Hang on, Both Sunderland and Newcastle have tough opening day fixtures. Liverpool away (when did we last win there?) Newcastle have Arsenal. We could both easily lose. Bringing us to the Derby game - neither side any real form but if either side loses this one, particuarly Bruce (as it's at home) then I think the pressure is really on. I'm not sure how much backing Pardew has at the toon, among the fans I don't think he's that popular, I think we know there is a Bruce out brigade at Sunderland. I think the Newcastle fans would begin the Ashley out - boycoutt stuff before demanding pardew sacked where as we Sunderland fans would probably go for Bruce before board. Anyway Liverpool have had a bad preseason, we are due to put the Mags to bed, so we'll be top after 2 games.........
Before people start slagging - it's only 2 games into the season, we all know that these days in the Prem things snowball quickly and pressure builds. Not that I agree with that but it seems the way of things at the minute.
Think that our expectations are high than the Mags especially at a management level (just look at the investment in players from both clubs), so for this reason I'd have to say Bruce, saying that Niall isn't as fickle as Fat Mike.
Quinn is hardly likely to sack Bruce after letting him bring in 9 players, however if we do not finish top 10 and its because we lacked fire power i would say he is gone at the end of the seaso. BTW im a Bruce fan lol As for Newcastle nothing surprises me what happens there so if Pardew is sacked and ashley renames Sid James Roker Park just to rub the fans noses in it a bit more all well and good.
I can't see anything happening until after we've all opened our Christmas presents, choked on a turkey bone and fallen asleep during the Queen's speech
.. and there's no obvious 'better' replacement (for Bruce). We'll know better after the first 10 games, where I would expect us to be sitting in a comfortable 10th ....
It's a toughie. The fact that Pardew has a 5 year contract says to me that, no matter what happens, he's here for the duration as the executioner of Fat Boy's 5 year plan (ie get rid of the high wage earners and those articulate enough to voice an opinion). Brucie, I feel, was teetering on the verge last season after the bad run, and I think his position would be even more precarious if Sunderland were to have a similar run, given all the new players he has brought in.
Bruce will probably be out if he doesn't perform better than last season. He's spent a fortune this window, and Short will expect to see some serious results - just like the last few seasons. I expect he's growing somewhat impatient. As for us, we're in the odd situation where we would much rather have our owners out instead of the manager. Pardew is alright, and with Graham Carr by his side as chief scout, he's making the money count (so far). Nothing will happen for ages yet though.
Not really considering what we got for Henderson. Don't know, and can't be arsed to do the sums, but i'm sure wages would have gone up.
Not referring to net in/net out. Just talking about how much Bruce has spent this window, and it's a lot.
Bruce has more chance of going before Pardew. Short wants european football from Bruce and if he doesn't get it this season he'll be gone. Ashley just wants Pardew to do as he's told and not rock the boat.
All joking and rivalry aside, its amazing how things have turned around. Doesn't seem like two minutes ago I was in Newcastle having a drink with a mate on a tuesday night and NUFC were playing some Dutch or Norwegian side, the pub was packed. Sheperd, Hall and Ashley should be prosecuted for the way they have ****ed your club up.
Shepherd started the rot really by ****ing up the clubs finances, and as much as I hate Ashley, if it wasn't for him (or another rich buyer) we probably wouldn't have a club anymore. However, in fixing that one issue, Ashley has created a dozen more. But still, there's a squad of quality players, a huge stadium, huge attendances and a huge worldwide following, so the foundations ARE there to turn us into a force to be reckoned with once again. Fingers crossed that someone comes along who is willing to try and do that.
