Could be worse. A lot worse. Points-wise, 2 is disappointing, but not a major surprise. Liverpool away and Chelsea at home were both zero-pointers for me, so 1 off the scousers is a plus. Away at Swansea was difficult to predict; I always like to play newly-promoted teams late in the season when the early enthusiasm they have has given way to grim reality. One off the Swans away is therefore OK in my book. Losing to the mags hurts, but predicting what's going to happen in a derby is like picking a Grand National winner. And the game could have gone either way, even if we weren't that great in it. Losing Gyan is another major blow, on top of not getting another experienced striker in the transfer window. But if he really prefers to take the UAE dollar over playing in the EPL he is clearly not bothered about SAFC in the long term. Or bothered about playing for anybody else for that matter. If we'd lost him to Spurs or someone playing European football I could understand it, but the UAE is football's equivalent of Siberia, only hotter, and if that's the bed he wants let the bastard lie in it. My big issue is with Bruce. He's in charge and whilst I can understand us going through bad patches he seems to be stumbling along a bit at the moment. He's bought players, decent ones too, but they can't seem to gel. I know it's early doors, but we should be secure at the back (securer if we'd gone after Hutton) and have more creativity in the middle. The guys up front can all score with decent ball, but the problem remains getting it to them. Still, only four games played out of 38 and I'm not panicking yet. However, with the SoL crowd being only 36k for Chelsea, I fear that Short and Quinn might be wondering just what the hell they have to do to make things better. They've brought in a good (on paper) manager and backed him with cash, yet still the glass ceiling remains. I can't see us challenging for a Europa spot at this rate and that surely has to be the target if we are to buy and retain a better class of player. 40 years a fan and still an optimist. Is this a definition of madness??
Good thread Sid...I agree we have a decent squad...but I have lost faith in Bruce, big time. I just don't him having a plan b to arrest this situation, his body language is awful at interviews..he looks what he is...a man under tremendous pressure. I fear for this weekend...do you really think Stoke will be ****ting themselves at playing us....doubt it.
The next two games will decide his fate, 4 points minimum is what is expected and I cannot us getting them. I dont expect Short to allow our current form to continue for longer than the next two games.
I agree. Short has been at both home games this season, is this just the fact it's been 2 big games, or a pointer to him staying close to his investment and deciding on his next move..
Good post Sid and I agree to a point. I feel sorry for Bruce because rather than being able to concentrate on football he has obviously had all this going on with Gyan which has disrupted the dressing room, the board room and Bruce. I hope now its done and dusted we can go back to concentrating on football and get back to winning ways. Bendtner looks like a good signing, I just worry who is going to be our goal scorer because Bendtner is more like a Quinn player who will win a lot in the air and cause problems but he is not a Bent or SKP 20 goal a year man. I agree Bruce has 2 or 3 games if we don't turn it round (and there is no reason we should'nt) I expect Short and Quinn to start looking at other options.
I remember what Bob murray said after he sacked Reid ' i should have acted sooner ' or similar words, well we are getting into a dodgy time. If we went down we would only average about 27,000 in the championship because supporters patience is wearing thin and mine because we have not improved much in 30 odd years of supporting them. With Bent and Jones we were getting there. What are teams like Stoke doing to be better than us?, the answer is not spending £200-300m on players, but doing it the Clough way, and players coming through the academy. Surely there are Ronaldo's and Messi's out there but we need the right scouts to find them. For a start there must be 3 worse teams than us in the premier league ?.
Stoke have spent £90,000,000 on players since they came up, and made back about £12,000,000 in the same time, and thats with the same owner and manager at the helm. keane went a bit crazy spent 85 miilion got back 13 million Bruce has steadied us imho spent 80 million but got back 75 million ish. I really cant see how people can say Stoke have spent 0 or very little and we have spent a fortune, saying as though we have had 2 squads, 2 managers, 2 owners in the same time.
The faith shown in Bruce from above has been admirable, but surely his last chance has long since expired. As well, the accusations that players went without Bruce knowing etc, any self respecting manager would/should walk as a matter of principle. I was under the opinion that we have never had it so good, so why doesn't it feel like it? Why under the stewardship of Quinn, with all the money has been spent have we got the current crisis and need for a new squad every summer? The current situation has all the hallmarks of a club heading in dangerous direction. There are too many questions raised to suggest Bruce can continue. He has been undermined by HIS players, or the board, or both. Giving Bruce more games will only delay the inevitable. His continuation (I include up until this date), the exodus of certain key players and quietness from Quinn won't give positivity to the players or the fans.
Funny - I hear that along with "Kicking the ball long won't work against Stoke" - Let's see what we do eh!!
I think its just frustration that a club like Stoke, with players who were thought not good enough for us, have managed to achieve things we havent. Its also the perception that Stoke have spent more wisely i.e not need to bring in a new squad every season, but instead have instead addressed their problems by strengthening not replacing.
Good post Sid. IMO the way we played against Chelski was as a direct result of Gyan going as Vegas says hopefully we can start to concentrate on the football. Anyone who has read any of my previous posts knows that I've always rated Bruce and am part of the BIB yet even I think that he has 2 games to turn it around or he should walk.
are they good enough though ? We got the best of the Waghorn deal and the jury's still out on Hendo at 20m
The big thing about giving him three games is the next million dollar question (and done many times as a thread ) WHO is out there?
I think that this is a very balanced view of your situation. The problem is that when these results are taken in isolation, they are understandable, even acceptible to a degree. However, many fans are looking at them as a run of form and adding them to the second half of last season. This then paints a very dark, but equally understable, picture. The question is what happens now? With many fans having had enough of Bruce, saturday's game takes on a massive importance, and to be honest, I think that Stoke are one of the worst teams for you to be playing in this situation. They will make you scrap and fight for everything and if they nick an early goal it could be very tough. A win could kickstart your season, especially with Norwich and WBA as your next opponents. So this may be bruce's most important match so far.
If thats true then its crazy and we need to start reinvesting the Sky money because by the looks of it were spending very little and wheres all the money going?
I think its simple! Bruce needs to; Have some tactical awareness and actually have a game plan and a plan B if it goes tits up! Know when to bring on subs and pick the correct ones! Stop looking so defeated on the touchline ALL THE TIME! Stop playing players out of position! Take cup games seriously! Be able to motivate the team into believing they can beat anyone! Have a go at attacking football and teach the players how to pass on the floor and abandon any form of hoof ball also get rid of 4-5-1 formation!!! Unfortunatley i just can see us getting a maximum points tally from Stoke, Norwich or WBA which is the only scenario for me that would warrent Bruce any more time! Just my oppinion! FTM
