If you were struggling to find positives from last Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, it’s fair to say that even the biggest optimist would be stumped after this one.
Sadly, that was absolutely awful.
Last weekend we at least showed some promise in the first half and stifled a decent Arsenal side at times. Here we were absolutely dominated by a newly promoted Norwich City, with us looking lost and lacklustre in just about every area of the pitch.
Bruce made two changes – bringing in Ki for Longstaff and Krafth for Manquillo – and, based on the first half display, I’m not really sure what his thinking behind that was. That said, this 3-5-2 formation is doing us absolutely no favours, not only leaving players looking lost and out of position, but creating a team that looks toothless in attack and all at sea at the back.
The first-half was a difficult watch. We were sitting ducks defensively, with our midfield seeming to be easily bypassed by some simple Norwich passing (especially Shelvey and Ki who offered so little off the ball), and the lack of numbers in attack was evident once again.
Almiron was forced to drop deep, leaving Joelinton completely isolated up top. The Brazilian had a poor first half – his touch and hold up play needed to be better – but we must realise that he’s not a striker who wants long balls and to be constantly playing with his back to goal. He may be a big lad, but he needs numbers around him and options to link up with. Norwich then bagged the first-half goal they deserved, with Pukki latching onto a lose ball and smashing past Dubravka, who could only get a hand to it.
We had the odd chance early on, with Krafth blasting over and Joelinton heading wide, but there was no attacking plan and things could only get better in the second 45. Somehow, they got worse.
The first 10 minutes of the second period were slightly more promising (because we were sometimes getting the balls into better areas, not because we looked much more likely to score), but it was 2-0 moments later. Once again Norwich waltzed through our midfield like it wasn’t even there and, once again, Pukki scored.
It was all too easy – and that theme continued when Pukki bagged his hat-trick 10 minutes later. More woeful defending, with the midfield nowhere to be seen and the defence static, allowing the Finnish striker to ghost in behind and score his third.
Shelvey bagged a late consolation goal in stoppage time, cutting in and finishing well after a clever through ball from Sean Longstaff, but it was too little too late.
If someone had told me that Norwich would score a few today I could have believed them based on the threat they posed at Anfield, but to be overrun by a newly promoted side in all areas and fail to threaten them from an attacking perspective really is quite damning.
The back-line looked woefully exposed, the midfield looked slow, ponderous and non-existent from a defensive perspective and the attack was so flat, with Almiron struggling to get anything going with an isolated and visibly frustrated Joelinton.
We’ve got some good players in this squad, but this formation is sucking the life out of them. We must do better individually, but Bruce has to wise up and fast, as this 3-5-2 formation is just not working.
To say Steve Bruce has a LOT of work to do before our trip to Tottenham a week tomorrow is an understatement.
we made them look like Barca.ganning doon
icedog(Quote)
Was willing to give Bruce a chance but he has made many selection mistakes already that I doubt he knows what he is doing. Manquillo has had a reasonable preseason and was one of the better players against Arsenal yet he gets dropped. Atsu out for a couple of months but gets named in the squad at the expense of Aarons. Bruce lacking in lucid thought in my view. Have we any wingers?
Groucho(Quote)
Was willing to give Bruce a chance but he has made many selection mistakes already that I doubt he knows what he is doing. Manquillo has had a reasonable preseason and was one of the better players against Arsenal yet he gets dropped. Atsu out for a couple of months but gets named in the squad at the expense of Aarons. Bruce lacking in lucid thought in my view. Have we any wingers? Duplicate problem again when original posting doesn’t appear.
Groucho(Quote)
Joelinton is no way a £40million player… who said that before? …hmmm oh yes, Rafa …. no effort at all from anyone… disgusting. What the fu.ck has Bruce done to our defence? He was supposed to be one of the best defenders in his day… god help us. ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I can’t see how Bruce looked at the shape of the team against Arsenal and thought swapping Manquillo for Krafth and Longstaff for Ki was the tweak needed.
Inevitably people look to Joelinton because he’s the new big money player and the number 9 at Newcastle. But I think it’s only fair to remember that this is only his 2nd game in English football.
