Bruce hard done by


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i found that situation wery strange, we were all slagging bruce sauce saying he won't use sess right, he needs to be up front alongside gyan and not on the left. Now it seems we have done a 360 degree change

I never wanted that, but people have seen what he has done up top now so nee surprise we can all see he isnt a striker.:lol:
 
Lost 40 out of 97 matches whilst in charge. Its the only sense you need to take notice of from now on.

is it just me that thinks this doesnt sound as bad as its supposed to??

so weve taken points from very nearly 60% of games weve played? would love it to be better like but its a starting point a hell of alot better than any seasons in the prem weve had for what over 10 years
 
is it just me that thinks this doesnt sound as bad as its supposed to??

so weve taken points from very nearly 60% of games weve played? would love it to be better like but its a starting point a hell of alot better than any seasons in the prem weve had for what over 10 years

Its average to bad mate, given money spent football played its the very very very very very bottom of what should be expected.
 
is it just me that thinks this doesnt sound as bad as its supposed to??

so weve taken points from very nearly 60% of games weve played? would love it to be better like but its a starting point a hell of alot better than any seasons in the prem weve had for what over 10 years

jesus wept man:mad:
 
Its average to bad mate, given money spent football played its the very very very very very bottom of what should be expected.

agreed - the football weve been playing by and large has deserved much better, another reason to think its hardly the end of teh world

jesus wept man:mad:

chelsea are 5th currently having lost 33% of their games. youre crying about having lost 40% of our games under bruce? ffs grow a pair :roll:
 
agreed - the football weve been playing by and large has deserved much better, another reason to think its hardly the end of teh world



chelsea are 5th currently having lost 33% of their games. youre crying about having lost 40% of our games under bruce? ffs grow a pair :roll:

having just one over half a dozen trophies in as many years

:roll:
 
I'm ready to get slated for this, but i honestly think Bruce is been giving a very hard time over alot of things which aren't his fault.

It all comes down to expectations and realism, mate.

There's nothing wrong with wanting us to be top 8.

There is something unrealistic about expecting that to happen at this point.

The whole squad has been revamped in 5 years.

We're a team that isn't going to go down, so that has to be progress; it is in my lifetime anyway.

Bruce has the makings of a good team. We have some quality in there.

But, there is a middle ground between the 'booers fuck off' and 'Bruce out' camps.

Bruce has to take the blame for the fact that we only ever seem to put in a good 20 minutes in a match of 90 minutes. We simply can't get on top of the opposition, maybe once or twice a season we dominate a match.

When Gyan puts us in the shite then Bruce has to take some of the responsibility for that; after all, Bruce brought him here.

My biggest complaint with Bruce is that he never seems to be in for someone who can play in the middle of the pitch. I don't understand it; that's where the match is won or lost. One quality player in the middle of the pitch would make a massive difference. I do like Colback, think he's a much better player than Henderson, but he's got quite a way to go before he stamps his authority on a match week in week out.

All in all, it would be madness to sack Bruce at this point. We're making strides, even if they're shorter than we'd like. There's too much of getting rid of managers and starting again for my liking. I think we need continuity and need to accept that this is SAFC: we've no divine right to be top 8 and our history over the past 50 years suggests we should be greatful and be patient. For me, I'd like to see one or two additions: lad up front and definitely centre mid and pretty much play with a settled side for the next two seasons. I think we'd have a chance of top 8 next season with the right two players brought in - with Bruce as manager.
 
is it just me that thinks this doesnt sound as bad as its supposed to??

so weve taken points from very nearly 60% of games weve played? would love it to be better like but its a starting point a hell of alot better than any seasons in the prem weve had for what over 10 years

his win record at Sunderland is 29.9% and that is including getting us 13th and 10th

Allardyce had 33.33% at Newcastle for comparison
 
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It all comes down to expectations and realism, mate.

There's nothing wrong with wanting us to be top 8.

There is something unrealistic about expecting that to happen at this point.

The whole squad has been revamped in 5 years.

We're a team that isn't going to go down, so that has to be progress; it is in my lifetime anyway.

Bruce has the makings of a good team. We have some quality in there.

But, there is a middle ground between the 'booers fuck off' and 'Bruce out' camps.

Bruce has to take the blame for the fact that we only ever seem to put in a good 20 minutes in a match of 90 minutes. We simply can't get on top of the opposition, maybe once or twice a season we dominate a match.

