If anyone seriously doubts how much influence Rafa Benitez had over this group of players, today is your proof.
If you had any doubt how much Steve Bruce is out of his depth, today is your proof.
Today, Norwich and the first 70 minutes against Brighton are all in the the top (or bottom 10) of performances I’ve seen in my lifetime as a Newcastle fan. 3 out of 7 of Bruce’s games make my all time 10 worst. Genuinely.
Of course Hayden’s red card didn’t help and this isn’t entirely Bruce’s fault, but the dreadful summer is coming home to roost for us.
Despite a change of formation, we didn’t improve one iota. More worryingly, there was no heart, fight or spirit, things this group of players have always shown in abundance. Longstaff, what has happened to him?!? He was awful.
That said, what do we expect when a talented young player goes from being coached by a world class manager in an organised and well drilled team, to being coached by a man whose team has ZERO plan and no identity.
You can never totally defend a lack of effort, so the players must take a fair share of the blame today, but if I had a boss who didn’t give me a plan or something to get behind, how could I be motivated or perform to the best of my ability?
Any takers that Bruce will have the players in for extra training? That it’s all their fault? The pundits are already defending him on social media.
We must be the only team in the league who isn’t looking forward to playing Manchester United next….
Dreadful Olly, I don’t have enough superlatives to describe what a dreadful pile of sh.it that was. Decent players have just dissolved into diarrhoea… ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Playing like they’ve downed tools. Normally it’s after Christmas when that happens but we’ve brought it forward.
Stuart79(Quote)
I know points are obviously the biggest indicator that you are **** but from what I have seen you need to add goal difference. When these 2 combine, it is big trouble. It might seem like they are always in lockstep but that is not true. It is the stars aligning for a **** sandwich when these 2 go hand in hand and you know you are in big trouble. When it is not just losing, but losing big is when you really need to worry because that affects morale as well.
There can be excuses like a sending off. But then you get a near post goal and then a deflected goal. The bad luck adds up and seems to escalate.
We need to beat Man U. I will get very worried if we don’t.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s clear that we are not missing Rondon & Perez, they would not have helped much in this shambles.
PremAndUp(Quote)
We used to at least have a tight defensive unit under Rafa, what the hell has happened.
Also Ashleys insistence on buying Joelinton instead of Rondon looking ever more foolish by the day.
Utter shambolic performance today, the players were all at sea and just like the bad old days pre Rafa once we conceded their heads dropped .
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s 7 games in now and it’s no surprise that us and Watford are bottom of the league – both teams have been awful so far this season.
But that today was truly worrying – particularly with Man Utd & Chelsea next.
I just watched Lascelles interviewed – it’s on the sky sports app. There is no fight or anger in his voice at all. He sounds so sorry for himself – our club captain!!.
I want to hear him come out ranting and raging – banging some heads in training this week.
I don’t see this changing at all – less than 30% in every game so far. Goals and even shots on target at an all time low.
Yes we have Max and Gayle to come back – but are they really enough?!. The rot was already there, but it is spreading and setting in deep now. The attendance will continue to drop and our club will be toxic.
I hate what Ashley has done to our club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s letting the players off a bit though. Yes Ashley is the root cause. But the players should be fined whatever the cost of our away fans paid to go watch them today – the that money be reimbursed to those fans.
Bruce is responsible too, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t say – go out there and don’t even try!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I posted before kick off that we were 6/1 for the win and 3/1 for a draw – asking were Leicester that good … of course not!! … but we are that bad, and the bookies don’t tend to get it wrong too often
Sharpy17(Quote)
When we first hired Bruce there were stats going around that he had the 2nd worst points per game of any PL manager with over 250 games. It seemed a bit arbitrary and there were any number of Managers who had managed far fewer games and had lower PPG and would not be on this list because they had been sacked before they could get anywhere near 250 games. Bruce had managed to keep Hull up, which was a near miracle so I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. After 7 games this has been replaced with only doubts.