On top of that, this formation just does not help him one little bit.
Any striker needs support and supply and in the last 2 games, Joelinton has had little of either.
I am not impressed with Almiron. Dribbling and taking on defenders might look good, but if you are just getting your head down and not looking to have an end product to that dribble – it’s worthless.
Rondon and Perez worked because they worked for each other. Almiron just looks selfish. Whether that’s coz he’s desperate for a goal or what I don’t know – but he has to play for the team first.
Beyond that, the 3 midfielders are too samey imo. None are making forward runs to get in and support Joelinton and give the defenders someone else to think about. They are just sat in looking for passes to players that aren’t there.
The wingbacks are none existent so far. Like him or not, at least Yedlin got forward and was a threat. Ritchie tried against Arsenal but had an off day – that happens.
Joelinton is young and has no PL experience and Bruce has to help him with the players he selects around him – and he really hasn’t so far.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Seen enough of Bruce to know it isn’t going to work out. His mistake last week was shocking and today he did not have the foggiest. He is out of his depth.
Shamrock(Quote)
I never really watched Steve Bruce coached teams before. Until 5 years ago we got 1 game a week. Then I was able to watch 3 a weekend and Hull were never really high on my list of priorities.
He has gone on a few death spirals. That’s what got him sacked at Sunderland and Villa. Hopefully he can change his tactics before it was too late.
Most of us on here were questioning his 3 central mids even before the Arsenal game. If Shelvey doesn’t have forwards to pass to then there is no point playing him. Didn’t see the game but it seems like MIggy is trying too hard.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Steve Bruce useless, joelinton useless why do think rafa wasn’t interested, no decent managers want the job, why? We all know that answer this club is finished unless we get new owners quick who can get a world class manager who actually knows about tactics, Bruce was never the answer the man’s a disaster waiting to happen. R.i.p.nufc
Geordie rob(Quote)
The criticism of Bruce is justified – but writing him and Joelinton off after just 2 games is a bit harsh I think.
Today could be a blessing in disguise.
Loosing 1-0 to Arsenal on the opening day of the season isn’t a disgrace. But getting mullered 3-1 to Norwich absolutely is!!. That’s no disrespect to Norwich – I’m not saying we should be winning – we just shouldn’t be getting beat like that – that is a disgrace.
This could and should be a real wake up call for Bruce and the players. The off field nonsense may see 5k stay away from home games – but on field nonsense will see 50k getting on their cases very quickly.
The fans have been put through enough now, and we need – we deserve to see good football.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham, agree mate, no plan b at all today.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim so far Bruce has shown he doesn’t have the nous for planning at all.
Groucho(Quote)
The saddest realisation of all for me today is that I’m not actually bothered.
Times gone by I would have been steaming about today. It would have p!ssed me off for days – but through Ashley’s time at the club that has gradually been knocked out of me.
Now, I just don’t care. But at the same time, I don’t want to see us relegated. I fear if we get relegated again, we go the way of Sunderland, and as much as I hate Ashley – and I do, regardless of what anyone thinks on here – I don’t want to see my club go that way.
If we win great. If we loose, not bothered – providing we don’t loose that many that we go down.
Sad and stupid I know, but that’s where I’m at.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well, Sharpy appears but the rest of Mike;s boys are hiding. Steve Bruce ………Steve Bruce…we are relegated. 🙁 🙁 🙁
That was Norwich, not Citeh.
Toontaff(Quote)
We knew our striker was untried but last season we had a good defence…………same players…….Steve Bruce………..Bruce……………
Toontaff(Quote)
So glad I saved £700. Enjoy, Ashley apologists. Norwich…………sacked Bruce………..Hanley……reject……Krul…..reject.
Toontaff(Quote)
Taff – Mikes boys?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Taff – it’s ok, I’ve read it again and you’re trying to be clever by suggesting I’m one of ‘Mike’s boys’ ?? Clown.
Sharpy17(Quote)
McClaren mark II
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I know it’s only week 2 of the season, but it certainly has that feel about it doesn’t it ??♂️.
Bang average manager with money spent on a load of young unprovens
Sharpy17(Quote)
Who knew?!!!
