Once again, this time on Sky, I heard a commentator saying that we had spent heavily and brought in 11 players, during the transfer period. Does nobody feel irritated that there is no one replying that although we appear to have spent a lot, it is only about HALF of what came in from player sales. We are probably about £15 million up on transfer dealings. We have spent none of the TV money, none of the gate money and none of the sponsoring and merchandising money. It's all very well saying we've spent heavily but we've been replacing quality players with average players. I'm not saying they are poor players, a few are ok, some may turn out to be ok in the future, but compare last years strikers with this years strikers and you'll see what I mean. No wonder SB likes the 4-6-0 formation. Probably our best player is one who couldn't get into the team that beat us yesterday. One of SB's best points is that he is good at the transfer market, getting good prices for sales and getting players in quite cheaply. I wonder if this is all in Ellis Short's mind? He's getting money coming in and not having to put money into a transfer pot. Of course, I know he's put money in earlier but it's this current period I'm on about now. I just hope we're not putting together a squad for promotion from the Championship next year. Harrods? .......... Jacky Whites more likely!
I'm not bruces biggest fan, but I think where he has done well is moving on the deadwood that were at the club. I also think he's brought in some good players to be fair to him. My issue is with the completely unbalanced squad and the failure to address the left side issue over the past 5 windows and the failure to bring in a recognised striker permanently in the past 2
Were we the only club to bring a lot of players into the team? What also fails to grasp the TV and journalists, is that 2 of them in Wickham and Ji are not 1st team contenders and Brown and O Shea are hardly novice footballers thrown in at the deep end are they? From that starting team yesterday, only Larsson, Vaughan, O Shea and Brown were the new boys. Mig, Turner, Richardson, Catts, Collback, Sess and Elmo have all been in the team for over a year now together. O Shea and Brown have played with each other for 10 years at Old Trafford and therefore have actually been 'gelling' for over a decade. Bruce's excuses, when analysed properly, just fall apart in front of you. A bit like our midfield and defence does so readily these days.
Following on from Cest's points; Deacon, McClean and Westwood are not really featuring and this is Mohammed Ali's second season.
Agree with some of that mate but, any new manager would weed out the deadwood so they can bring in their own players. As for the good players he's brought in not so sure, we need to bring in players that we can use not just players who can pad out the squad, 6 midfielders I think it was 2 CBs 2 strikers (that won't play a full game this side of Christmas) where in reality we needed as you point out a full left side and strikers (who will play).
The questions we want answering is, WHEN WILL Bent and Jones be replaced and WE NEED a left back and left winger. To cost about £50 m for 4 players.
I agree but who? Which '20 goals a season premier league striker' is out there wanting to come to Sunderland? IMO Bruce's biggest mistake was actually selling Jones although many on here (or on BBC 606) were not HIS biggest fans either. Bent and Jones were a very good partnership and Bruce cannot be forgiven for screwing that up. I am sure there were frustrations managing them but so what, we all get frustrated with our employees at times. Good managers sort it for the good of the club/company. If we had never bought Gyan and kept Jones and played him and Bent all last season we would have finished higher than 10th, probably in Stoke's European place! Yes I know Bent is a greedy so and so and wanted more money to stay. Well we should have bloody well given it to him! He is worth it!! I understand wage inflation and salary caps but goals are priceless in the premier league and that ought to be recognised. And Bruce missed the boat with Adam Johnson too by not putting a serious offer in when he should have. Unless of course the manager is unfairly getting the blame for these decisions and it was the chairman and owner who made them for him? Whoever is at fault ultimately these are the types of decisions that define a manager's career. I fear these were fatal mistakes for Steve Bruce, and I doubt we will see him managing in the premier league again once he gets the bullet from us. We can only hope this is sooner rather than later if our season is to be saved.
Whilst I still want Bruce out - he deserves a knighthood for getting a fee over £1m for Darryl Murphy!!!
Hahahaha. Sorry to take the pith but this made me laugh(hangover and all that) Hope Ali's a better player than the Egyption (****e) Beckam
