Solano is a nice thought but not practical ie is he allowed leave his country,will he be allowed into the UK?
Presumably, this is a DoF role. It's the sort of thing a manager has to "back", whether they like it or nor. The HUGE issue for me is a DoF casts serious doubts over a takeover.
Mate you seriously need help!! Inventing something in your head doesn’t make it a rumour. Dennis Wise......you gave me a laugh in fairness
Been reading a lot of better informed comments on Bruce. Birmingham press, Alan Hutton to name a couple and I'm trying to forget the quotes from Alex Bruce (suffice to say, utter ignorance runs in the family). Common theme is a consistent lack of identity. No matter where he has been, there's never been an idea of what the team is trying to achieve. And, worryingly, this has extended into acquisitions with vast sums wasted because he just flits from idea to idea. Seems to me that at his very core he doesn't know what he's doing and at Newcastle under Ashley you're basically walking in, strapping on some ice skates and climbing a hill. The depressing thing is he has a chance, thanks to the obstinance/stupidity of the owner/MD to 'get away with it'. To learn, to be aggressive, to set down a marker and play to the teams strengths. Even with our casino chip player methodology, there's enough in this squad to comfortably avoid relegation, he just has to play the right way. Will he do it? Not a cat in hells chance. His salvation, for me, lies in 5-3-2 with players in the right position. He's done nothing to demonstrate he can learn, he's only played it 3 times before and I'm yet to see a SB line-up without at least 3 out of position. This weekend will be pivotal. Yes, Villa are doing well, but we should be in a position to compete with them and be aiming to win the game. What should happen is we line up with Dubravka back in goal (Darlow wasn't good against Arsenal), three CB's of Schar or Hayden, Fede of Lascelles and Clark or Dummett. Our RWB should be Manquillo or Yedlin with our LWB being Lewis or Ritchie. In CM we need two to be central, one to be more attacking, so I would look to both Longstaffs and Almiron. Up front would be Wilson and Joelinton. Is there **** in that line-up? You betcha. But Joelinton isn't getting any better on the bench, or left mid. Lewis isn't going to work as a PL left back. Shelvey needs a rocket. If we have our strongest CB line-up - Schar, Fede, Clark - I'd accomodate Hayden in place of Matty, but keep the idea yuo have one CM closer to the defense, once nearer the middle and one looking to attack in transition.
Indeed. And Bruce will **** it up, you just know he will. The point I was making was our squad is designed to fit a 5-3-2. Every game we are overrun in central mid, because all clubs play 3 there - except us. We have two or three players who can play off a CF; I mean, you can play 5-3-1-1 and let Max sit off Wilson to do NOTHING but wait for the ball. No tracking back bullshit, the 8 players behind him are enough to defend well and get the ball to him. I'd let Joe play that role for the time being, but only to get him sold. At the moment, we've got Carroll/Gayle as backup for CF, and Max, Almiron and Anderson as options behind the front man in a free role.
I chose to omit that because it doesn't back you up at all, you said he utilises Rafas system. Watch Rangers, they certainly don't, the eyes don't deceive. Of course he learnt things from his former manager, you've blown off the cuff remarks in interviews into something completely over the top. In not one of these quotes does he even suggest the level of relationship that you stated as near fact. He says he CAN call him for 45 minutes, he said if you look at Rangers aggression off the ball, you can see Rafas influence. He's learnt from a former manager, its very common. The way you worded your original post was ludicrous, you downright suggested that Gerrard's success was due to Rafa Benitez and their calls. Ffs.
And so it continues: Bruce: "I had a couple of decent years at #AVFC so I'll look forward to the challenge of trying to beat them. I've had so many former clubs but it always adds something extra." Has this daft twat got Alzheimers?
Bruce on "My Way" & who he was moving away from: "We've defended deep & played on the counter pretty much since I've been at the club. What my way is to try & get us 20 or 30 yards higher up the pitch. We will still play a back 3 in some games & a back 4 in others." So basically didn't answer it. About 1 minute before he said about moving up the pitch, he said: "if you're a mainly countering team you need pace on the turnover". As usual, he points fingers everywhere. Even levelled the 6 hours without scoring accusation at Liverpool. He's also saying ASM is our best, most important player. It's all about him, apparently, and he claims the "system" is about ASM. Which begs the question - why was ASM played left midfield and told to track back the last few **** games we played when he was available?
He said he'd changed it halfway through last season He's shamelessly just thrown blame at the previous manager Max has had a **** season after Bruce moved him up front
Sky quote him as: "What did I mean by doing it my way? We’ve defended deep & played on counter attack since I’ve been here. By my way I meant getting us 20/30 yards further up the pitch. I didn’t mean ‘not the players way’. Some of them prefer a back four." Can someone translate that for me? I'm really struggling to get my head around it.
I mean, if I wanted to just make some **** up, I could say: "My way would be to have better possession in more dangerous areas, to transition the ball faster from defence and support our striker or attackers. We havent done that, we've changed too much and I realise the players need for more consistency. I'm trying to get results, first and foremost, to give us a platform to play increasingly proactive football. I have great players here, all of them are very professional and more than capable of propelling this club up the league. We just need to find that identity and stick with it, results will follow." I mean they're just words, but better than the endless, blameless guff he spouts.
Press now saying it's ex Luton Manager and current Bournemouth no.2, Graham Jones. ( Used to play for North Shields )
I hate Steve bruce I cannot stand the man I hope he does well It's the sad fact he's here for years to come