And Pardew's lack of tactical awareness strikes again - My thoughts on the Hull game.

The benchmark for me would be to consider what SBR would do with our current team? Lots more is the answer.

 

Do you really believe he has much say in the players we sign? I'm not convinced.

I wouldn't say he's blameless, he clearly isn't. However if its solely down to a manager to motivate them, then regardless who is in charge we are in deep ****.

 

That is the benchmark, but I'd say it's a touch unfair to expect Pardew to be like the great man. SBR had a wealth of experience by the time he came to us at many top clubs all over the world.

It does point to the fact he's under qualified for the job though, his only premier league experience before us was a top half finish with West Ham before being sacked for being bottom the following season and then he couldn't save Charlton from the drop.

So two full seasons experience with one relegation. He doesn't have an acceptable CV to be the man in charge of our club for me.

 

I believe he has a major say. He's come out on several occasions (pre Kinnear) and confirmed that him and Carr both have to agree on a player for us to sign them. So given Kinnear has only signed Remy then yes I do think he's given the green light for everyone of our signings.

 

He has also made it clear on several occasions he'd like more home based players but we still never look like signing one. What he says in the media carries little weight. That will never change while this regime is in charge regardless of manager.

One thing I'd be interested know is what we pay the likes of Sissoko, HBA, Cabaye, Gouffran, Debuchy etc and how that compares to what you'd have to pay the home based ones. Obviously the inflated transfer fees here are a major stumbling block but we can't just keep signing foreign players cause they are cheap. if there is one thing we should have learnt from the great Sir Bob, it was that having a core of home based players is an absolute must. Yeah maybe you can get away with it if you are signing a boat load of 20m foreign superstars like Citeh or Chelski but not in the market we're in.

 

We're amazed that a) nobody better than us went for him and b) we actually got him. £5m, if he stays fit, is daylight robbery.

 

he was the star man on the day. £5m is a snip. You could sell him to Liverpool for £85m?

 

Also, despite interest from 3 other clubs (Sunderland definitely one of those) having spoken to Bruce, he didn't feel he needed to speak to anyone else.

He's a canny Geordie is Steve Bruce, I can't believe we're fortunate enough to have him as our manager, long may it continue.

Yesterday could easily have been a draw, I wouldn't beat yourselves up about it. Remy looks like a really instinctive striker, I'm sure he'll grab a few. You're right back was ****e, hopelessly out of position for the first. Elmohamady just made a decent run for the second, amazed nobody was wise enough to track the run though. The third was just a great goal from start to finish, not sure much more could have been done to prevent it?

Anyhow, you've got the return fixture to try for to make it honours even

 

Im not sure about that - PDC spoke to him but he didnt oversee transfers. I'm not deluded enough to think that if Sunderland went for him he'd have chosen us. The general consensus is that PDC was overruled and told he couldnt sign Huddlestone and instead ended up with a load of players he didnt want. Their coach and DoF roles really didnt seem to work well together.

 

No, Sunderland were definitely in for Huddlestone.

 

Would any Newcastle fan take Bruce over Pardew?

 

Bruce anyday.

 

No and for a few reasons.

Firstly I just don't rate him as a manager, although I do accept he's doing a good job at Hull. Secondly too much has gone on from the moment he took the Sunderland job. He slated the club for playing "that" song following the 5-1 etc and lastly he just isn't an upgrade on Pardew for me.

I don't want Pardew but I also don't want change just for changing sake. I only want a change of manager if we're going to upgrade.

 

Oh Steve Bruce.

I'd have to think about that.

 

Mrs Doubtfire?

 

Being honest, Steve Bruce's CV wipes the floor with Pardew's, even if with the now proven miraculous 5th...

The question about Bruce, though, is and will probably remain his ability to progress beyond relegation survivor. At Championship level, he's a cut above. At premier league level he does a decent job, creates a base, but often wastes money when he's given it in the transfer market quite badly, and the side doesn't progress. At Wigan, Birmingham, Sunderland, I'd argue that was the case. His management moves have never really been "upwards" either, more like geographical hopping between similar status teams when he's exhausted the transfer budget.

Credit where it's due, perhaps he's learned, because his signings for Hull have been between decent and wonderful (Huddlestone).

 

It really doesn't, that's just a complete lack of research Done really well with Hull though and seems to have turned over a new leaf and actually has tactics now.

 

Really? I think someone is baiting me because they fancy getting a snap... But I'm going to ignore it this time Pouchy

You know I'm right

 

Steve Bruce as Newcastle United Manager?

No chance.

After that dance down the touchline on Saturday, he's lucky he got out alive!

 

you gotta have a little laugh at the thought of Steve Bruce as manager.
seriously, when he had the chance all those years ago, I would have been happy enough with him, but too much has happened since then.

You never know, maybe Ashley is keeping this little gem up his sleeve.