Who knew?!!
Stuart79(Quote)
A bit depressing because you could see they were going back to the Charley-Carr-McCalaren model. The only hope was that Bruce wasn’t as bad as McClaren. His record was not that great but he had managed to keep teams in the PL before, along with being relegated twice I think. The current England Manager was also relegated!!!
He needs to make some adjustments it seems. If you are not going to set up the team for Shelvey, then don’t play him.
As I said earlier I really didn’t know what to expect because I had never watched his teams. The stats suggested bottom 6 with average points in a season of 42. I think I would take that now 🙂
It is only 2 games though so we have to give him a bit of a chance because there is no way Ashley is sacking him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just listened to Shearers analysis of our game and he’s on about Almiron and Joelinton partnership.
Saying Almiron is a forward and has to get closer to Joelinton and into the box – the trouble is that he’s NOT a forward – it’s square pegs and round holes playing him as a forward. He’s an attacking midfielder and has been his whole career. He knows that role – he doesn’t know the role of a forward – the runs, the movement or the areas of the pitch he should be in.
He’s not the right player to be supporting Joelinton – Muto or Gayle when fit would be a better option – even Sorensen at a push.
Drop a midfielder and keep Almiron buzzing behind the forwards – but playing Joelinton and Almiron together up front and we continue to struggle scoring goals imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Absolutely nothing to be encouraged about. Nowt to be do with Bruce – all to do with the clubs woeful transfer policy when they decide a manger doesn’t know what he’s on about
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, agree, and it’s worrying because this is all Steve has to work with now until january and there is no guarantee he’ll be given more funds to strengthen then either.
Anyone know how bad Joe and the Saints injuries are ?
Also watching Shelvey, there was a lot of walking and bent over with hands on hips going on with him yesterday. This happened under Rafa and i think it was because he was playing when carrying an injury but he never owned up to Rafa and when it got too bad Rafa forced him to sit games out.
He scored a good goal but his general play like most of them was well below par.
Seriously i would call Sorenson back from his loan , we need goals .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I’ve just watched the extended highlights back on Sky and you’re right about Shelvey – but there was little urgency from all of them yesterday.
I’ve read that Bruce has come in and got them all doing more running – but they don’t look very fit to me.
Maybe he’s focusing on fitness over drilling the formation and shape of the team. Our 3 CBs looked disjointed and despite his hat trick, Pukki had a good 2 or 3 other good chances – why the hell one of the 3 of them didn’t pick him up?!.
Hayden is the only positive. I know that is little comfort, but it would be unfair not to acknowledge how good he’s looked in the first 2 games.
But Hayden isn’t keep us in the league, and Bruce has to react to yesterday and make the changes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So Bruce has made the players come in for training today when they should have had the day off.
The journos on Sunday Supplement saying our squad lacks quality – I think we all know that. But I don’t look at Norwich yesterday and see so much more quality. I don’t look at Brighton or Sheff Utd, take Zaha out and I don’t look at Palace having so much quality.
These players have shown they are capable of competing at this level. Joelinton and Almiron are untested, and I think their biggest problem is a lack of support.
But extra training sessions this early in the season is a sure fire way of loosing the dressing room.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We lack goalscorers that’s all. We have reasonable quality in defence and midfield but in attack? None of them are goal scorers. Who will get the boot if results are ****? The manager. Not Nickson or Charnley. Once again we are back on the cycle of spending money on the wrong players and getting relegated.
Stuart79(Quote)
I said it last week – 352 is a rubbish formation. It looks like SB is trying to prove himself as an innovative, progressive manager by playing it but there’s a good reason nobody else plays it. It’s rubbish!
I could write a book about why we were so poor yesterday but here’s some highlights instead.
There’s definitely something wrong with the £40m Joe claim. I’ll be surprised if it was above £10m. I’ve seen better performances from Joselu than that.
We have 4 midfielders who all play the same game. There should only be 1 picked, 2 at most. Norwich’s energy just blew them all away, playing a simple pass and go game. We play pass and watch. There was one occasion Joe picked the ball up on the edge of their box and we had no one else in their half.
