When looking at the fixtures at the start of the season, I would have taken 4 points from 12. The Liverpool game I didn't expect a point, I thought we would lose. We didn't so good result. The Newcastle match, I think we all expected a win and 3 points. This did not happen, and because it was against Newcastle the pressure grew immensely on Bruce. The Swansea match I would have taken a 0-0, away from home against a promoted team is always hard, so I was happy. Now to today, I never for one minute expected anything from this game. You may ask why? Am I being defeatist? No, just being realistic. So from what I expected, we are 2 points short. The results I am not bothered about, it is the way the team has played, the way off the pitch situations are sorted, and the fact Bruce seems to have lost the plot...his tactics are baffling. I think the pressure is on Bruce for many reasons, first off all the performances have been dreadful (baring 2nd half at Liverpool). The Swansea match we should have been beaten. Newcastle match, we should have battered them but couldn't. Now I am sick to death of watching the same s**t getting played, and players out of position. If we lost 2-1 today with players in the right position playing well, I wouldn't mind, its the fact we have 3 CM who all play alike...F**king hell doesn't take a genius we won't score like this. We play 1 striker at home... Bendnter must be coming here thinking, s**t rather stop on Arsenal's bench! I don't blame Bruce for things that go on in the background, though I do blame him for the team tactics and how we play.... what is so hard about playing players where they train for their whole career. 'I know, I'll play Richardson who is capped by England at LW, play him LB where he has never trained before'. 'I know, I'll play Colback, Cattermole and Gardner' all together. IMO only one of those should be playing, and that is Gardner. F**k being sentimental to Colback, we don't need him now! If we play with Vaughan (who wales badly missed against England) in the centre, then maybe somebody can feed the strikers. Or play Sessegnon in the centre because he seems lost on the LW. While I like Cattermole, he does nothing offensively, which is what we need. The striking situation has annoyed I think all of us. I don't blame Bruce for Gyan going, but I think he has been a bit naive by not getting anyone else apart from Bendtner. There are plenty of decent strikers out there, for e.g Garry Hooper from Celtic...I really rate this guy! ********************** Now normally after 4 games I wouldn't say the pressure is on a manager, but clearly the pressure is on. I don't think its all about the 4 (5 including Cup), its taking into consideration last season. The money he has spent, the stupid tactics, the loss to Newcastle. The pressure is on...and I think he has a few games to save his job. There are better managers out there who I think would take the job.. We are 16th... 2 Points.. 2 Goals... 4 Conceded.. -2 GD. I look at Stoke, and their team is ordinary, like ours but the manager makes them good. Is our manager making us poor, because we don't have a bad team. Our next few games are: Home V Stoke Away V Norwich Home V West Brom If we don't perform in those matches, I think the sack could be on Bruce. The first 4 games were difficult, the next 3 won't be easy, but they are games we expect to win. 3 Games for Bruce to save his job???
One thing from someone who follows the lower English leagues - don't go anywhere near Hooper. Wasn't outstanding for Scunthorpe, but, like most players, becomes amazing in the SPL. If he was so great, he'd have been called up for the england squad instead of Zamora or something. He's not even in the U21! (he was eligible for the Euro U21!)
