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.
Joelinton expected to be fit for Spurs. I was expecting the worst after he was sent for scans and x-rays. Whatever you think of his performances he is still our only fit centre forward so pretty much has to play.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, as long as they are not rushing the lad back due to lack of strikers, we’ve seen that methodology used pre Rafa and it always ends in tears.
It’s actually all really unfair on Joe, he’s been chucked in the deep end and i know he was full of confidence and not worried about the shirt when he arrived, but i don’t suppose he expected to be so isolated.
What really worried me was he was too easily bullied on saturday, very surprised given his frame.
We need miggy back out wide up top Joe up top saint otherside if fit and Muto behind joe , manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, dummett , Hayden and Longstaff and Dubs 4213, that would stop the need for joe and Miggy having to drop back so much to get the ball. Manquillo is a good defender better than Yedlin and the back four are used to each other as are the 2 in mf. Dubs was really angry with the defenders on saturday he was going nuts over their defending .
The time for introducing the other newbies should be when we are performing better and they have had a lot more training sessions under their belt and fully understand their roles in the team.
I can imagine a lot of harsh words after the game and if there wasn’t there should of been.
Stick Shelvey and Ritchie on the bench.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kimtoon: even though I didn’t write it, that is exactly the team and formation I thought we should use for Spurs, except I might drop Lascelles for Fernandez.
My guess is that we will probably be 10-1 for a win and 5-1 for a draw so why the hell not.
On live here and at least it will give the TV pundits another chance to have a w@nk about the Tottenham stadium. I know I go on about it, but that is because THEY never shut up about it. I actually know that the beer taps in the main bar can pour 10,000 pints an hour and the glasses fill from the bottom. They didn’t explain how, but they said they do!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Actually, every glass fills from the bottom so I am not sure what they are talking about! Maybe they have some sort of tube that goes into the glass and fills it super-fast?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it’s a very nice stadium apparently, did you know that by any chance 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfx0ewR9AW4
beer
PremAndUp(Quote)
Muto says Bruce has to change tactics,that says something the players knowing its wrong,beat before they go onto the pitch
KIM hows the pains mate?
icedog(Quote)
We have to be the worst run club in the PL. 3 seasons now of TV money but apparently we’re still broke and desperate to get Colback and co off the wage bill.
Where has the money gone? We turn a profit in the transfer windows or spend very little. All we can afford on facilities is a tin of paint (instead of upgrading the stadium and building a new training centre).
It’s all just a big con emanating from the top. Ashley said when Rafa thought Joe was only worth £20m that he’d put the extra £23m in himself! It’s all a con.
Let’s calm the fans down with Rafa leaving. Buy a £40m Brazilian, appoint a Geordie manager and bring big Andy back. Job done, no more questions.
georgio(Quote)
Ice – a blind man in a dark room can see he needs to change the formation – but it takes a ballzy player to say it like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
When players retired in years gone by they bought a pub, now all of these journeymen players are popping up all over the place. Read quotes on NUFC in The Chronic this morning from Micah Richards, Steven Warnock and Michael Chopra. Do any of us care what they think? And that’s only the tip of the iceberg with many others like Steve Harmison and Michael Gray putting their oar in. And, of course the usual suspects like Big Fat Sam and Danny’s Mills and Murphy. There is just an endless stream of rent-a-gobs nowadays and that is even before you get to the journos and the matchday pundits.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Premandup for the YouTube clip. It seems like a totally unnecessary invention to me but the point is that I know that it is in the Spurs Stadium because every game they have played there they have done about a 15 minute tour/description of the place and as I said before they even had Susan Sarrandon on last week and asked what she thought of the place.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice, i’m on the CBD now mate, i’ll keep you updated.
KIMTOON(Quote)
There are other things going on in football apart from NUFC:
What is wrong with people? Pogba misses a penalty and he gets racially abused on twitter. How can these idiots stay anonymous? I can see him being abused for being a talented show pony, but that!
And this is Barca’s last chance at the Champions League and I don’t think they will do it with Valverde. Suarez is injured for a month and Messi seems to be getting a lot more niggles. Both are 32, and 33 is about he age when Xavi and Iniesta were on their last legs. I would put a bet on Man City.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
aye mate please do
icedog(Quote)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7375971/Michael-Chopra-reveals-Newcastle-players-doubts-Steve-Bruce.html
Probably be dismissed as trouble making by a journalist…
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s trouble making from a trouble maker! Although it’s getting tedious the amount of stick we’re getting, it was totally embarrassing the way we played at Norwich. I’m not really worried as Steve will turn it around at Spurs 🙄
georgio(Quote)
Michael Chopra played a grand total of 21 games for NUFC between 2000/06. He barely spoke to senior Newcastle players back then.
