Were we right? Reflection at Christmas

[McMackem]

I've seen posts pointing out that we now look mid-table and would probably have had these results under Bruce or at the very least this is 'his squad'. I think these posts forget we were in free-fall, had abandoned tactics and motivation and were losing fans. But is that all there is to this to justify the switch of manager? Two games against those that many dismiss as 'fodder' (away to QPR described by the BBC as 'tricky' - for Liverpool though) isn't enough to hail the new messiah after all - how can it be?

You look now at MON's handling of Bendtner and have to wonder if the Bent/Jones/Gyan/Henderson(?) situations would ever have developed.

Brucey moved us up several steps and has been part of our overall development since the Quinn era began. He assembled this squad which began to look so poor, yet passed well at times in so many games, were never trounced very often, just beaten. We created chances but with little passion or out and out striker the goals were never going to come anymore. No real guidance from the touchline and no tactical awareness for me were the nails in the coffin.

But that's the past - already MON has reminded us that we have good players - we do have a better squad 'on paper' than the mags, yet even most of us had started to accept it was a miscalculation - now a couple of injuries and a reversal of club confidence on both sides and how does it look?

We have a lot to be grateful to Bruce for, but I believe it was key (and fantastic) that he was removed before the new guy was staring at square 1 re-building - down to Short that I'm sure. Now MON can move us forward building on the platform we already have - I believe we ARE an 'inked in' PL outfit, NOONE has previously had the chance to build from such an advantageous starting point.

The ranks of genuine fans have been swollen by our own holy trinity of owner/iconic board member/manager and I believe that is a huge advantage. (It will also likely be hell on earth when the ride is over but lets forget that for now, hopefully its a generation away)

Financial stability, a PL squad that we can build on, a renowned manager, every reason for genuine optimism.

A Merry Christmas to us, one and all

[wanny]

I haven't seen any posts suggesting we'd have achieved the same results under Bruce tbh.

There is genuine cause for optimism, and tbf to Bruce he's played his part. He was a good appointment at the time, did a reasonable job over all, and was a good sacking, too.

He's played his part in our evolution, but took us as far as he could. But he's left MON with a good platform from which to build.

O'neill's the boy like. Very optimistic about what lies ahead.

[skullmeister]

Originally Posted by McMackem

I've seen posts pointing out that we now look mid-table and would probably have had these results under Bruce or at the very least this is 'his squad'. I think these posts forget we were in free-fall, had abandoned tactics and motivation and were losing fans. But is that all there is to this to justify the switch of manager? Two games against those that many dismiss as 'fodder' (away to QPR described by the BBC as 'tricky' - for Liverpool though) isn't enough to hail the new messiah after all - how can it be?

You look now at MON's handling of Bendtner and have to wonder if the Bent/Jones/Gyan/Henderson(?) situations would ever have developed.

Brucey moved us up several steps and has been part of our overall development since the Quinn era began. He assembled this squad which began to look so poor, yet passed well at times in so many games, were never trounced very often, just beaten. We created chances but with little passion or out and out striker the goals were never going to come anymore. No real guidance from the touchline and no tactical awareness for me were the nails in the coffin.

But that's the past - already MON has reminded us that we have good players - we do have a better squad 'on paper' than the mags, yet even most of us had started to accept it was a miscalculation - now a couple of injuries and a reversal of club confidence on both sides and how does it look?

We have a lot to be grateful to Bruce for, but I believe it was key (and fantastic) that he was removed before the new guy was staring at square 1 re-building - down to Short that I'm sure. Now MON can move us forward building on the platform we already have - I believe we ARE an 'inked in' PL outfit, NOONE has previously had the chance to build from such an advantageous starting point.

The ranks of genuine fans have been swollen by our own holy trinity of owner/iconic board member/manager and I believe that is a huge advantage. (It will also likely be hell on earth when the ride is over but lets forget that for now, hopefully its a generation away)

Financial stability, a PL squad that we can build on, a renowned manager, every reason for genuine optimism.

A Merry Christmas to us, one and all

Imo Bruce is similar to Roy Hodgson and Sam Allardyce (but not quite as good as those two), a decent manager up to a certain level, all have had a shot at a bigger club but ultimately failed, although Allardyce didnt get a good run at the mags job.

[nessen]

Originally Posted by McMackem

, NOONE has previously had the chance to build from such an advantageous starting point.

Disagree with this bit. Kean left a shed load of players who barely kept us up. Bruce had a massive job getting rid and this is evidenced by the fact that there are only a couple of them playing in our team or even squad for that matter today. Good post though.

[McMackem]

Originally Posted by nessen

Disagree with this bit. Kean left a shed load of players who barely kept us up. Bruce had a massive job getting rid and this is evidenced by the fact that there are only a couple of them playing in our team or even squad for that matter today. Good post though.

cheers marra - I meant MON's starting point though - I know Bruce took over a big fat squad with some big names in it, but as you say it didn't do him any good, and was a millstone to him early on. I think MON is the first in my lifetime to be able to 'build on' rather than 'completely re-build'

[wanny]

Originally Posted by nessen

Disagree with this bit. Kean left a shed load of players who barely kept us up. Bruce had a massive job getting rid and this is evidenced by the fact that there are only a couple of them playing in our team or even squad for that matter today. Good post though.

Think that's what he meant. MON actually has a great position to build from, and credit for that goes to Bruce.

It was time for him to go, but he certainly wasn't the disaster some like to portray him as.

[Dangly Ham]

Until he became our boss I didn't realise how articulate and well thought of MON is. He is on another level experience wise to almost every manager we have ever had.

[godsgifttoearth]

confidence was shot. only way you can fix that is with a run of good luck or a new manager. we frequently had zero good luck, so new manager is all you can do to freshen things up outside of the transfer window.

surprised we've not signed him up as a scout or something. he brought in some decent players.

[McMackem]

Originally Posted by godsgifttoearth

confidence was shot. only way you can fix that is with a run of good luck or a new manager. we frequently had zero good luck, so new manager is all you can do to freshen things up outside of the transfer window.

surprised we've not signed him up as a scout or something. he brought in some decent players.

I reckon he would be - but that's politics - it would be hard to hang around as the sacked boss, perhaps way in the future if he doesn't develop a chip on his shoulder the size of Keane's!