When we did get a midfielder into the box, he scored. Young Matty’s got more energy than Shelvey and Ki combined.
Almiron’s wasted playing a role he clearly doesn’t understand.
Kraft looks a 3rd choice full back.
Lascelles is not good enough.
So there you are SB. Play Fernandez instead of Lascelles. Hayden and Longstaff in centre mid and go 343. Get ASM, Carroll and Gayle, Yedlin fit and we might holdout til Easter. Happy days.
georgio(Quote)
I agree with Georgio that Lascelles is the weak link. I have always thought he had a mistake in him since the first game I saw him live and he was responsible for 2 goals.
I also think Gayle has a big part to play even though the idiots tried to sell him again. I have said this before, but I thought he was really unlucky last time in the PL. He will win us penalties and stretch the field.
I have no idea about the new signings. 2 games is not enough time to judge and if Bruce is isolating Joelinton he is certainly not doing him any favours.
If you are not going to play to Shelvey’s strengths you cannot play him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we have to go back to the Rafa formation but I am not sure who would play the Perez role. If the 3 midfielders are stepping on each others toes then play 2 again. Then MIggy can be the link again like he was under Rafa. You can’t have both forwards uncomfortable so let Miggy play where he is used to in the PL and where he looked good. It is pointless trying to force it at this stage.
Spurs were about the luckiest team ever yesterday. I think the shots were something like Man City 30, Spurs 3. And that VAR decision ruling out the injury time goal was a farce. That accidental handball rule is just wrong. There has to be some intent or arms in a position that it is obvious that there could be interference. It cannot just be a complete accident and called a penalty.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy, Agree mate, if you read my comments during the game i was fit to bursting that no one was picking up Pukki. They must of known the threat after watching Pool last week surely .
He should of been man marked and stifled out the game, he is their ONLY weapon, single handily dragging them up last season with his goals. Mark my words he will never get an easier game than yesterday, from now on he is literally a marked man, he may of peaked too soon .
Every other coach will of watched that and will now get to work on stopping him from inflicting the same humiliation on them.
Got to say his first goal was a thing of beauty, unstoppable.
Krafth looks very poor on first showing and god alone knows where our goals are coming from now, we have zero fit forwards apart from Muto who is **** .
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric , yeah, they are used to Rafas system but who takes on Rondons role now ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Joelinton has a hip injury and is going for scans and x-rays. Even if they come back ok he will still be out for weeks. If the scans are negative we will still hear that it is a deep bone bruise or something like that and he is out for a month. That is probably the best case scenario.
I am not a Dr but we have seen this sort of thing often before.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hopefully Gayle will make a miraculous recovery knowing he will get a run in the team now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – I agree completely mate. Our main forward is a young lad with little experience and a non prolific scoring record so far.
To play him the way he’s being played is ridiculous. Even when he manages to hold the ball up, there is nobody near him.
There was a play yesterday when the ball was played to him and 3 Norwich defenders were round him. The only player that tried to get up was Almiron and there was 6 Norwich players to our 2 forwards – I don’t care how good you are – they aren’t good odds.
I don’t think the extra midfielder is of any benefit at all – but the extra forward would be.
Muto isn’t great either, but him being up there gives defenders another player to worry about. Gayle would be in if fit.
Those 2 up front would allow Almiron to focus on being an attacking midfielder and not get confused with how to play the supporting forward role.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – the lad scored close to 30 goals last season – and wasn’t the penalty taker ?.
To be fair, his first was a fantastic goal. But having scored it, you would have thought that would have woken our defenders up to his threat – nah, not one of them picked him up!!.
For all his 30 goals, he never scored a hat trick. That’s the first Norwich hat trick for 27yrs!!.
So we were **** up front and **** at the back ??♂️.
I think Muto is a similar player to Perez. If you played Perez up front on his own, he’d be poor too. If Perez was behind Joelinton, Joelinton would do a better job, I’m sure. Muto is not as good as Perez – I’m not suggesting that. But the role he could perform for the team would be a bigger benefit than that extra midfielder imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think Rondon was a better forward than Joelinton – but I think he would also struggle with the lack of support Joelinton is getting … I think big Al would struggle!!.