But mores the point, Chopra was let go by Sunderland in 2009 – by which manager? – Steve Bruce.
Funny that we’ve heard very little from Chopra over the last 12yrs of Ashley being in. But Bruce comes in and Chopra pipes up.
It’s not just a case of writing it off as trouble making by journos, if the source has an agenda.
Sharpy17(Quote)
How do you know Chopra has an agenda? Just because it’s not positive? Shall we assume everyone who only has positive things to say about Bruce is his mate and only saying it because he’s his mate?
Maybe we will win our next four games and all will be good. Alternatively we could lose them all and I assume you’d still want people to only contribute positive comments in the media? There’s no smoke without fire. It ain’t easy for Bruce but only results or at the very least decent performances will help him. Not seeing anything yet…
Stuart79(Quote)
And before anyone says I’m making excuses for Bruce or anything like that – go back and count how many posts I’ve left saying the formation doesn’t work and changes need to be made.
My issue is with Chopra sensationalising what in football is a fairly common teething problem when a new manager goes into a new club. Norwich was awful, but it was Bruce’s 2nd game in charge.
I don’t believe that Chopra is speaking to first team players – I don’t believe he spoke to many first team players when he was actually at Newcastle as a player.
He dislikes Bruce coz he got rid of him at Sunderland – and that’s the motive behind Chopra digging out Bruce.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – come on mate, you’re a smart fella. We were awful under McClaren, Carver and often under Pardew too. We were good at what we did under Rafa … how many articles do you remember reading from Chopra? – how many times did he comment publicly on the club he left 13yrs ago?!.
Yet Bruce comes in – who happens to be the manager that got rid of him at Sunderland, and all of a sudden he’s the voice of NUFC.
I am not for a second saying all comments should be positive – as I say, read back and I have regularly said he’s got it wrong.
It’s the level of extremism in the negativity that I have issue with mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It ain’t easy for Bruce but only results or at the very least decent performances will help him. Not seeing anything yet…
Stu – completely agree with this as well mate. Nobody will know this better than Bruce himself. He’s been in football long enough, and was there when Ferguson almost got the sack at Man Utd because of his poor start. He will have seen and experienced more in football than most.
He’s not looking for people to make excuses for him, and I’m certainly not. If it goes the way of McClaren, I’ll be calling for change as loud as anyone – my loyalty is to NUFC – not Bruce or Ashley.
But what Bruce is asking for is time – certainly more than just 2 games.
I’m prepared to give him that – but he has to use it wisely and make the changes needed quickly.
If he perseveres with a formation that doesn’t work, and performances don’t improve – that’s on him, and he puts himself in the firing line.
Sharpy17(Quote)
When did Danny Mills and Simon Jordan become experts on NUFC? Do they comment on every team and we just see the NUFC headlines? I think they are on TalkSport. Do the hosts steer them to controversy about NUFC or is it just general gobshitery about everybody?
As for Chopra, I could care less what he says. We only really know who he is because he was the next big thing at one time. But as Sharpy says, he never amounted to anything and wasn’t even at NUFC for any of Ashley’s time.
I suppose he is in demand because he played a few games at NUFC and under Bruce.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/997332083?-11058:809
Cracking twitter reply by Jon Walters, and liked by Shearer.
This isn’t supporting a pro Bruce post because he mentions nothing about Bruce . This is supporting challenging unnecessary negative comments and pro professionalism comments.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think it’s a total cop out to say the players don’t understand their role or know what they should be doing.
Bruce got blamed for the goal against Arsenal coz Williems seemingly didn’t know what his role was. He was a left footed player on the left side of the pitch waiting for a pass to come to him – the pass wasn’t great. Williems was flat footed and Niles showed good anticipation – I don’t get how any of that is down to Bruce.
Against Norwich – Kim posted stats that our midfield didn’t make a single tackle all game – not one!!. Is that coz Bruce forgot to tell them to?!.
Our 3 CBs allowed Pukki all the space in the world – the same 3 CBs that played together much of the 2nd half of last season – and one being the captain. Is that coz Bruce forgot to tell them to defend?!.
