So you don't think much of Steve Bruce then? Playing our worst defender when you thought a better defender was sat on the bench.
I'm not the manager. I'm a supporter. What kind of deluded **** thinks his supporter's opinion trumps a manager's opinion? I don't fret about who he puts out or why he puts them out. All I worry about is that the team on the pitch does their best. I've been doing the same for decades and never had a sleepless night about team selections or formations.
I find it bizarre seeing these claims of Macca being the slowest defender with the worst passing, worst touch etc. He wasn't even the worst at those at our club. Maguire and Dawson are slower, while Bruce and Davies are laughably poor on the ball. In fact Davies has really gone backwards on that front whereas Bruce has improved on where he was was a couple of years ago so that's maybe harsh on him. Either way, McShane was nothing like the liability that City Man makes out. While Chazz only pretends Macca was **** because Bruce got rid. Funny how these observations weren't made when he played for us. I hate the way at City we can't even have iconic players any more because half our fanbase are so obsessively contrary about this stuff. Don't start me on Barmby. Anyway, worst defender in the last 8 years? Anthony Gardner. He was akin to playing Ben Arfa or Hernandez at centre half.
Steve Bruce thought it was. That's why he picked him. You must think your opinion trumps Steve Bruce's despite what you wrote earlier.
I will almost never criticize a player as long as he is a current player. After he leaves, then he's fair game if he deserves it. I have recently and relucyanyly started to criticize Elmohemdy as I believe he has taken his ball home. He tries to make Odders look a **** by underhitting his passes to him, then gesticulates to the crowd as if to say 'Look how **** Odders is." Can't prove any of this of course, but having seen at close quarters, Elmo flying down the wing at close quarters for a year or two now, you can see when his heart isn't in it. Steve Bruce is right not to select him on that basis, and I reckon that is the reason. It's a shame for all parties that things have gone this way, but ultimately it shows the player's childishness. The last player who I felt was taking the piss in this way was Iain Hesford. Almost others since I have given the benefit of the doubt. Yeah I don't like the legend/**** nature of so many prominent players/managers. We have a split fan base as we all know.
Point me to where i said Mcshane is **** on this thread. I dont pretend anything. He's not as good as Dawson Maguire Davies. Simple as. I'm sure if you go back far enough you me and everyone would have said Mcshane was ****. Do you agree Steve Bruce resurrected his career. After Barmby and Pearson did their best to ruin it?
You wrote: "His best was not up to it I'm afraid. Beats me why anyone could think it was....." Steve Bruce thought it was and picked him. He had Alex Bruce sat on the bench and could have played him if he thought Paul McShane's best wasn't good enough.
I thought McShane was not up to it, he always had a mistake in him, his passing was **** and lost us possession on countless occasions, drilling the ball into touch past bewildered team mates. Steve Bruce saw things I didn't, had info on opponents I didn't, sees the players in training every day, knows their injury niggles, their domestic problems (sometimes), and decides which players suit which games depending on opponents' strengths. Plus he's been in the game all his adult life. So he knows better than me. He's the manager after all.
If I were being overly harsh, then I would say McShane was a cult hero in the same way that Ken de Mange or Kevin Francis were. To be fair to him, he improved immensely from the absolute ****e he served up as a full-back under Brown, and I personally preferred the later McShane to either de Mange or Francis. Either way, I highly doubt either he, Quinn or Rosenior would have made the difference between success and relative failure this season, just as they didn't last. If they were that influential Reading would also be doing a lot better than they are. As for us, we are like the Arsenal of the Championship; clearly talented individuals who look like the best side in the division when a couple of goals up, but seemingly lacking the character to dig out results, and likely to disintegrate into a bunch of individuals when it starts going badly. Remember the Dudfield, Beresford etc squad under Little? Similar story developing with this lot. I thought going through Bristol City might get us back on track, at least in time for the play-offs, but now we're left crutching at straws.
If any manager tried to ruin his career, it was Brownie playing him at right back. Barmby's centre back pairing was Chester and Hobbs, which is as it should have been. Once Pearson had Chester, Hobbs, Gerrard and Ayala, he didn't need him either, which was also no surprise.
As we play 4 4 2 as often as not, Rosie, as a full back would be an extremely useful player to have. As opposed to the 3 wing backs (and Ryan Taylor) we have in the building at present. Never understood why we let him go, still don't.
Maybe he wanted to go. He wants to be a manger. He will learn his trade far better under Chris Hughton than Steve Bruce. Just my opinion.
I think you are wrong and the reason you gave is nonsense. We all have seen that Steve Bruce will frequently squeeze a round peg into a square hole, but even he can't squeeze two round pegs into one square hole. Bruce wasted his money on an average player (who might improve quite a lot under different management/coaching), which pissed off and got in the way of a proven grafter and previous star of the squad; also managing to fritter away the money that was needed to close the deal on Gray. He may as well of sold Elmo.
Seems an odd ambition. He was crystal clear that he wanted to stay, as was his family; you must have seen that very widely reported on here and elsewhere. From his open letter:
Next Thursday I will say the same thing and mean it. Would I swap my future life for the life I'm leaving. If my employer asked, would I change my mind, I don't think so. Doesn't alter the fact that I'm upset at leaving.