I think we can be critical of Gayle as a PL forward, coz he has the chances created for him and missed them. We aren’t creating for Joelinton.
Sharpy17(Quote)
He would need a miraculous upturn in PL goal scoring to rescue us…
Stuart79(Quote)
With Joelinton going for scans and x-rays I would say that there is a 90% chance he is out of the Spurs game. That just seems to be the way it works coz he must be struggling badly anyway to be sent for the scans.
That’s going tp force Bruce into a different formation because we will not have a fit centre forward with Joelinton, Gayle and Carroll all out. Not sure what he will do, but he also has the dilemma of the 3 midfielders not working and from what people said about yesterday that the 3 at the back is not working either.
Is Steve stubborn enough to stick with a losing formation or can he change?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Has anybody ever really watched any Bruce teams? I said yesterday I hadn’t. We don’t get Championship games and only got 1 game a week when he managed in the PL. Sunderland, Wigan, Hull and Brum were never featured so I don’t really know what sort of Manager Bruce is. I didn’t read any of their match reports either. Maybe 1, I think Pards beat Hull like 3-0 away.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I haven’t read The Mag or Eds because the crazies on there will have us getting the least number of points in the history of the PL and probably 10 goals on the season total. All after 2 games. Read some Chronocle comments and they are well on the way to those conclusions.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The commenters in The Guardian,who are usually level headed, have us relegated already.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There are a couple of things that are getting out of control now: the gushing over Frank Lampard and the Tottenham Stadium.
You would think that Frank is the second coming of Pep Guardiola the way the papers and now the TV over here go on about him. He finished 5th in The Championship.
They had the broadcast last week from Tottenham Stadium and honestly spoke more about the Stadium than the game. They even did a pitchside interview with Susan Serrandon, whose son-in-law is a pundit, and asked her about the bloody stadium. I have news for them, every NFL, and a lot of baseball stadiums look like that. We are the featured game next Sunday and if they start that up again I think I will be sick. “Mr. Levy’s” PR machine has done a fantastic job.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Their not wrong Eric on the evidence of last two games.
Steve has to change formation, i would drop Shelvey who simply isn’t consistent enough and does not work with the other two. Go back to sean and issac they were fine, much more of the three mf system and it will set Set Longstaffs development right back cause he already looks half the player he was.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric Spurs will be on a right money spinner with that new stadium. It’s set up to get fans in early and stay after the game with all the extra stuff they have there. Apparently it’s working too, commentators were saying fans turning up early in their droves and staying behind a long time too.
Kerching. ££££££££££££ To the club, Levy is no fool
KIMTOON(Quote)
just watching SU v CP and even they have more threat than us
Worrying
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM they seem to know their jobs even they are not the best,toon players didnt know what the hell they were doing
icedog(Quote)
Kim – SU are committing men forward. It helps that they are playing 2 proper CFs who work for each other. But the players behind them are working hard to support them too.
They have had the sense to double up on Zaha – where we just allowed Norwich’s danger man to roam free.
Don’t see any greater quality, just better organised and the right balance – the obvious stuff really
Sharpy17(Quote)
i normally say give the manager a chance sorry i cannot in Bruce,i remember how bad he was at Villa got the sack team just about mid-table,the new manager got them into the PL with the same players the players looked lost at Villa as they do now
icedog(Quote)
NUFC Index
@NUFC_Index
22h22 hours ago
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Ki and Shelvey didn’t put in a single tackle. From centre midfield. In a game where the opposition had nearly 70% possession. They challenged for and won 1 header all game, too #NUFC
13 replies 21 retweets 90 likes
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NUFC Index
@NUFC_Index
23h23 hours ago
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Our 3 centre midfielders managed 25 forward passes between them – 29 including Longstaff. Scared stiff and devoid of options! #NUFC
3 replies 0 retweets 10 likes
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@NUFC_Index
23h23 hours ago
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£70m of forwards on display today – they didn’t muster a single shot on target between them! #NUFC
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM didnt think they were that good lol
icedog(Quote)
Sharpy, beat me to it, was just about to post how they have dealt so well with the threat of Zaha. This is what i was raving mad about the most yesterday, the fact that we gave him the freedom to run riot is shockingly naive tactically .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice, it was simply awful mate, worst i have seen in a very long time. Don’t get me wrong i have seen bad games under Rafa too, but not where every single player bar Hayden looked lost and not up for it.
