Just read on another site about safc away this season. For once we are unbeaten in london this season. We have beaten chelsea, drew at spurs/arsenal and fulham, with only w. ham to come. Remember when we used to visit these places feared the worst, and often the worst did happen, so bruce must have some savvy about him, as i bet there is not a lot of teams unbeaten in the capitail this season, if any. Ok he has make a few error of judgements, but he must have made some pretty good decisions along the way. Hoping he makes somemore good calls today....
now we know that we will use too west ham! Im not a fan of his substitutions as i think he waits too long however i wouldnt go as far as too say he was inept.
Would someone tell me where we have a good away record, then? In terms of the top division, that is. I'm talking about down the years, by the way.
I'm still undecided on Bruce. He's had to endure a horrible run of injuries, but we still don't really know why we sold Bent and that run of 8 defeats in 9 was inexcusable. He's worth another season, but it will be interesting to see what he does in the summer. If we'd won a couple of the games in that bad run we'd be top ten easy, but now we're trying to scrape in at the death. Very disappointing after where we were at the end of January.
Everyone knows my position on Bruce - I want him gone straight after the West Ham game. But he isn't all bad. I reckon he's a good mid-table Prem manager. For years, he kept Wigan in mid-table, and I think he's perfectly capable of keeping us there. It's just not what Ellis wants (or a lot of us want). I think if we want to go much further than we are now, we need someone more imaginative who can adapt to whatever problems arise - and Steve's proven two seasons running that he can't. But I'm not going to blanket bad-mouth him. Good luck to him wherever he's going (I hope). He's just not the man for here, given our new ambitions.
I'm in the same camp as you. Nothing against him, just don't think he can cut it. I personally think he'll be with us next year, so we'll all find out then. I really do want him to succeed, for the sake of SAFC.
So. name a team/manager that could have coped quite well with. these are all 1st choice btw Keeper out for months (and a ã9 million one at that) no recognised LB (yes that is bruces fault) 3-4 CD out (Turner/Bramble/Nedum and mensah who is in and out of the treatment room) 2 CM out (Cattermole Ok he played but wasnt really match fit/Meyler) 1 Utility Player (Richardson) 2-3 Strikers (Welbeck/Campbell and then Gyan) Only team i can think off is maybe Man U but they would not have won the league thats for sure, or done well in the CL.
Surely the reason we sold Bent was that Darren no longer wanted to play for our football club? If anybody thinks they are too good for our football club, and don't want to be here, then they can **** off immediately, I'm fully with Bruce on that. And if we had signed a replacement for ãxMillion, not getting value for money, and then done a Portsmouth/Leeds, nobody would be happy. I'm also with Bruce on that. Completely agree though that the 8 in 9 is thoroughly unacceptable, I'd also give him another season.
He didn't have those injuries last year. He didn't lose Bent las year either. I wouldn't judge Bruce (or any other manager) on one year - that can happen to anyone. I will judge him on two though. They weren't the same problems, and he couldn't deal with either. On the basis of one season, I think you're right - but it's not one season, is it?
I am pretty sure we had an injury crises then as well, in the no win streak last season, but who was injured and in what positions i couldnt tell you now, i think Turner/Gordon/Cattermole maybe/meyler/and probably campbell as well, he seems to have been out for ages, but we had bent playing.
I have deleted my post and replacing with this: I'm sick of the Bruce out brigade twisting any debate into a Bruce out thread. You have all had your say numerous occasions - so don't accuse me of not letting you express an opinion - however all your doing is stifling any debate and making not606 Sunderland board a "sack Steve Bruce board", its getting tedious. Enough is enough, please stick to the subject matter of the article Think of that Catherine Tate character who says "Am I bothered", replace with "Bruce Out"
Just wanted to point out the irony in this. On topic, I do think Bruce seems to deer in the headlights still at times, he seems to make daft sub decisions (eg. defensive changes when youre a goal down etc) in the few matches of yours I've seen recently. Your injuries haven't helped but I still think he could do with figuring out when to make basic tactical decisions.
And the Bruce in brigade? They've had their say too, and, after a 1-6 aggregate against Fulham and Wolves, I wonder why you don't meke those comments to them?
I SERIOUSLY NEED TO BORROW YOUR GLASSES MATE, what i see of Bruce i don't like i gave him time but now in my heart he will not take us where we want and need to go, so if you want to convince me hes the man, post me the specs you wear when assessing him, and ill gladly give them a try who knows they may work and i could turn out his biggest supporter. or maybe ill post you mine which view with a different perspective. read this again, before posting don't take it the wrong way mate not meant to be. just different views.
