Thoughts

[burchmackem]

The team is the best I've seen.
The backing is the best I've ever seen.
The support is the best in the land.
The stadium is pretty good (from my televisual perspective, having never been there).

So:

The weak link, IMO, is Bruce. I think it's time to get O'Neill on the horn.

[mart]

Agreed.

[Arthur Mullardo]

Is he a good actor..

Players paid too much, with no ambition, imo.

[bobbypark]

Originally Posted by burchmackem

The team is the best I've seen.
The backing is the best I've ever seen.
The support is the best in the land.
The stadium is pretty good (from my televisual perspective, having never been there).

So:

The weak link, IMO, is Bruce. I think it's time to get O'Neill on the horn.

Haway Burchy lad thats a bit too hard

[Wise Man Says]

Sorry Burchy, don't know if you were around turn of the millenium but Reid's team that finished 7th was much better than this, better players and much better attitude.

We do have some decent players now but the squad is disjointed (e.g no real wingers, no LB, no attacking CM to get 5-10 goals a season etc) and being set out tactically awfully by Bruce.

I'm not saying that players aren't partially to blame but a better manager would have them better organised and playing better football-see Hodgson as an example.

I agree, would love us to get O'Neill.

Originally Posted by Wise Man Says

Sorry Burchy, don't know if you were around turn of the millenium but Reid's team that finished 7th was much better than this, better players and much better attitude.

We do have some decent players now but the squad is disjointed (e.g no real wingers, no LB, no attacking CM to get 5-10 goals a season etc) and being set out tactically awfully by Bruce.

I'm not saying that players aren't partially to blame but a better manager would have them better organised and playing better football-see Hodgson as an example.

I agree, would love us to get O'Neill.

I disagree. The togetherness of Reidy's team made it what it was. Not the endless internationals and big name signings.

[burchmackem]

Originally Posted by Wise Man Says

Sorry Burchy, don't know if you were around turn of the millenium but Reid's team that finished 7th was much better than this, better players and much better attitude.

We do have some decent players now but the squad is disjointed (e.g no real wingers, no LB, no attacking CM to get 5-10 goals a season etc) and being set out tactically awfully by Bruce.

I'm not saying that players aren't partially to blame but a better manager would have them better organised and playing better football-see Hodgson as an example.

I agree, would love us to get O'Neill.

I was there, yes. And obviously, our finish both seasons was better than Bruce has gifted us. But man-to-man I think the current squad is better. The disjointedness I place at the manager's feet. FFS, WBrom looked like Chelsea in the second half.

[AnotherMag]

It is fair to say the team that got back-2-back 7th finishes is the greatest Sunderland team in living memory.

[Wise Man Says]

Originally Posted by burchmackem

I was there, yes. And obviously, our finish both seasons was better than Bruce has gifted us. But man-to-man I think the current squad is better. The disjointedness I place at the manager's feet. FFS, WBrom looked like Chelsea in the second half.

Not sure it is. We had a solid back 4, Summerbee supplying chances or Hutchison getting goals from midfield (I know they didn't play together, Hutch often played RW after Summerbee left) and SKP banging them in up front.

We have a more highly remunerated squad now but not better IMO.

Saying that, I do think we have a decent squad now but Bruce is managing it awfully.