Actually feel a bit sorry for Joe, he has been chucked in the deep end will no real support, but he really should of buried that header like.
I think i will pop if i see that formation again .
KIMTOON(Quote)
7 mins added time ! wow
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well done SU, good display and great fan atmosphere too.
KIMTOON(Quote)
agree mate
icedog(Quote)
We had 5 defenders on the pitch and 4 on the bench… I think for next match Brucey could play a 9 – 1 formation. 9 defenders and Longstaff in midfield. We stack the 9 in front of our goal mouth and we may just get a clean sheet. When everyone of the spurs lot are knackered, Longstaff can shoot up field and score a worldy giving us a thrilling 1-0 win.
????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Dubai Toon
August 18, 2019 at 16:21
We had 5 defenders on the pitch and 4 on the bench… I think for next match Brucey could play a 9 – 1 formation. 9 defenders and Longstaff in midfield. We stack the 9 in front of our goal mouth and we may just get a clean sheet. When everyone of the spurs lot are knackered, Longstaff can shoot up field and score a worldy giving us a thrilling 1-0 win.
Sounds like a plan 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
nice goal, Frank looks happy
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – whilst I think Bruce is getting it wrong selecting 3 midfielders, those stats are on the players themselves – that’s an absolute disgrace!!
The forward passes is as a direct result of 3 in midfield though – there isn’t enough ahead of them to make that forward pass.
Those stats aren’t because of a lack of quality though – that’s a lack of work rate. Don’t blame Bruce getting them in today. He’s the one that will get all the **** for there half ar$ed effort.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Did well to stay on his feet for that too
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy , then the question has to be, why aren’t they working hard ? it’s not even one or two it’s all bar Hayden and possibly Dubs.
They have players saying they are happy under Bruce, some even said to be glad Rafa went. Well they didn’t do their manager any favors yesterday. That formation is cack though to be fair and that is down to SB.
Is the belief not there now, is it wrong training methods, something is defo wrong at mill .
Maybe it’s simply, no Rafa, no Rondon and no Perez .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – To be fair, who has Shelvey ever worked hard for?!. Rafa himself left him out of the team. I’ve never rated him that highly.
Ritchie works hard but is under par at the moment.
Schar looks too c0cky to me. He likes to flash Harry passes, but the actual hard defending is beneath him now.
Dummett is steady eddy, but is no game changer.
Krafth was the wrong selection imo. Manquillo did little wrong against Arsenal.
No idea why he picked Ki over Longstaff – can only think he’s still coming back from injury.
But the biggest disappointment for me is Lascelles. He’s not playing well himself – but as a captain, he’s lost his tongue.
I seem to remember we had a very deflated performance under Rafa at a similar point last season – Cardiff away maybe?!.
Bruce has to shake them up though. Too many people saying he’s there for sentimental reasons – he has to get a response from the players to avoid it becoming a copy of McClarens time in charge.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I find it astonishing that on a bank holiday weekend Kings Cross train station is closed next weekend… Even more bizarre given Newcastle are playing Spurs next Sunday! What is it with the idiots who run transport services.
Stuart79(Quote)
Watch Channel 5 now lads 8pm undercover report on Sports Direct Depot and it’s practices.
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://twitter.com/whitebluearmy/status/1163028665833275392
Heartbreaking, feel for the guy
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well it looks like everyone agrees with my analysis. To have 4 midfielders on the pitch together when they all play the same type of game is just stupid. Big big question marks against Bruce on that one. In fact the ?? are all over the pitch and they all centre on 352 being a rubbish formation.
Is that it Steve – we all suffer for your ineptitude?
