I was listening to the radio today (talksport) and they were on about the LVG situation at Man Utd. It had in my view synergy with that is happening at City. Team in a reasonable league position but there is a discord among fans that the team is under performing and the manager is to a degree holding the team back. I will be forever thankful for the journey we have been on under SB but now it may be time for a change. Only problem is I can't think of anyone to replace him who isn't in a job.
Back in 2012/13 there was no obvious sign of discord between players and manager. I don't think we can say that now, and to my mind that's the issue that needs to be addressed rapidly. Placing all our hopes on the shoulders of one (fragile) centre back is far too risky.
I agree that Bruce could justifiably have been sacked at the end of last season - but I am, glad that he was kept on for this season. Club chairmen and committees are too eager to sack managers these days - usually to show how "tough" they are. The worst thing a manager can do is to get promoted from the Championship - not many are still in post. Not because they've become "bad" managers but because a few bad performances and results these days starts a bandwagon effect, usually amongst fairweather supporters, that weak chairmen find difficult to fight. I do not believe it is fair to compare last season in the Premier league with this season in the Championship and it has to be said that very few teams have gone straight back up again. However, I maintain that we are still well placed but agree that things need to improve at both ends. We badly miss Dawson as he is a superb leader on the pitch - similar to Ashbee in that respect - and in his absence no-one has yet shown the necessary fighting spirit. I'd give Meyler a stab at it.
Perhaps. Keep SB and hope we get promoted. Then sack him and bring in someone who can do the job at that level
As a totally disillusioned long-time supporter I can't see Bruce staying if, as I expect, we lose to both Burnley and Preston over Christmas. Apart from that six-game unbeaten unscored upon run we have been abject on the field, as typified by the latest sequence of awful performances beginning with the Bristol City game. The fans are restless, the team shows no spirit, and the results are a disgrace given the, on paper at least, quality of the squad. We should be walking this league, we should have stayed up last year, but now we're looking like at best a mid-table side and losing to teams heading for relegation. In January we are likely to lose some of our best players and may well have difficulty surviving in the Championship next year unless there are radical changes in our management team and style of play. Bruce should have gone after last seasons disastrous second half. The failure to improve our strikers and develop a fast attacking innovative style of play has been a major reason for our lackluster displays. How many of the chances Akpom has been missing would Gray (now leading the league in scoring and heading for a 20+ goal season) have put away. He wanted to come here and we screwed up his signing by pickiness over a couple of million pounds. Dyche grabbed him and I fully expect him to score against us in another Burnley win. Bruce has shown himself to be a dinosaur, unable to get his tactics and team selection right, or inspire the team. They are regularly starting games as if they have no game plan and dont care. He should be sacked NOW before its too late. BRUCE OUT!!
If we lose to Burnley and Preston But play really well, it'd take the sting off a little. But lose to both of them in the same manner we've seen since November and he can **** right off. Even Tickles would have to say enough is enough at that point.
Don't think its a case of not wanting to win ... They just think they can win on the ball without the groundwork .... Rotherham and Leeds in first half were both first to every loose ball and winning every 50-50... If we matched these teams for effort , our quality would win .. These teams aren't beating us because they have better footballers i
Agreed. It must drive Bruce mad but they dont want to roll their sleeves up. Burnley twice last season and we'd have stayed up.
That's when you have to wonder if he's still the man for the job? He's either not getting that across or they just don't Wana listen , either way not good ... I've heard him promise we'll never get a display that bad under his watch again more than once, that's quite embarrassing for him
Thats the trouble with players having contracts, if you cant move em on then you have to try and cajole them into playing for you. I'd rather get rid of the players, like Hudd Davies Aluko. Getting someone to take them is the problem. Hopefully we can do Burnley and Preston and then get some business done
Problem is, as someone said on Blunderside tonight, on current form, which club if any would come in for Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Diame, Aluko, Davies. IMO we'll be stuck with them until June when contracts expire. One thing I feel the club should be doing is encouraging MacGregor to stay and getting a contract in front of him, he's been more vociferous from his 18 yard box than hands in pockets Bruce has been from the sidelines.
Surely not. If an expert such as yourself can see its all Bruces fault for these players form, then for pro's in the game will be more than aware. They'll all be aware of his tactical naivety, square pegs round holes, lack of motivation, old dinosaur ways. They'll all go for 5 or 6 million. Piece of piss
It puzzles me that the conversation seems to be drifting towards the problem resting with the players. I agree that we have a player in Aluko who has fallen well short of expectation and I don't blame SB for that, as **** happens. I can even forgive him being retained in the summer, as it was reasonable to hope he would do well against defences in the Championship. Akpom and Huddlestone are wrong for different reasons which were pretty damn obvious in the summer. We have some rather delicate players, injury is a blight, but it is and should be manageable. We have a squad with options, we have players who can be flexible in how and where they play, but SB tinkers to ridiculous lengths, gets it wrong and makes early changes to his team and tactics. This is not only weak and confusing but it badly disrupts confidence and tempo of play and this is our biggest problem; competent players looking poor because they are constantly compensating for tactical misuse of their team-mates. Bruce and Phelan should have the team sorted, they should have done their homework on the opposition, they should have some creativity in midfield and always two strikers or one and an attacking midfielder - we are not short of either, as even Aluko presents a threat if not much in the way of end product. The problems folk complain about are only the symptoms of mismanagement, it is no more complicated than that. It's pointless bemoaning the loss of McShane as he and Quinn no longer wanted to play for Bruce, it looks like Davis is following suit. There are two people responsible for our hapless performances, Bruce and Phelan, and we would do well to shift them now.
