the ball more often.

Couldn't agree more regarding Akpom he looks like he can become a good player but often runs with his head down and loses it when a pass looks the simple option, he's decent but has a lot to learn but I suppose that's why Arsenal have sent him here

 

[Edelman]

Couldn't agree more regarding Akpom he looks like he can become a good player but often runs with his head down and loses it when a pass looks the simple option, he's decent but has a lot to learn but I suppose that's why Arsenal have sent him here

Yeah he did that a couple of times yesterday

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

3-5-2 for me
always think we look better with this formation so many of our players look comfortable in it and i dont understand Bruces reluctance to use it..

 

[look_back_in_amber]

Couldn't agree more regarding Akpom he looks like he can become a good player but often runs with his head down and loses it when a pass looks the simple option, he's decent but has a lot to learn but I suppose that's why Arsenal have sent him here

Unfortunately I don't expect that he'll learn it from Bruce, he doesn't really have a brilliant record of improving forwards.

 

[Gone For A Walk]

You can't keep calling for Bruce's head when we haven't been beaten! At least give the man a couple of defeats before you do that?

Well, last time I looked, we had had a couple of defeats.
Shall we wait until we're well and truly mid-table?
We're massively underperforming, and every week it's yet another chance some give him to get the team, tactics, performance, approach....right. But every week it's same old story. Square pegs in round holes, negative, no cutting edge, all change when yet again it's not working, pedestrian, not sure what best formation is, etc etc etc.
Don't let an odd win in the meantime paper over the cracks though.I guarantee we'll do nothing this season under Bruce. He's lost the plot ... just like Sunderland fans promised us he would.

 

[look_back_in_amber]

Well, last time I looked, we had had a couple of defeats.
Shall we wait until we're well and truly mid-table?
We're massively underperforming, and every week it's yet another chance some give him to get the team, tactics, performance, approach....right. But every week it's same old story. Square pegs in round holes, negative, no cutting edge, all change when yet again it's not working, pedestrian, not sure what best formation is, etc etc etc.
Don't let an odd win in the meantime paper over the cracks though.I guarantee we'll do nothing this season under Bruce. He's lost the plot ... just like Sunderland fans promised us he would.

So do you reckon 'Bruce out' then or what Driff? I'm confused.

 

[King Curtis]

So do you reckon 'Bruce out' then or what Driff? I'm confused.

I'd say he's got splinters in his arse from sitting on the fence.

 

[look_back_in_amber]

I'd say he's got splinters in his arse from sitting on the fence.

 

[Tuckin]

Yet you still reply whenever I make a negative comment. Keep it up

Tautology of the week?"

 

[PLT]

The reality is Clucas is last on the sheet - ie his versatility is counting against him and Bruce sticks him in wherever there's a gap.

I like the look of him in central midfield or as a narrow left mid - but playing him at left back or right wing, where his lack of pace hinders him, doesn't make sense to me.

I think to be a winger you have to create. Whether that's through pace, trickery or just excellent crossing like Elmo. Clucas doesn't have any particular stand out skill going forward so he's a waste of an attacking space on the wing. I'd like to see Aluko play that role. It's ideal for Snodgrass once he's fit too.

 

[PLT]

The thing about Dave and Elmo not working. It probably could work much better, simply be swapping Elmo to right back and Dave to the wing.

We all know Elmo is at his best running into space from deep and pinging in a cross.

While Dave looks like he could beat a man with pace.

Sort it out Brucie.

Agree that Elmo is better from deep but Odubajo looks crap going forward. Can't believe he was ever a winger. Him and Elmo shouldn't ever be on the same side. It's just playing with two right backs. Then we wonder why we don't create.

 

[Edelman]

I think to be a winger you have to create. Whether that's through pace, trickery or just excellent crossing like Elmo. Clucas doesn't have any particular stand out skill going forward so he's a waste of an attacking space on the wing. I'd like to see Aluko play that role. It's ideal for Snodgrass once he's fit too.

Im not impressed with Clucas one bit
Cant see how hes first on the sheet

 

[PLT]

Im not impressed with Clucas one bit
Cant see how hes first on the sheet

Regardless of Clucas' merits or lack thereof, that first name on the teamsheet quote was such a daft thing of Bruce to say.

 

[look_back_in_amber]

Agree that Elmo is better from deep but Odubajo looks crap going forward. Can't believe he was ever a winger. Him and Elmo shouldn't ever be on the same side. It's just playing with two right backs. Then we wonder why we don't create.

Possibly the worst thing is that the cost of Dave, who as it's turned out wasn't really needed, plus the cost of Clucas would have bought Charlie Austin a few seasons ago, I think QPR got the better deal.

 

[Fez]

It's just playing with two right backs.

Where do you get that from? Neither are right backs. I can remember folk lambasting McShane when he played at RB and he was much better than either of these two, even though he was a CB.

 

[PLT]

Where do you get that from? Neither are right backs. I can remember folk lambasting McShane when he played at RB and he was much better than either of these two, even though he was a CB.

Just because I think Odubajos a much better defender than attacker and while Elmo is good at both, I think he works better coming from deep.

 

[Fez]

Just because I think Odubajos a much better defender than attacker and while Elmo is good at both, I think he works better coming from deep.

Okay, I see what you mean, but I don't agree. Odubajo is a better defender than attacker by a small margin, but he is poor at both; he gets too far forward for an effective fullback who shows no threat or crossing ability, whereas he has no threat or crossing ability as a winger and if he comes inside he is more likely to pass wind than an opposition player. Elmo is not a RB, never has been, never will be, he is a winger or wing-back. I think this is close:

Elmo s looking disinterested
He doesnt look happy here anymore

I think he has lost a sense of purpose; his manager brought in players because he thought he would be off, he wasn't, it was an unsettling period and I think he is a player who takes his spark from the manager and that spark has gone. Playing Elmo as a RWB in 3-5-2 with two strikers is key to us becoming a dominant team who scores goals. Players form is hard to judge when the manager moves from one clusterfuck of a formation to another; 4-3-2-1 was an unmitigated embarrassment, 4-4-2 almost got there, it's a pity the game doesn't have three halves (sic) as we might actually win something convincingly.