When Gyan puts us in the shite then Bruce has to take some of the responsibility for that; after all, Bruce brought him here.

My biggest complaint with Bruce is that he never seems to be in for someone who can play in the middle of the pitch. I don't understand it; that's where the match is won or lost. One quality player in the middle of the pitch would make a massive difference. I do like Colback, think he's a much better player than Henderson, but he's got quite a way to go before he stamps his authority on a match week in week out.

All in all, it would be madness to sack Bruce at this point. We're making strides, even if they're shorter than we'd like. There's too much of getting rid of managers and starting again for my liking. I think we need continuity and need to accept that this is SAFC: we've no divine right to be top 8 and our history over the past 50 years suggests we should be greatful and be patient. For me, I'd like to see one or two additions: lad up front and definitely centre mid and pretty much play with a settled side for the next two seasons. I think we'd have a chance of top 8 next season with the right two players brought in - with Bruce as manager.

Fully agree with ou mate, i also feel we're just lacking that one decent out and out forward (Which i think Wickham can be when he gets fit) and someone in the middle of the park with a bit of creativity to pull the strings. We seem to be overan with defence minded midfielders (Meyler, Catts, Vaughan likes to sit deep, Colback doesn't get forward anywhere near as much as we'd like), so if we could just get that Modric/Scholes (obviously we wouldn't get anywhere near as good a player) type player in our team, i tink we're onto something very good!

People just need to give Bruce that little more time (i know it's a big ask) and judge him come the end of the season. If we're still flaunting with relegation then yes, maybe his time has come, but 2 or 3 wins and we'll be almost top 8!
 
Fully agree with ou mate, i also feel we're just lacking that one decent out and out forward (Which i think Wickham can be when he gets fit) and someone in the middle of the park with a bit of creativity to pull the strings. We seem to be overan with defence minded midfielders (Meyler, Catts, Vaughan likes to sit deep, Colback doesn't get forward anywhere near as much as we'd like), so if we could just get that Modric/Scholes (obviously we wouldn't get anywhere near as good a player) type player in our team, i tink we're onto something very good!

People just need to give Bruce that little more time (i know it's a big ask) and judge him come the end of the season. If we're still flaunting with relegation then yes, maybe his time has come, but 2 or 3 wins and we'll be almost top 8!

Yeah, I don't think we're far away at all.

And, you can't just buy your way out of a problem unless you're Man City and the like, so that means building.

In terms of the building, with the likes of Wes Brown, Sess, Craig Gordon, Catts - we have some players there who do their jobs very well. It's amssive step up from the players we were watching 5 years back.

Like you say, one or two quality additions and a settled side (not having loan players etc), and we'd be onto something.

I'm quite happy to write this season off as a new players bedding in season.
 
Our whole gameplan revolved around Bent playing off the last defender, knocking the ball over the top for him to chase on to and hoping he'd put it away.

You can't rely on one player staying fit and in form all season, especially a confidence player like Bent, but we had no plan B if we did lose him to injury. Bruce had no idea how to utilise Jones and our midfield had two spoilers and no pace or creativity. We were actually quite lucky that Bent did stay fit because we'd be fucked in that first season if he hadn't.

In his second season we filled the squad with loans to cover key positions, sold Jones and signed Gyan, but again had no idea how to utilise him.

In fairness, Bent's departure was a massive psychological blow to everybody at the club, Quinn, Short, Bruce and the fans included. I personally think that was the moment where the penny dropped and Quinn and Short realised that we'd always be hamstrung by our location - both in attracting/keeping players and effects of the recession in the region on our revenue. The mindset of the club has changed since January, and I think that runs deeper than us simply missing his goals.

But still, over-relying on one player and making lots of short term signings is a recipe for disaster in the long term, and you reap what you sew. We have a massively unbalanced squad and change the team every week. I must be watching a different game to some people because the only genuine quality I see are Sess (who we have no idea where to play and has been largely ineffective), Larsson (shunted out to the left wing because we have no-one else) and Bendtner (who we don't own and have little chance of keeping beyond this season). I think our midfield and attacking options are genuinely worse than what he inherited.

Bruce is quick to chirp up when things have gone against him, but doesn't look at why or acknowledge when he's had luck on his side.
 
Our whole gameplan revolved around Bent playing off the last defender, knocking the ball over the top for him to chase on to and hoping he'd put it away.