He has to change the formation to make us more of an offensive threat – that’s on Bruce. But players not knowing their role?! – that really is nonsense.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Quite a few fans have made up their minds on Bruce and almost want him to fail so they can say “I told you so” and to wallow in self pity. The worst ones are those that want us relegated as they see that as a way of getting rid of Ashley They are wrong, that will make it less likely that Ashley leaves. All you have to do is look on other blogs and twitter to see the anger and the hate. Bruce was written off by some before a ball was kicked nevermind after 2 (admittedly poor) games.
Creating a toxic atmosphere is self defeating.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Remember we only really started to play when Rafa stumbled on a system that suited the personnel he had. Before that he had stick religiously to the 4-2-3-1 and we played boring and losing football. It took Rafa half a season to get there. Hopefully, Bruce will find a system that suits much sooner.
We probably can help him. If he wants to give the 3 central midfielders one more go then OK. If it still doesn’t work then it is time for change. The other thing that everyone is seeing is the isolation up front. He has to find a way to fix that. Maybe Muto for now and Gayle for later to help Joelinton out.
And Miggy might not be a PL number 10 as he drops back a lot. Watch some of his Atlanta and Rafa tapes Steve and see where he best fits. He is a good player who is trying too hard.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Mike Dean is Ref for Spurs so watch out for red cards. I think we have had a couple of justified red cards against them – Mitro and Shelvey, if I am not mistaken. NO complaints there. But VAR might help by evening things up the other way by maybe catching the dirty tackles by Kane and Alli, or even a penalty for us assuming we ever get into their box.
Or maybe not, there was a rugby tackle in the box by Spurs at Man City and it wasn’t given by VAR.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kane will never get pulled up for some of his badly timed tackles, he’s Englands golden boy Eric.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Schar will probs get a red on sunday, always sails a bit close to the edge anyways and Dean knows he’s on tv so will want all eyes on him as usual .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Aye Kimtoon: it is the exclusive/feature game isn’t it. I don’t think Mike Dean will be able to help himself. I actually don’t think he is a terrible Ref apart from his showboating. There are many worse, Jon Moss is always 10 yards behind the play.
Dean is 51. When I turned 50 I was still in pretty good shape apart from a herniated disc but I could tell the difference in fitness between then and when I was 40. I don’t care how many jogs he goes on. I think Refs should be retired at 50. Maybe even 45. Jon Moss is the prime example.
They could still be 4th official, linesman or VAR. I am not trying to take away their livelihood but 50+ is too old to be trying to keep up with the current pace of play.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Spurs are by far the media’s darlings. There is never anything said against them and they are shown undying love. Man U get the most coverage but they get criticism as well and there is the rivalry with Liverpool which means even the red bindippers do not get a total free ride, although it is close.
Spurs can do no wrong. The pundits may pick out the odd player to criticize but as a club they are faultless, even though they have won like a league cup in the last 30 years. That’s it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Our new signing Max has been helping out at food bank today,good on you
Iceedog(Quote)
There should be no bloody food banks in the UK this day and age fast
Iceedog(Quote)
Ice – just saw that on SSN app. Agree on both mate. Excellent to see the lad getting involved – but disgraceful that food banks are needed in the first place.
Refreshing to see a young footballer wanting to get involved in the community he has just joined though. Hopefully some of the other players will follow suit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
A few things on food banks, Icedog; You’re right we shouldn’t have them but if you offer people free food will take it. That’s obvious. As callous as this sounds if people stopped smoking, drinking or gave up their Sky subscription they’d be able to afford food. It’s about priorities. In my parents or grandparents days they had choices too and made the right ones as hard as they were. I saw reports from Labour saying nurses had to use food banks. Why? My niece is a nurse. She has her own house and car and hasn’t been near a food bank in her life. Why weren’t there any food banks in the 50’s or 60’s when people really were in poverty? Why could people still manage to eat then? Have we produced a generation of expectant people who think they should expect everything they want and not have to make sacrifices for certain things? No food banks in 50’s as people couldn’t afford to give food away. Tell me who had it tougher, then or now? Food banks should be for the homeless.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – People who made their minds up about Bruce before he got the gig are not going to change them after the first two games are they? They’ve made that decision based on what they’ve seen over the last 15 years or so which is fair enough. Nothing wrong with that.
Imo he’s been left short in the squad but then again he knew what he was getting and that’s players he’d never heard of.