Kraft didn’t look like an upgrade on Sterry never mind Yedlin and Manquillo. Let’s hop Jetro has more to offer than him and Joe. All Nickson choices apparently.
georgio(Quote)
bloody shame mate,we got one or two canny players from them over the yrs
icedog(Quote)
Georgio: I don’t think the 4 midfielders play the same game. WE don’t have a box to box type though. Ki was always a backup and it is pointless playing Shelvey unless he has somebody to pass to.
It will probably take Longstaff at least 6 games to get back from his injury. 6 games we don’t have. Then there is the question of whether he was overhyped to begin with. Wouldn’t be the first time and I can name quite a few like Francis Jeffers. Oh, and many Man U players who looked good in Fergie’s machine but were found out when they left – Darren Gibson etc. Sean has only played 10 games so I hope the hype is real.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I didn’t see the Norwich game but from the Arsenal game it seems like Miggy is trying to do it all himself. He ended up running into 3 players and losing the ball. He seems to be doing a late career Rooney where he is supposed to be the number 10 but then drops deep to collect the ball and messing up the team shape.
Maybe he is not a number 10 in the PL? Rafa didn’t play him there. Perhaps Bruce should watch the tape from last year (after boxing day) and see where best his players fit in?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Young Sean is the real deal Eric. He’s way better than the rest of mids we have. Bruce’s handling of him doesn’t look great though. He’s also making Almiron and Joe look very foolish, very poor. Miggy’s getting all kinds of stick.
I’m getting angry about Bruce already and it’s just 2 games in.
georgio(Quote)
Eric – last season Miggy had the freedom to do what he’s doing now coz he wasn’t no.10 – Perez was.
Bruce needs to drop a midfielder and play either Muto in that 10 role or Gayle when he’s back.
I think both Miggy and Joelinton would be more effect with that switch. I’m not saying Muto is brilliant but the role he’d perform would be more effective than the 3rd midfield is.
He certainly couldn’t have been any less effective than Ki was against Norwich that’s for sure.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Georgio – I think Hayden pips him mate, but him and Longstaff are an excellent partnership.
I can understand the frustration with Bruce, but I do think he deserve more than 2 games.
Rafa started last season very poorly. He also started it 4-2-3-1 with Hayden and Longstaff in reserves.
His hand was forced a bit into switching to the 3 CBs formation because of an injury to Dummett – and thanks to the board, there was no nature replacement.
Rafa made it work – but it wasn’t until further injuries to midfielders that he was again forced to go to Hayden and Longstaff – then he got Miggy and we looked really well balanced and a very strong starting 11 at least.
Rafa is one of the best at organising his teams and drilling them to know their roles – but finding the right formation and best 11 was still forced on him through injury.
Bruce needs more than 2 games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Do you know who the Norwich club Captain is? Grant Hanley. He is far from assured of his place. Is there reason to drop our Captain? I have said a few times I am have never been sold on him. Bruce sort of inherited him as Captain from Rafa and now he has had a look, maybe he might want to choose his own man?
Based on the last 6 months there are only 2 guaranteed starters – Dubravka and Hayden. I am not a fan of goalies as Captain. I would say Dummett but I am not sure if he is guaranteed a place.
I would give Hayde a new contract as a show of faith and make him Captain at the same time.
Ritchie – he has been too vocal in the press in a controversial sort of way.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Luke Edwards has an article in The Telegraph with the headline:
“Steve Bruce has an impossible job trying to change closed minds – some NUFC fans seem to revel in his failures.”
All you have to do is see some twitter quotes to see that this is true. I have stopped reading Eds and The Mag because they are now populated by angry old men shouting at clouds. I really hope this blog doesn’t degenerate to the point where it is just anger and bile, whatever happens with the team and the performances. I am not saying to be happy clappers but angry rants get tedious. I know I go on rants but very few are angry, they are more for my own amusement.
Nobody wanted Bruce, but there seems to be an element that actively wants him to fail. An attitude of “I told you so” being more important than results or even PL survival. The same crowd that want to organize a march on Charnley’s house where they would obviously intimidate his wife and kids by having a mob outside.
They believe relegation will get rid of Ashley. Good luck with that one. Relegation is less likely to see Ashley leave.
Eric Sykes(Quote)