As others have said he doesn’t seem to have a plan. Wanting to build the team around Shelvey and then ditching him, which he would have done even if he wasn’t injured. Isolating Joelinton up front. Playing Miggy on the right.
The kicker was bringing on Andy Carroll today. He brings on our LEAST MOBILE and oft-injured striker when we are down to 10 men. What is that about! The West Ham fans had said he had lost any pace he had after all of his injuries. What use is he when we are playing in our own half and 3 goals down? Madness, even if it was to get him match fit in a lost cause it was still dumb. Did we really want to be battered more than we already were being. Did Bruce not care if it was 7? That would be good for morale!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And… I thought it couldn’t get worse than last week. Well, it just got a whole lot worse.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
McClaren said to judge him after 10 games. How to judge Bruce after 7 games? Not meaning to stick the boot in totally, BUT:
Arsenal – we went to sleep in the 2nd half. Best time to play them with their injuries and we still got beat.
Norwich – outplayed. With their defense they should be relegated but we might save them.
Spurs – 20% possession. Kane should have had a penalty. But I will take the win.
Watford – pretty even game against the worst team in the league.
Liverpool – they didn’t get out of 2nd gear.
Brighton – outplayed again. If they had a striker…
Leicester – send on the slowest player in the league when you are down to 10 men.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce mentions the start we’ve had, playing too 6 six sides in the first ten games. It really doesn’t matter when we can’t beat Brighton or Watford at home and get battered 3-1 by a newly promoted team.
It’s clear we don’t have goals in the team so we need a manager who is top quality to make up for it.
The reality is that we don’t have goals in the team and Bruce’s plan is to have no possession. I can’t figure that one out.
I don’t think it’s too much to say we are almost certain to go down unless we change manager, admit they got it wrong and back the new manager in January. Of course neither will happen.
Stuart79(Quote)
What we need is a proven PL goal scorer , oh wait, we could of had one for £16m but chose to go against good advice and let him go because he was the wrong side of 25. Now we have a £40m dud who could possibly be quite good given support.
We have no goals and now no defense apparently.
Sean looks really off form, either injured still, unhappy at not getting a move or no idea what the plan is.
Why is Miggy on the right ?
Why are the players seemingly not trying ? why did they give up once we conceded ?
Actually feel sorry for Bruce, he had a thankless task from the get go, but this is not the expansive attacking play he promised, this is humiliation .
Can’t wait for the season to end frankly.
Oh and Keynon cant **** off too, waste of time and would likely let Jabba hang on to all sorts.
kimtoon(Quote)
Read somewhere that we only conceded 3 or more 3 times in 58 under Rafa and so far we have conceded 3 or more in 3 games in only 7. Two of them were against Norwich and Leicester!
When you replace a manager you do so to improve and take the club forward. Who thought at NUFC that Bruce was going to improve us? The club ahve a huge problem where as if they sack Bruce they will be left in the same position as in the summer. Nobody capable wanting the job. It looks to me that whether we keep Bruce or sack him we are going down as no manager with ambition or quality will take the job. What a mess.
Only way the club can hope to go forward is a new owner. That just won’t happen while he want’s £300m. The club is a yo-yo club and not worth that.
The only thing that will get him out is a mass boycott and I mean attendances down to 20,000. That will totally embarass him and it will also seriously effect results making relegation more certain. I really don’t see many fans who care if were relegated these days.
Stuart79(Quote)
Far too many of substandard at the club. Joelinton, Muto, Krafth and Bruce for starters. The only two strikers we have are both crocks but they’re way better than Joe and Muto. That’s £50m wasted, although I believe the £40m for Joelinton was some sort of money laundering scam.
Quite what Bruce is up to I don’t know. Turning from 3 at the back against an attacking team in order to bring in the goals of Muto is bizarre in the extreme.
Everyone can see Almiron is uncomfortable on the right. Same with Krafth – he’s not as good as Manq or Yedlin.
Woeful as it was, it looks like it will probably get worse in some games.
georgio(Quote)
There’s no way we are worth 300 mil if we are relegated. Apparently, Peter Kenyon and his hedge funders have raised less than 100 million so far. What are the odds that they could get the other 200 million with us in the relegation zone or worse, The Championship.