Stuart79(Quote)
The Athletic UK
@TheAthleticUK
Steve Bruce wanted his #NUFC team to revolve around Shelvey but does the new manager need to ditch those plans already?
@ChrisDHWaugh
on the Jonjo Shelvey conundrum.
I hope this isn’t true, cause if it is we really are in trouble, Shelvey doesn’t perform consistently enough to build a team around him. It isn’t our best formation with him in a mf three either.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Nice to see the Saint at the food bank, they are needed more than folk know. My daughter manages a room at a free entitlement nursery in a poverty stricken area of Bristol and sees first hand how people live, or should i say don’t live.
She collects leftover food from Tesco and other stores and they give it to parents of the children most in need.
These kids are not dressed in the latest fashions and as she gets to visit their homes before they start she sees first hand the poverty.
In reality most parents do not willingly use foodbanks as there is huge stigma attached to it, and if they didn’t have kids likely wouldn’t go near one .
A lot of the parents work but are on zero hours with all the limitations that brings to their standard of living.
Just saying.
KIMTOON(Quote)
She gave up a position in a high end nursery in an affluent area to go where she is now. A lot of the staff and parents of the well off kids were horrified that she would leave there to go into that.
There is a lot of judgement made of people living in poverty, the reality is that a lot of us are just i months paycheck away from a similar fate .
KIMTOON(Quote)
1 not i 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – Sorry I don’t buy it I’m afraid. There are many, many people who work on zero hour contracts or don’t work at all and they don’t use food banks. Why is it only some and not others? I know someone who goes to a food bank who is retired and is comfortable. As I said, give free food away and people will take it. I went past a food bank in Newcastle on Monday and people were sat outside waiting for it to open. Most of them had tabs in their hands! stop smoking and spend it on food!
I accept some people are in need but many people could prioritise their requirements better. Sky, tabs, drink or holidays are essentials.
On Shelvey I am worried if Bruce thinks he can build a team around him. He’s not consistent enough. Irrelevent really though. We don’t have any goals.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, there will always be chancers but i can only tell you what my daughter has in front of her on a daily basis. She goes into these houses before the kids start, the parents do not smoke, have sky or even take a holiday, they simply do not have the cash to do it. Winter is crisis point for many of them as it’s heat or eat and a lot are living in very damp conditions .
We can pretend there is no true poverty in the uk but that won’t make it true.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stu, i do agree that there are those who work the system, there always will be, but there are a lot in genuine need and they should never be tarred with the same brush .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stuart: what you were saying about Chopra and his agenda or not having an agenda. There is so much noise out there now that you have to say something controversial to be heard. So much social media but also the old print press now on the internet and competing for clicks. As I mentioned earlier, there are all of these 2nd and 3rd tier players having their say and even being co-commentators. What you end up with is people like Collymore abd Savage saying things to be controversial and get into the headlines and be talked about “celebrity” pundits when it becomes about them as well as the football .
Relative nobodies like Chopra are having their say and the stars Like GNev and Carra and Roy Keane are ever more controversial to get the eyeballs, clicks and retweets.
So Chopra’s AGENDA is to be heard and keep his name out there, because he really is a no-name in the scheme of things. If Chopra said anything about any other team than NUFC it wouldn’t even cause a ripple. It shouldn’t cause a ripple at NUFC either, because, as Sharpy says, he only played 20 games for us. We only really know him at NUFC because he was the next big thing that never was.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Sharpy’s point about him only coming out of the woodwork now Bruce is here isn’t true. He was on Talksport before Bruce got the gig talking about Ashley. I juat find it all a bit odd that someone would make lies up that can easily be proven or disproven. People are basically saying that anyone who has negative words to say about Bruce has an agenda and anybody who has good things are only saying thm because they know him? Doesn’t make sense to me…
Stuart79(Quote)
It seems like now Little Chrissy Waugh is away from The Chronic he might speak his mind. I like Shelvey but he does offer a complete conundrum. Just about every team plays the high press now and he is one of the few players who have the skill and instincts to beat it. There are 2 problems though – he needs someone to pass to and when it doesn’t come off we are screwed. Relying on the Hollywood ball is sort of the antithesis of Pep who is death by a thousand passes and the killer ball in the opposition half. The “quarterback” type game will work a few times but I think it will fail more than it succeeds.
I agree with most people that that is a very risky road to go down. Plan B? Not Plan A and probably Jonjo will have to suck it up and accept he is not first choice.
