I really wish Steve Bruce well. There’s nothing better than a Geordie at the helm – I just wish he was a better manager.
He knows what to expect – ‘no excuses’. It’s been reported that Alan Shearer advised him not to accept the job, but for Steve it was a ‘no brainer’.
When everything fails, the fans become disgruntled, the results are failing and the players are not motivated – he takes his compensation and says farewell.
It’s been reported (by Sky) that he has £91m to spend? It sounds a huge amount as Ashley goes, but it’s actually just the minimum we should expect given our recent lack of investment, the money we’ve received (from sales and the Premier League/ TV deals) and the current fees sort for quality players.
I must admit, I will be amazed if we sign Joelinton for £36m – even if people at Hoffenheim are suggesting it’s happening. Is Ashley really about to give this much money on a talented but unproven 22-year-old?!
Steve Bruce said he expects a ‘couple’ of new signings yesterday, but I’m hoping that was a figure of speech considering it is so obvious we need at least 4 or 5 new players – and that’s assuming we retain the little quality we have.
We’ve watched West Ham splash £45m on one time target Sebastian Haller as if it’s no big deal, Everton have signed Gomes for £22m, Leicester have got Perez for £30m plus a raft of other players, Villa have spent almost £100m, Norwich have brought in 10 new names, while Southampton and Sheffield United with 3 new players apiece.
Many of these are teams we will be competing with at the bottom end of the league, so it’s fair to say we have a lot of work to do in what remains of the transfer market.
We can dream, but reality is stirring us in the face. A defeat, all be it in a friendly to Wolves, felt like a sign of things to come. That said, we were much MUCH better against West Ham today, but the fact Jack Colback back in the fold sums up how we’ve regressed this summer.
I will be the first to applaud genuine investment in the squad and a show of intent from the owner, but I’m not holding my breath, no matter how many times Sky and such like tell us Steve Bruce has big money to spend.
If only Rafa could have enjoyed a modest budget of £90m, I would have had confidence in a promising season. I just cannot however see anything positive coming out of the appointment of Steve Bruce.
What is the odds of Longstaff going to Manu? Maybe fatty, if buying Joelinton, will need to recoup his outlay. Good business, put another young player in the window and sell in the summer. Also Almiron has peaked the interest of some PL clubs at the end if last season and could be sold to add more cash for Ashley. Time will tell especially if we are near the bottom in December and some players have had enough of fighting for survival.
LA Toon(Quote)
I think everyone just needs to let the season start and see how it goes. As under par as I think Bruce is… you just never know how it’s going to pan out. Big name managers don’t mean that much to me… look at Jose at Man Utd… he was terrible in that last year with his entire body language crying out that he was not interested. He bought Pogba… what a load of ***** he is and several other **** big priced players. We have seen it time and time again…throwing money does not mean anything – AKA Fulham last season.
Now is not the time to revolt. Yes, always hate Ashley but no… don’t help towards being a catalyst of our season failing before a ball is even kicked in anger.
Craig Chisholm(Quote)
Here’s this Geordies take on it.
Rafa made some awful signings as well – so I wouldn’t be so confident he would have spent the £90m wisely.
The garden is obviously not rosey at the moment, and it’s so frustrating that we were on the cusp of something really good – only to have it torn away by Ashley.
How much of that is connected to the takeover (yeah, remember that?! – that’s gone very quiet hasn’t it?!). I suspect it was a clash of pigheadedness between Ashley and Rafa personally.
I’m confident Ashley will spend. He did with McClaren, and I think he will again – certainly on forwards.
What I’m sick of hearing though is this lack of quality!! – this is from FANS!! some fans ?.
Our lack of quality finished 10th and 13th – it’s time to stop giving all the credit to Rafa!!. We have premier league quality players in our squad.
Why wouldn’t Bruce take the job?!. All he has to do is keep us in the PL – that’s the level of ambition from the current owner. Sad for us, but hardly bad working conditions for a new manager.
So I put myself in Bruceys shoes for a minute – the remit – to keep NUFC up with £90m to spend.
Norwich and Sheff Utd – if I’m a betting man, they take 2 of the 3 relegation positions.
Brighton – have a new (bang average) manager. Have lost key players and not yet strengthened.
Villa – didn’t look too convincing in the Championship last season. Yes they are spending, but so did Fulham last season (no guarantees) and the players they are buying have little to no PL experience (nor does a lot of their existing players).
Palace – Hodgson is my bet for first PL manager sacked. Yet to really strengthen and looks very likely they loose their star man before the season starts.
I think Saints, WH and Burnley are teams that could go either way too.
So there are plenty of teams fighting to avoid that 3rd spot – we only have to do better than 1 of them.
I’m confident we WILL stay in the PL this season. But under Ashley, there is another relegation looming.
As fans, all we can do is hope Ashley is gone before that happens.
Because as much as I HATE Mike Ashley, I can never wish for our club to implode the way the mackems have, coz ‘that’s what he’d deserve’.
Sharpy17(Quote)
“A Geordie take on the current situation at NUFC” with no mention of the boycott Arsenal or Ashley Out campaign? Please, don’t bother!
Maxneeodz(Quote)
We are fully behind Boycott Arsenal as a blog, but a contributor’s opinion can’t be dismissed re. Bruce and what’s happened this summer just because they don’t mention protests.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)