I own a couple of hedge fund stocks in my retirement account and have looked into how they make their money because it affects the value of the stock. A lot are into distressed real estate and tax scams. The rest are into distressed companies and you could certainly say NUFC are that. What they do is ask investors to invest in a fund that will then spend that money on assets. They hire supposedly the best and brightest to manage that asset. In return the partners get 2% of the assets annually and 20% of profits. After a certain time, usually about 5 years, the fund is wound up and the profits distributed.
The hedge funds always need new investments and new ideas. They want to make their clients money and they want them to reinvest it with them. What Kenyon’s lot will be doing is going to their current investors and asking them for money to put into this NUFC pot. It won’t be a diversified investment like an index fund it will be NUFC only – high risk and high reward. That’s why they produced that brochure.
But now they should add a fckin appendix to their brochure saying 2nd bottom of the PL after 7 games, 4 goals scored, likely to be relegated where the value of the club will be cut in half and you as investors will be required to inject more capital.
What are the chances of any investors signing up for this? Peter, you’re having a laugh mate. Now fck off back to Miami and enjoy the sunshine.
The sad thing is that we will probably be a better investment opportunity if we ARE relegated. Much lower price. Higher risk, but higher reward.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Jabba has shown twice that he’d rather lend the club more money to try and get promoted than cut his losses and sell up in the event we are relegated.
I still believe there’s only one way to get shot. A massive reduction in attendances. If he doesn’t have supporters, he doesn’t have a club and then he doesn’t really have an asset worth anything like even his original investment.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I took the long way around to say that there is no way that Kenyon will get investors to pony up 300 million when we are relegation favourites. Not even if he promises that part of it will be self funding from PL TV money. All the investors would need to do is tune their TV to NBC next Sunday and watch the build up to the match. They would run a mile.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This really has been McClaren revisited so far. I don’t think we have that bad players. We certainly shouldn’t have as we spent 80 million on 3 of them in the past 6 months. McClaren’s squad wasn’t that bad either, especially after getting Shelvey and Townsend came in. Remember it wasn’t all high press all the time from every team back then so Shelvey had more time on the ball.
It really does have a familiar feel even down to the vote of confidence.
Olly’s latest article also talked about paying comp for Bruce. How much did we end up paying?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Were stuck until Jabba sees no benefit to owning NUFC sand keeping hold of it to get his money back. His valuation is because of the amount he’s put in. It’s not a real valuation based on a usual matrix.
You can’t have a asset that every year is on the verge of losing its most lucrative contract and 70% of their income stream, while at the same time needing genuine infrastructure spending. £300m just doesn’t add up.
Stuart79(Quote)
I really don’t want to give up yet, but the last 2 performances have been so bad that it is hard not to. It is not knee **** either as just about every performance has been **** in its own way – even Spurs where we had 20% possession.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I agree with Stuart that there is something off about the Joelinton purchase. He just doesn’t feel like a 40 million pound player and his stats in Germany didn’t back it up. Maybe there are performance clauses in there and the media went with the highest number if he meets them all. They did it with Martial at Man U. I think the price was like 38 million but the papers always quoted 54 million. That was only if the won the Champions League and he was one of the PLs top scorer. They did it with Coutinho to Barca where they always quote 140 million but it was like 100 mil down and extra for the Champions League.
There has to be something like that in Joelinton’s deal. Can you really see the Fat Man paying 40 million straight up for him? Especially since it was on the recommendation of Steve Nickson who I doubt Ashley has met more than a couple of times. Maybe if Carr was involved and after Lacazette and Aubayang, but not Nickson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah, there is something fishy about that Joelinton fee. He only had a year in Germany and was on loan in Austria before that, which is a pretty crappy league. No way would Fatty stump up 40 mil.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s worse Eric – Joelinton was the only player Ash has ever mentioned when he said Rafa thought he was only worth £20m. Ashley then offered to pay the extra £23m himself. This was in an interview (with Samuel?). Does anybody believe this? Anybody?