Above all, Bruce has to be flexible and cannot just build the team around him. What happens if he gets injured again? And other managers soon suss it out no matter how good a passer Shelvey is. They just cut off his favourite outlet.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Had a wry smile at the food bank debate and the heat or eat comment.
Reality is that the EU want to bring in tax harmonisation across the bloc .
The minimum vat rate in the EU is 15%.
The UK has a zero vat rate on food , childrens’ clothes and medicine and a 5%
rate on domestic fuel.
Should we be in the EU when tax harmonisation comes in a lot of the poor in the UK will not have the choice to heat or eat – they wont be able to afford either option.
sidekick(Quote)
Stu – that’s simply not true mate, as I have been critical of Bruce’s team selection already. I have no problem with criticism, its the negativity and sensationalism that some people go to – and talk sport is certainly a prime example of that.
Chopra claiming he’s spoken to first teamers – it’s rubbish. There was a cricketer claiming he had seen emails about the clubs business – absolute tosh!.
Chopra was not relevant when he was at NUFC, so how come he is now?. Because he drives negativity – and there is a difference between criticism and negativity.
It’s like this nonsense about Bruce building a team around Shelvey. Has Bruce came out and said this? – no, but because Shelvey has played in the last 2 games, the journos make this bizarre claim.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Heat or eat debate is a strange one. Most of these households have children. The gvt give money to every family for every child they have. this is for the upbringing of the child. Eating is quite essential to a childs upbringing. The poorer off also get housing allowance. really, there is no excuse for not feeding your children or eating yourself.
Stuart79(Quote)
You seem to be saying that only people who are going to be positive about NUFC should be heard. How on earth is that even sensible? Mexia is full of ex players who weren’t particulaly relevant to their clubs when they played but it doesn’t make their opinion any less relevent. He’s a fan so why shouldn’t he have his say? Or maybe just the positive ones are allowed.
You accuse him of lying. That’s fine. You have no evidence for it by the way.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think there is a definite and genuine need for food banks.
The issue is that those who genuinely need them can find it too embarrassing to go and get the help in such a public & exposed way.
As Kim has said, some people can go from quite a comfortable life, to needing help in a very short space of time.
My mam worked for the same company for 15yrs, but was made redundant at the beginning of December last year – she’s had 3 jobs since and had to be let go twice – she’s a victim of the high street collapse. She does not smoke or have Sky – but does live alone so is the only income – and the bills keep coming (and going up by the year).
She does not need food banks, and won’t – but others like her will.
People who find themselves in that position feel they have lost everything – and see food banks as a loss of dignity – that’s not as easily lost to those who still have pride and self worth. But those people still need help.
It’s difficult because it does lend itself to chancers as Kim describes them. But I think they exist for the right reasons.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – it is beyond me how you can say ‘You seem to be saying that only people who are going to be positive about NUFC should be heard.
In respond to the very post where I say I have no problem with criticism and that I myself have criticised Bruce ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
But you’re criticising Chopra for being negative. It’s his opinion or what he has been told. You are literally saying he shouldn’t be saying it because it’s negative. Criticism by it’s very nature is negative. There isn’t really any difference.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – to be clear, I have a real problem with positive comments that come with an agenda too mate.
I posted plenty on here last season when the likes of Rio Ferdinand was kiss Ashley’s hint.
I also posted against Kev Nolan in the summer who was pro Ashley, because there was a chance he was coming in with Fat Sam.
I find that too many pundits base their opinion on social media and what Twitter has to say. It doesn’t take a genius to know NUFC fans hate Ashley and weren’t happy Rafa left. Twitter backs that up on a daily basis.
If you’re a pundit you will go with the popular opinion over a rationale one. If you need proof of that – look at the criticism Shearer got at the weekend for not slamming ‘his maye’ on MOTD – that’s Shearer!, a club legend – maybe he too has an agenda then.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – there is without question a difference. My problem with what he had to say is that he was claiming it is what he’s been told – and I don’t believe him.
But if I did, I agree with Jon Walters.
If he was criticising the way the team was set up, or the way the team performed – I have no issue with that. It’s his opinion and I’m fine with that.
But what he was trying to claim is that there is unrest in the squad. A divide between the manager and players already – and that is harvesting negativity imo.
A new manager goes in with new ideas and a different way of doing things.
Usually that change comes when a team is struggling and the previous manager was doing badly. A new manager comes in and has a positive effect & fans are happy.
