Can anyone please explain to me why so many Sunderland fans are knocking Bruce. For the life of me I just don't get it. Having just achieved our third top ten finish since 1955 and the first since 2001. North East top team three years running. We should be delighted, shouldn't we? After all the table doesn't lie. Roy bloody Keane didn't get this much grief when he had us bottom three.
Can only be his supposed Geordie links which is ridiculous. It might help if he didn't say wor quite so much. If he was born in Sunderland he would not get half the grief. He has had the temerity to raise expectations and some people seem to think because we have been in the Prem for a few years we should be pissing top 6. Do people think the likes of Everton etc are just standing around with their fingers up their arses as we march on up the league.
I think the end of season slump didn't help, but tbh I haven't seen any Bruce bashing for ooh, a good few days now. I like Bruce and don't understand why everyone doesn't, but as in every walk of life, you can't please all the people all the time.
I must admit I'm not a big fan, yes the slump hurt a lot of peoples opinions of him but if they're like myself, reasonably open minded, his activity in the transfer market should be winning their support back.
I was thinking of the Newcastle connection, it can't be that surly. Bobby Robson had far stronger links to them and was still loved on Wearside. Stokoe had a long geordie history yet we built a statue for him. No. Can't be that.
I can't understand it either. He is only human and so will make some mistakes. The thing I like about Bruce is he seams to learn from his mistake, like staying away from South Americans this transfer window. Apart from Angeleri (and the jury is out on Riveros) most of Bruce's transfers have been good buys and he has made money from selling at the right time and buying at the right time. He had a load of rubbish to deal with from the Keane era and he is still suffering from that. I think the biggest problem was our excellent start last season, we looked like a top 6 side until Judus spat his dummy out. I for 1 am glad though Bruce did not buy another striker in January. We would have either paid a fortune or got someone like Fuller for a silly amount. Instead we discovered what Sess can do.
I think a lot of fans didn't want Bruce in the first place, and have been waiting for an opportunity to knock him ever since. Why ? well - probably because he's a Geordie and self-confessed Mag fan as a boy. Also - he wasn't the high profile appointment some craved or expected - rightly or wrongly. Then there was the collapse post - New Year; and the final league position did to some extent paper over some very large cracks. Me - I wasn't exactly thrilled when he came but was prepared to give him a chance. For me the jury's still out - another collapse in the second half of next season will be unforgiveable.
Speaking personally, why should I have to defend my ongoing belief that Bruce isn't a very good manager? I'm not posting this belief in every possible thread unlike yourself. I'm not part of any clique, band, group or brigade. I'm a long standing SAFC supporter voicing an opinion same as your self. You seem to have taken it as your personal crusade to have a pop at anyone who doesn't agree with your view on Bruce.
Robson was a special character and everybody knew he was a real supporter of the North East and not just Newcastle. If Bruce wins the FA Cup for us his mag links will be soon forgotten. I do think it has something to do with and the fact some of our fans are thick as pig **** and like nothing better than a good moan and twist. I am a glass half full man myself and in my 30 years of supporting the lads (apart from the couple of Reid seasons) the club has never had a better chance of sustained success and by success I mean a cup win and a crack at the Europa league.
It was a question mate, Not an order. You didn't have to reply Funny you should insinuate that I'm part of some "clique, band, group or brigade" Just because I back Bruce. Same of course could be said for you and the Bruce out brigade. I'm not quite sure how disagreeing with an opinion could be seen as having a pop. Can you please point out some evidence to back this allegation up? Nah. Thought not. I don't expect everyone to agree with me but I would like to hear why people feel Bruce is doing such a bad job.
For me i think a lot of people on here expect far too much, too quick. Yes Bruce had us twitching just after Christmas, yes we had a bad end to the previous season, but at the end of the day we are still improving as a club, emphasis on club. We've come a long way since the days of Bob Murray and MickMac, no disrespect intended to either, I've got a lot of respect for what BM did for us and MM had his hands tied anyway. But as a club we've made massive strides forward and hopefully will continue to do so. Bruce has made mistakes (south americans) but he's managed to do what others failed to do by keeping us in the EPL and barring a catastrophe this season i would say we are now established which was always the main goal. We now have an owner who wants success and is showing his commitment with his wallet, lets give Bruce a third season before we castigate the poor bloke, he looks like he is trying to strengthen the squad this window so lets see where it takes us before we hang the bloke out to dry.
I too have the utmost respect for Murray, unlike most I fear. He did his best with what he had which in Football terms. Wasn't much.
Two seasons in a row where we had long winless runs are mainly to blame I reckon. We were pathetic during those runs and the arguement to the injury "excuse" is that we should still have accumulated a few more points than we did. Myself personally didn't want him in the 1st place but think he has done well in the main and has got rid of a hell of alot of deadwood at the club. We play a brand of football I believe is good to watch (When we're playing well like!) Next seaon is the big test for him. I would accept a top 10 again and a cup run...
