Diame doing the presser with Bruce this morning. Diame says squad are frustrated, not sure why they're playing so badly. Says he's still getting his fitness back after a long time out and there's more to come from him. Hayden will return to Arsenal after tomorrow's game, mutual decision based on Arsenal's displeasure with his lack of game time and Bruce's desire to play a knackered Meyler, or want-away Huddlestone ahead of him. Odubajo is expected to train today and should be available, Robertson has also picked up a knock, both will be assessed at the end of training today. Bruce says he's going to make amends for the poor performance last time out (again).
Lets hope with Hayden going back they have another midfielder lined up, its a shame for Hayden because he hasn't had much time to shine here
Akpom is the one I'd send back. No news on our Norwegian striker then and whether he is near match ready yet. If Diame isn't fully fit why does Bruce start him? He was better as an impact sub in the last few months.
If the rumours of a fee around £4m are true and a firm offer comes in, then I would expect him to be gone. I would rather this than lose him for nothing at the end of the season, particularly when he's contributing very little
I do agree, but it would be much better if Steve Bruce was the one to leave and another manager who dared to play an attacking system that would suit Tom could come in.
Caulker returning to the Dramas after having his loan cut short at Southampton, unfortunately not until after our game tomorrow. Shame, he's one over rated defender!
Anyone know why Robbo is having a fitness test later today, before the game tomorrow? Any injuries to him & we're ****ed!
Got to feel sorry for Hayden - clearly his face didn't fit and he would have been a much better partner for Livermore in the absence of Meyler than Huddlestone has been.
Another example of Bruce insisting on playing someone because of the prior reputation then giving someone a chance. If I was given the choice between a player like Huddlestone who clearly doesn't give a **** or a player who is trying to make it in the game who would be desperate to perform well, then I know who I would pick.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Townsend; even if his contract is up at the end of the season, he'd be handy to have around as cover and he's done really, really well at Grimsby. Grimsby want to keep him but aren't confident, apparently his mate Sonny Bradley has been speaking to the Crawley gaffer about him. I don't believe the thing about Dio being disruptful, he's just had surgery a couple of months ago and we are easing him in, look what happened when we chucked Dawson in too early. If he isn't ready to start, then he isn't ready, I'm ****ing sick of us rushing back players and then having them out for longer spells, it's really unprofessional and we're only hurting ourselves. Plus it's not like Hernandez is doing ****, just Bruce keeps dropping him and putting him back in. He hasn't been in Uruguay, so he should be fine to play.
I don't get all the ****ing over Hayden, he's showed a good touch or two in his past few sub appearances but by and large he's looked **** and a bit out of his depth. Although I agree it's astonishing Steve Bruce opts to use a player who held his own in the champions league, who's at his prime age, than some young rookie who's looked a bit crap and isn't even ours. Wtf was he thinking.
I don't think Hayden's been that bad apart from the first couple of games bit I agree the hype is excessive. He hasn't played much because Livermore and Meyler have been doing well. It's a bit like Fathi who everyone remembers as really good when the reality is he barely played thanks to the form of others like Quinn and Meyler and when he did, he cost us the game with a mistake away at Wolves.
If Hayden had been doing it in training then he'd have had a start! SB & MP obviously don't see enough in him.
