Bruce and Phelan should have picked up on Odubajos shaky first half in the Reading game instead he turned up in exactly the same state v Rotherham and this time it cost us, not to mention forcing Meyler to play 3 games in a week after injury. The fault lies with them for this too. They are missing simple things that can be addressed easily.
Here's another on Bruce. Just watched Arsenal and City. City 2-0 down at half time, manager immediately changes it and then again 10 minutes into the second half. Against Derby totally outplayed first half, when did Bruce change it 72 minutes despite countless conversations and players warming up. Against Leeds, same sketch, against Reading, same sketch. Not sure about Saturday, I haven't seen the stats, frankly couldn't be arsed to look. What I'm saying is, not only does he not have a Plan A… but as sure as hell he hasn't got a Plan B. As a supporter, what I want to see is someone who actually seems to know what he's doing.
God the Chuckle Brothers are just non stop arent they. The new fella's obviously on a wind up and Dave just follows along.
I agree with most of that, but we had no issue with paying the fee for Gray, it was simply a case of needing to shift two of our highest paid players (N'Doye and Jelavic) before adding another and it took too long.
I'll concede that was the case OLM but surely knowing that N'Doye and Jelavic were on their way out should have added urgency to the need to acquire a very good goal-scoring young striker in Gray at a reasonable price by todays standards. We had money in the bank from the sales of Brady, Chester, etc and were well able to pay the additional wages for a few weeks knowing that there was interest in the above two and that their wages would in all likelihood be shortly off our books. I read the Brentford fanzine daily at the time and it was very clear that we were Grays preferred destination and he fully expected to come here. He had even said his goodbyes to his teammates. Yet we fiddled around and Dyche jumped in and in a matter of 48 hours he was gone. I said then, and I'll say it even more so now. WHAT A DIFFERENCE he would have made to our season. He had no injury history, has played almost every game for Burnley, leads the league in scoring, and would have assuredly put away several of the easy chances that Akpom has been regularly missing, putting us well above Boro in first place and undoubtedly heading for promotion. As it is it is Burnley who may well be heading for promotion, and Gray who will become the new Austin. Our fortunes now rest on a petulant kid who has hardly scored, a largely unproven quantity in Diomande, and the admittedly rejuvenated Hernandez. Personally I hope the kid and his bad attitude goes back to Arsenal in January and Luer gets a decent chance to show what he can do. BRUCE OUT!!
The only downside to that post Canada is that you seem to be forgetting that, even if we'd signed Gray, Bruce would've played him at left back. Nah he's better off at Burnley.
I think it is really good for this board that more respected (aye) posters are coming back on to express an opinion.
I can confirm there is no conspiracy - the manager and players are just xxxxe. Never mind, SB's going to look at changing the system. What a brilliant idea! Try changing the players as well and he's cracked it.
