They won't like this, but it's true.
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This wasn't Bruce's fault. It was Mike Ashley's.
Let's make no mistake though Raffa left to go to China for money, it sure as **** wasn't to add a Chinese super league title to his resume. This myth of him not breaking contracts was shown to be that when he quit as manager of the COVID Crew X1.
Raffa's football was ****, his transfers were ****, and he was always looking for one up on Mike with the fan base, to try and get his own way. He is the most political manager I've ever known.
One thing about Raffa though was he had players well drilled. They knew their roles and what they were doing and they had a self belief and a confidence. This has been undone by Bruce and his coaching team.
However he had the fan base on his side not because we thought he was great but because he dared to stand up to Ashley and he used words such as ambition.
Bruce however used his mates in the media to hide behind. Had an equally **** record as Raffa but blamed everybody and eveything other than himself. He was a ****ing lying ****ebag and there's the difference.
The fact that Amanda Staveley has been to the ****ing training ground about as often as the players in the last 2 weeks shows how unprofessional the place has become. By October players who never played in the Euro's should not be gassed after 20 minutes.
Bruce set his stall out early, tried to get the players onside by promising them all1st team football and then mish mashing a team of players out of position just to keep them onside and friendly with him. It somehow worked at the end of last season with the Murphy, Ritchie wing back roles but has been a disaster since day one this year.
If Jamal is not comfortable playing in a back 4 and feels he needs 2 players either side to protect his weaknesses then he should have been dropped. If Joelinton was not performing he should have been dropped regardless of price, same with Ritchie, same with Murphy, same with Willock and Longstaff. It's been game time for the boys though and this tactic of hoof it to ASM and hope he can dribble past 9 players on his own has been sussed out all season.
He's gone. We move on and I'm sure Bruce will too.