You can't rely on one player staying fit and in form all season, especially a confidence player like Bent, but we had no plan B if we did lose him to injury. Bruce had no idea how to utilise Jones and our midfield had two spoilers and no pace or creativity. We were actually quite lucky that Bent did stay fit because we'd be fucked in that first season if he hadn't.

In his second season we filled the squad with loans to cover key positions, sold Jones and signed Gyan, but again had no idea how to utilise him.

In fairness, Bent's departure was a massive psychological blow to everybody at the club, Quinn, Short, Bruce and the fans included. I personally think that was the moment where the penny dropped and Quinn and Short realised that we'd always be hamstrung by our location - both in attracting/keeping players and effects of the recession in the region on our revenue. The mindset of the club has changed since January, and I think that runs deeper than us simply missing his goals.

But still, over-relying on one player and making lots of short term signings is a recipe for disaster in the long term, and you reap what you sew. We have a massively unbalanced squad and change the team every week. I must be watching a different game to some people because the only genuine quality I see are Sess (who we have no idea where to play and has been largely ineffective), Larsson (shunted out to the left wing because we have no-one else) and Bendtner (who we don't own and have little chance of keeping beyond this season). I think our midfield and attacking options are genuinely worse than what he inherited.

Bruce is quick to chirp up when things have gone against him, but doesn't look at why or acknowledge when he's had luck on his side.

One of the best posts I've read on here about our current situation. Totally hit the nail reet on the head.
 
I don't know the midfield seems to be constantly changing. Cattermole is more or less the heart of it. Cana came and went, Zenden and Malbranque were finding it hard to play ninety minutes, Henderson was sold for stupid money, Meyler was injured.

What he inherited was Jones, Chopra(?), Murphy, Healy up front. Whitehead, Leadbitter, Tainio in the middle.
 
I do agree that Bruce seems to have no clue at times where to play some players, but other times i think alot of it is forced upon him.

On Sat he probbaly didn't want to play Sess off Bendtner, but what other option did he have, none. He obviously no prefers teh 4-4-2 formation, but with only 1 fit forward this is simply not possible.

Larsson has featured on the left a few times this season, but that has only been cos Sess has had to play up front and there is no one else there.

I really believe that Bruce now knows his best 4 attacking options are Sess on teh left, Larsson on the right with Wickham and Bendtner up front. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

He also seems to have his settled back 5 now in Westwood, O'Shea, Brown, Turner and Ricco, it's just the CM pairing he needs to come to a conclusion on.

If we cna just get Wickham back fit nad manage to play that side on a regular basis (obviously with two centre mids also), then i've no doubt at all that it will be a top 10 side!
 
He could have made it easier on himself by buying a left midfielder. That is my main criticism of him.
 
I do agree that Bruce seems to have no clue at times where to play some players, but other times i think alot of it is forced upon him.

On Sat he probbaly didn't want to play Sess off Bendtner, but what other option did he have, none. He obviously no prefers teh 4-4-2 formation, but with only 1 fit forward this is simply not possible.

Larsson has featured on the left a few times this season, but that has only been cos Sess has had to play up front and there is no one else there.

I really believe that Bruce now knows his best 4 attacking options are Sess on teh left, Larsson on the right with Wickham and Bendtner up front. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

He also seems to have his settled back 5 now in Westwood, O'Shea, Brown, Turner and Ricco, it's just the CM pairing he needs to come to a conclusion on.

If we cna just get Wickham back fit nad manage to play that side on a regular basis (obviously with two centre mids also), then i've no doubt at all that it will be a top 10 side!

He didn't only have one fit forward, he had two on the bench. This is his squad and if he doesn't have the players in place to play his system that's his fault.

Larsson featured on the left because he picked him there, he had Wickham and Ji on the bench.

He has a settled back 5? Westwood is only playing because Mignolet got injured, he just moved Richardson from left back thus preventing a settled back line.

He needs to decide on a centre midfield pairing he hasn't got a clue who to pick and he signed two in the summer.

Again relying on Wickham being fir and neither him or Bendtner being injured or suspended at all this season. Even then I am not convinced that we will finish top ten.
 
He didn't only have one fit forward, he had two on the bench. This is his squad and if he doesn't have the players in place to play his system that's his fault.

Larsson featured on the left because he picked him there, he had Wickham and Ji on the bench.