But occasionally, it’s the reverse – it happened at Man Utd when Moyes replaced Fergie and it’s happening now with us.
Pundits tend to react to fans – a struggling team have a feel good factor with a new manager – so pundits get behind that.
But Bruce coming in have seen the vast majority of fans react very negatively – and those that have (such as myself), say well I’ll give him a chance, but he’s doesn’t get long – pundits react to that.
It’s not a case of favouring positivity over negativity – I prefer balanced mate ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m a big fan of Jake Humphrey. I always find him to be fair and balanced in his opinion and analysis.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pundits are there to reflect what’s happening at clubs. If they didn’t they’d be speaking complete rubbish and nobody would listen to them.
Stuart79(Quote)
Some very strange little arguments on here today. Some odd opinions too.
Stuart – those foodbanks wouldn’t be there if nobody needed them.
Eric – I agree with your points on Shelvey. I understand he can make a magnificent pass but I wouldn’t play him because he’s not athletic enough for todays midfields. He’s way too slow and easily hustled off the ball.
Ki is just too lightweight so the best bet is to go back to Longstaff/Hayden.
georgio(Quote)
Stu – so you’ll be buying into what Rio and Richard Keys have to say then mate ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
They’re a prime example of not reflecting what’s actually happening at the club. They look stupid. They’ve been trying to tell everyone that things are ok when clearly they’re not. I know who’s opinion I would listen to more over Chopra or them two.
Stuart79(Quote)
I mean it seems to me like you are saying that only people who have negative things to say about NUFC should be heard ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No, Sharpy, you are saying the opposite. You actually wrote it!
Stuart79(Quote)
https://youtu.be/OY_ahLOi3Uo
I’m not a fan of Rio, but the clip is him talking about Moyes at Man Utd. I can imagine a similar scenario with Bruce at NUFC now.
Moyes was ‘the chosen one’ and whilst Bruce wasn’t, it’s that local lad thing for him – them being the manager becomes the headline.
Rio also said that Moyes went in and tried to make big changes – I’m not bothered how it used to be done, I’m here now. Has that happened with Bruce? – the 3 man midfield, Dummett questioning the warm up prior to the Norwich game, the players saying training is more about running that drilling tactics now – it’s sounds likely.
If so, it’s a flawed approach going back to Clough at Leeds.
All Bruce had to really do was keep things as was and integrate Joelinton and Max into a new look attack.
If he’s gone in to make big chances, I fear he’s on a hiding to nothing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Re, the foodbank issue. I’m sure i have said this before some time ago but i will repeat it.
Many years back now when i was first married and had my baby girl, me and the hubby were really struggling cash wise.
We both worked full time, both on low pay and we budgeted well, didn’t go out, no sky or cable tv but had one weeks holiday paid for by my parents who we went with.
Anyhow, by the time the gas, electric, community tax, and water/sewerage and insurance and mortgage was paid there was not much left for food. Back then there was no foodbanks, or help of any kind so i would sell stuff,and pawn stuff, rob peter to pay paul just to keep our heads above water as it were. It was really really tough for quite a few years.
There was a benefit we could of claimed but our incomings were too much by £1 a week to get it and so we were in no mans land. Just that wee bit too much to get help, not little enough to claim for lots plus free dental and gp scripts . I wouldn’t mind betting there are lots in a similar position now with tax credits and that is why working people are using food banks instead of selling possessions and pawning stuff though in reality they have likely done that too.
Eventually hubby got a job that paid more and things eased up but not for a good couple of years.
I look at the youngsters today and wonder how they will ever get on the property ladder, or be able to afford to start a family. Private rent is out of control and there are no council properties anywhere near enough to accommodate today’s low earners. I fear food banks are here to stay .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – I go back to my previous point. How on earth did people manage in the 50’s and 60’s? My dad was the middle of three brothers. They had a bath in a tub in front of the fire every Sunday and he was second in after the oldest brother. Same water! Their toilet was outside, they literally had to wear clothes that were passed down to them by oldest siblings or cousins. Food wasn’t wasted. It was used and then refused for the next days meals. There were many on low wages and they didn’t have food banks.
I guess what I am saying is, what’s different today?
Stuart79(Quote)
As I was saying, 50 years ago you must seem to think nobody had it tough and everyone had three square meals a day and could do a full shop at Tesco on a Monday. Delusional.
I bet if I set up a free pub tomorrow people would use it. Doesn’t mean they need it.
