Just got this off the Echo website, thoughts Lads. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...n/gardner_blasts_sunderland_critics_1_3774034
I like this from one of the comments: David Moyes as a possible replacement but how long would it take for the whingers to get their knives out for him? His first three season record at Everton is 15th, 7th, 17th. Yes, that's 17th in his THIRD season boys, nearly relegated (yes I know how many points they had). Imagine if we finish 17th this season, some of you lot will be having tantrums and tossing your dummies on the pitch! SB is now in his third season.... I wonder how many of us will be asking for bruce to go if we finish 10th again, never mind 11th-16th? How many of us will be happy with mid table obscurity for a couple of seasons? Did our brush with European places 1st half of last season raise expectations, for this season, too high? Personally i wouldnt mind us pushing for European places in 2 or 3 seasons time, but not this season.
I like this bit too, "We are only FOUR games in with a new team so calm the fúck down, it's a disgrace getting on the player's backs so early, no wonder we find it hard attracting good players!"
I like the comment: 'Its not the position I'm bothered about or the 2 points from 4 games. Its how Bruce sets his team up and plays. If we attacked, played well and lost fine I would take that. Bruce isn't a good manager, or at least for us...' BTW that was my comment I just made up now...
I like the comment: "I am well aware that this club has won **** all for 40 years & that it is one of the best supported clubs in the whole of Britain. I am very aware that the supporters are one of the most loyal & patient in the country. I also realise that I am in a very privilidged posistion & that I earn twice in one week what most supporters earn in a year. They pay their hard earned cash to come & watch us & therefore have every right to criticise if they think we have not tried our best". What do you mean he didn't say it?
The fact that Gardner, a new signing with fresh ambition, has to come out and dismiss claims the team is under pressure after four games, just goes to show how negative an impression fans are making on our squad. He should be welcomed to our club not subjected to the hate and anxiety fashioned from last seasons problems. Yes weve had a slow start to the season but its a new team and despite everyones concerns, we should be supporting players like Gardner. He shouldnt have to justify the teams ability to its own fans and clearly peoples disatisfaction with the club has spread to the players. That is both the fault of us as fans for turning on the management but also said management for losing our faith in the first place. (Chicken or egg etc) Its still a bad state of affairs when negavity moves from interent forums to actual journalists putting these concerns to the players. Why cant fans understand how detrimental their negavity is?? I remember having my season ticket in the 'only one home win all season' era and people booing Kelvin Davis for being lobbed by Matt Taylor from 40 yards. Its pathetic to ever boo your own players and support should be unconditional. When has a player ever played better after being booed??!! Fans should bite their tongue and get behind the team, its absurd to do anything else, and talk of cancelling direct debits and boycotting games is idiotic. Have you all forgotten how bad things once were?? Man up and get behind the team as clearly our disatisfaction has evolved into genuine pressure on the players, which can only be detrimental to our already ropey performances.
Jumping on the managers back and a team trying to find its shape after 4 games? I think we are quickly dispelling the "Most loyal and patient" tag quite quickly... As Davros says - the new players were probably sold on this club cos of the fans and their support, and suddenly they dont have that anymore. what do expect the new players to think?
Spot on Davros. I myself have got involved with some early panic, but on games eve here, i find myself thinking similiar to Gardners words. 4 games in, 2 we wouldn't have expected a point from, and a tough away game against Swansea, newly promoted teams often do ok early doors. Even Brighton, well, just look at them, flying. And a whole new team settling in still. I don't often go back on my words and standpoint, but i find myself back onside with Bruce, for now.
Moyes has operated with no money for 7 years and had to sell his best players to survive. That if pulls off what if does is remarkable. Bruce hasn't. There is no comparison. When mick macs team were really struggling and we couldn't score, or win a game to save our lives, he was backed fully by fans who understood the limits (both on and off the pitch) he was working too. Bruce has enjoyed the single most relaxed, steady, professional and supportive regime in our entire history and yet we have won 1 game in 8 at home. We don't know our best 11 and the team look totally shot of confidence. **** me Bruce would have really struggled back in the Murray era, if he can't perform under this one. I'd love to see what a David Moyes management era could do under Short and Quinn?
Not sure i would call it no money. 2002/3 season they finished 7th 59 points spent 11 million 2003/4 season finished 17th 39 points and spent 4 million 2004/5 season, finished 4th, 61 points spent 15 million 2005/6 season, finished 11th 50 points,spent spent 29 million 2006/7 season, finished 6th 58 points, spent 20 million 2007/8 season, finished 5th 65 points, spent 30 million 2008/9 season, finished 5th 63 points, spent 22 million 2009/10 season, finished 8th 61 points, spent 20 million 20010/11 season, finished 7th on 54 points, spent 1.5 million. Yes he has got good league positions over the years, but the points tally isnt exactly great (it is consistent though part from the 39/54 point season), its better then Bruces, but still not exceptional.
I don't think we should criticize Gardner. Obviously, as a new recruit, he's going to look at things from a different perspective. His take is on the season to date, which, although not the best, it is not a disaster. Gardner can only view things from this standpoint & is not going to analyze Bruce's record for the calender year. On that point, I don't think we should either. Don't get me wrong, I am not wearing my rose tinted specs but neither do I think the start to the season has been the worst, possible.