He has a settled back 5? Westwood is only playing because Mignolet got injured, he just moved Richardson from left back thus preventing a settled back line.

He needs to decide on a centre midfield pairing he hasn't got a clue who to pick and he signed two in the summer.

Again relying on Wickham being fir and neither him or Bendtner being injured or suspended at all this season. Even then I am not convinced that we will finish top ten.


Ji had jsut travelled half way around the world and was no where near match ready and Noble i jsut don't see him ever making it, he is too light weight and looks lost the few times he has came on.

I think Westwood was alwyas going to be his number 1 choice, but had to wait until Mignolet either had a howler or got injured as he hadn't really put too much of a foot wrong and it wouldn't have been fair to drop him.

His CM pairing i think is the biggest issue that we've got at the minute, he obviously wants Catts in (which i do, thoguht he had a really good game agaisnt Fulham), but then it's who to play alongside him. I think he wanted it to be Gardner, but he's not really stepped up to teh plate yet and i'm worried he never will.

Like an earlier poster said, as long as we're not dicing with relegation then i'm happy to write this year off as a squad re-building year and use the Jan and Summer to bring in just 2 maybe 3 tops quality players! No more of this 10 in 10 out that was needed in previous years because of how thin and poor our squad was.
 
I do agree that Bruce seems to have no clue at times where to play some players, but other times i think alot of it is forced upon him.

On Sat he probbaly didn't want to play Sess off Bendtner, but what other option did he have, none. He obviously no prefers teh 4-4-2 formation, but with only 1 fit forward this is simply not possible.

Larsson has featured on the left a few times this season, but that has only been cos Sess has had to play up front and there is no one else there.

I really believe that Bruce now knows his best 4 attacking options are Sess on teh left, Larsson on the right with Wickham and Bendtner up front. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

He also seems to have his settled back 5 now in Westwood, O'Shea, Brown, Turner and Ricco, it's just the CM pairing he needs to come to a conclusion on.

If we cna just get Wickham back fit nad manage to play that side on a regular basis (obviously with two centre mids also), then i've no doubt at all that it will be a top 10 side!

We had two strikers on the bench - one of which he signed in the summer

Who's fault is it we have no-one else to play left midfield/up front? Are we really relying on an 18 year old with a couple of starts to his name?

The settled defence of O'Shea, Brown, Turner and Richardson have played together 4 times. Less if you include Westwood. Why has Richardson shifted about yet again?

We spent between £4.5m - £6m on Gardner who now appears to be 5th choice, but we're shifting players all over the shop because we don't have anyone to play on the left side or up front?

Bizarre :confused:
 
Ji had jsut travelled half way around the world and was no where near match ready and Noble i jsut don't see him ever making it, he is too light weight and looks lost the few times he has came on.

I think Westwood was alwyas going to be his number 1 choice, but had to wait until Mignolet either had a howler or got injured as he hadn't really put too much of a foot wrong and it wouldn't have been fair to drop him.

His CM pairing i think is the biggest issue that we've got at the minute, he obviously wants Catts in (which i do, thoguht he had a really good game agaisnt Fulham), but then it's who to play alongside him. I think he wanted it to be Gardner, but he's not really stepped up to teh plate yet and i'm worried he never will.

Like an earlier poster said, as long as we're not dicing with relegation then i'm happy to write this year off as a squad re-building year and use the Jan and Summer to bring in just 2 maybe 3 tops quality players! No more of this 10 in 10 out that was needed in previous years because of how thin and poor our squad was.

He hasn't played Ji even when he hasn't travelled. Noble may or may not make it but Bruce should have a good idea by now.

I wasn't happy that he moved Richardson on Saturday he had been improving at left back and we really need a settled back four and we aren't going to gel without giving players a chance to build partnerships.

Similiarly with the central midfield position he needs to make a decision and go with it. The fact is he signed two central midfield players and at the moment he isn't picking them ahead of two that were already here. I agree the signing of Gardner looks like it could be a costly mistake, had that £6m been spent on a good central midfield player we would look a much better side.

The problem is that we still need more than 2 or 3 players. Bendtner will go back so we will need two forwards, a left winger, a central midfielder and we have no cover defensively. I have concerns over what happens when Brown or Turner gets injured.
 
Aye, really hard done by. Given a bumper new contract halfway through a season.

One of the gigs in the summer should be made a fundraiser for the poor fucker.
 
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