I've no problem with a manager criticising a player, Johnson does it quite often. But, to my mind, it should be reserved for playing errors, unnecessary red cards, bad tackles or whatever. For a manager to pass the buck, the way Bruce has done, is out of order. It's for the manager and coaches to organise the team especially with substitutions. The team captain basically said it was a shambles. I remember Bruce saying, when he was here, that he's not interested in tactics ... ... that's fair enough but he shouldn't put the blame on his players imo.
I would say that if he's given Ritchie urgent instructions and he either didn't bother giving them out or took his time doing it and it cost them then that's a playing error. There's only so much a manager can do bellowing from the sidelines compared to giving a player detailed instructions. Maybe Ritchie was to blame, maybe he wasn't. Wouldn't be the first time Bruce has passed the buck. What seems pretty clear is that he's a dissenting voice in the dressing room and him and Bruce both acted badly. I remember when some of our players supposedly got together to oust Di Canio because they didn't like playing under him, I didn't like it then and it's not something I agree with. They get paid enough to get on with their job and do what they're told. If they get criticism deserved or not then calling the manager a coward in front of their teammates isn't the way to go.
I really don't see why you should pay a manager off just put him on Gardening leave and he can't get another job . If he does you don't have to pay him anymore
i suspect its probably a close-knit circle of mates in the managerial circus, who probably watch each others backs as they go about their business. I reckon any new candidate would insist the old guard be paid up and shipped out before taking over, baggage free. I know Sam and Bruce are best mates, holiday together etc., after all to them its just another gig, albeit a massively lucrative one. They'd probably class gardening leave as a nice little paid holiday .
How is that clear? All we know is that he's been confronted by his manager in front of his team mates.
If we're believing the article then it says his teammates have sided with Ritchie, do you honestly believe he's kept a stoic silence throughout and isn't bitching about Bruce behind his back? Who cares anyway, you obviously like Ritchie, I don't have any feeling about him or Bruce either way really. Seems like we're interpreting things differently and that's about as far as we can take it without knowing for sure what's gone on. I'm not going to lose any sleep over Newcastle imploding at a crucial time of the season, in fact I might crack open a beer in their honour later.
Not at all, I'm interpreting nothing. I'm commenting on the article and, if correct, the only facts we have.. You're saying things such as Ritchie is turning the squad against the manager or is clearly a bad influence who's ego has been bruised ... ... that's nothing but speculation.
It's not 'whatever I say' ... ... it's the facts talking, not me. Bruce doesn't have the right to physically assault a club employee ... ... no matter what was said. Calling out a player on TV is bad enough, confronting him on the training field is worse. Ritchie didn't go to the press or post anything, other people have reported what happened.
Never said he did. We'll just agree to have different opinions on Ritchie's role in the matter and after all who gives a **** really.
I don't disagree with Ritchie's role in the matter ... ... it doesn't give Bruce the right to confront and assault him. I don't believe anyone believes it does, you included. If you don't give a shyte then why argue. I do give a shyte otherwise I wouldn't be spending time posting.
I'm just replying to you out of courtesy I lost interest in the matter hours ago. Maybe we can let it go now.
You were interested enough to keep posting while you believed you had a decent argument ... ... but 'didn't give a shyte' as soon as you realised you didn't. That's quite often the case on chat forums.
A chat forum classic response Lose the argument, pretend you never really cared then try to make someone look as if they just want the last word. The truth is, I stuck to the facts and you don't have an answer.
Nah, you stuck to what you could read and nothing else and I used my brain a little bit. If you haven't noticed we're not in court and we don't have to just look at the cold hard facts to draw our own conclusions. And that's what mine are, my conclusions. Not wrong ones that you can disprove. If you don't think calling your manager a coward in front of your teammates is indicative of an insubordinate attitude I don't know what to tell you.
Well I think agent Bruce is doing a wonderful job, and should be kept on until he retires, when a statue of him should be erected outside SJP. After all that’s what the kind mags wanted for us when he was in charge here. Fairs fair.