Although I am not saying everyone is ok and doesn’t need it but the use of them is overblown by liberals and to hear even Nurses use them is just a **** take.
Stuart79(Quote)
What’s changed today is stuff like no affordable homes, sky high private rents, no council houses, ridiculous cost of gas and electric since privatisation , wages not keeping up with food price increase. More and more having to use private dentist due to complete lack of NHS services that by the way they’ve already paid for out of their NI contributions.
People on income support having their money stopped for the daftest of reasons and often because of outright lies by job centre staff who have to meet targets, likewise people losing their PIP entitlement yet winning it back on appeal.
Watched a little bit on the news last night about families placed in shipping containers due to no council houses/flats. They are meant to be in them for 51 days yet there were families in them for 6 months at least and many over a year.
Stu you talk about tin baths and what have you but you totally miss the point. This is 2019, we live in a time of huge technological advances with costa coffee and trendy bars on every corner and kids with seemingly every gadget known to man about their person. This is the modern world and all it’s comforts yet still people are out there in dire need. Surely the real question is how has that been allowed to happen? When did society become so numb to the suffering of others.
You can’t just rock up to a food bank and say i’m poor give me some food, you have to be sent their by a social worker, GP or the like i think.
With every decade you can see kids getting access to stuff the previous generation could only of dreamed of and that’s great but it only serves to show how much bigger the gulf is between the haves and have nots.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim
most food banks require you to have a voucher from social services to obtain groceries.
The real disgrace is that there is probably more food wasted in this Country that could feed the entire population.
sidekick(Quote)
Talking of the gulf between the haves and have nots you could relate this to the Premiership.
The top 6 clubs all have massive incomes , mainly from sponsorship.
Man City have an income of some £750m down to Tottenham with about £400m .
Everton are in seventh place with just under £200m.
Hardly a level playing field!
To add insult to injury those top 6 have complained for some years that they should get a greater share of the overseas tv rights..The premier league have now given in and they are to get much more – the gap widens even more.
The premiership now consists of two leagues , one for the top 6 to fight for the Champions league places or to get the runners up prize of the Europa league.
The remaining 14 clubs get to play in the ‘also ran’ league where the prize is to avoid relegation.
sidekick(Quote)
I still think Shelvey could be useful for us. We have the speedsters to compliment him but he should be playing the 20 yard passes and not the Hollywood 40 yard passes. He has the speed of thought to do both, but the Hollywood passes only work about 1 in 10 times so are mostly a waste. A bit like his direct free kicks.
I know he is too slow to be a quarterback. Not because he can’t lay it off or pick a pass but because you don’t want him stuck there as a shield for the defense which he is if he is a quarterback.
If Bruce wants us to have 5 or 6 points from the first 10 games and have the crowd against him then he should build his tactics around Shelvey.
He has to figure out a better way to use Jonjo. Not a quarterback. He has the skill and speed of thought to get out of the high press 8 out of 10 times. But what about the other 2 when he is caught in our half?
They didn’t even play Beckham as a quarterback. They knew he was too slow and couldn’t tackle. He was pinging them in from the right.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Trying desperately to stay away from foodbank and brexit talk.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And if you watch Shelvey he is usually launching it to the channels. Then you have to rely on the receiver to beat a man or cross it. That’s why his assist stats are so ****. There has to be a better way to use him because he has a lot of talent.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see that Man City have signed a deal with Puma which will earn them some $860m over the next ten years.
I can not see us competing.
Should any team have the temerity to challenge for the title , like Leicester did , they will soon have their best players taken off them. Mahrez to Man City last year and just to make sure they do not challenge again, they have lost Maguire to Man U this year.
In the meantime, Bury fc having been promoted from League 2 at the end of the season are yet to play in league 1 and are likely to fold.
Instead of giving money to the top 6 for overseas tv rights it should be used to keep the struggling teams in leagues 1 and 2 afloat – with the exception of Sunderland of course.
sidekick(Quote)
sidekick: the Mackems are fcked. Their finances are a house of cards and any remaining parachute payments are owed to Ellis Short.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I tried to keep track of Donald and him trying to make a quick buck by selling 75% of his shares to a US investor. Last I saw the deal had fallen through and I looked it up on Wikipedia and there is no mention of it. Donald doesn’t have the money to save them. If they are not in the top 6 come the new year I think they are in serious trouble of folding. Even if they are, they need promotion to get a new investor, otherwise they are done.
Eric Sykes(Quote)