I think Joe and Miggy are with the same South American agency. This is probably where the smoking gun lies. Would be interesting to hear what Hoffenheim fans think of the deal or see their accounts.
georgio(Quote)
If we sacked Bruce now, who do we get instead?.
I don’t see us buying anyone’s contract out for someone already in a job – if Bruce was sacked I could only see Ashley going for someone out of work – but who?!.
That’s not me suggesting sticking with Bruce is the best option – I’m just trying to think who would want to take it on?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – has to be somebody who’s played the game fairly recently. Bruce is still trying to implement a style from his playing days in the bloody 80s!
georgio(Quote)
Georgio: I think I read that Joelinton and St Max are with the same German Agency. Pretty sure of it. I looked at the highest Bundesliga transfers ever and Joelinton is listed as 10th for 43 million Euros.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A Manager doesn’t make any difference anyway 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Huddersfield dumped Wagner and are now bottom of The Championship.
Schalke who finished 14th of 18 last year hired Wagner. They are now top 4.
Why didn’t we go after Wagner? He performed a miracle keeping Huddersfield up that first year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I had to look up Bruce on Wikipedia because I thought I might be misremembering saying he had kept Hull in the PL. He did, and took them to an FA Cup Final.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m pretty confident when I say sticking with Bruce will end in relegation. So what do we lose changing? We can only gain. Personally I’d try to persuade Wenger. More likely though I would make an approach for Bielsa or Bowyer.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: the problem with Wenger is that it would feel like he is doing some Charity work. Arsenal were paying him 16 million in the last year of his contract. I think Ashley might match what he paid Rafa but no more. Still, Arsene doesn’t need the money and we wouldn’t pay comp.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bloody 3rd televised game in a row on Sunday. No other games to compete – AGAIN. Maybe it should be billed as the “battle of the dead men walking”?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My initial thoughts – foreign manager maybe Puel?
But, if they go with their similar approach of signing Carroll to ‘please’ the fans – would they try and persuade Chris Houghton to come back?!. I think most toon fans still have a soft spot for Hoots – and most toon fans would swap Bruce for him in a heartbeat.
He was a miracle worker at Brighton and could likely achieve the clubs lowly ambition of staying in the PL.
It’s whether he would come back – but he’s a manager without a club and the right deal might just tempt him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Not for me, Sharpy. He has a good record in the Championship (maybe good for us next season) but he has been sacked for being at the wrong end of the table twice. That would be as bad as Bruce.
Interestingly the club have briefed the Chronicle that Bruce will get time. The question is how much time? Her can’t surely be given until December if performances and results continue like this. lowering attendances will certainly be expediated playing like this too and that will have an effect as it’s costing the club £250,000 per game in lost revenue.
Stuart79(Quote)
Man Ure look bang average for them. Still good enough to petrify us and put 3 or 4 past us.
Stuart79(Quote)
If Troy was still posting then no doubt he would be shouting for Lee Clark to take over from Bruce.
If we are relegated this season I would start next season in the championship with Steve Watson as manager.
sidekick(Quote)
Stu – I like Hoots a lot and thought he should have been supported more and given more time when he was with us. That said, I’m not suggesting he’s the answer now – I’m just trying to preempt a half ar$ed attempt from Ashley to try and appease some of the fans.
My other thought was Kevin Nolan – either as Bruce replacement or in as a coach for Bruce. He was ex player, ex captain, big presence in the dressing room and Carroll’s mate.
Again, I’m not saying that’s my answer to it – just thinking what they may do, coz it can’t carry on like this.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just watched Man Utd v Arsenal – garage!!. The amount of money both clubs have spent on players and there was so little quality!!.
PEA is a cut above – but Pepe and Pogba have to be the most expensive flops in the league I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Man Ure have scored more than one goal in a match only once in the last 15 games. Luckily for them they’re playing us next week.
Stuart79(Quote)
And they were valuing Rashford at 100 million and Pogba at 180 million. Instagram stars.
Jesse Lingard should stick to his pathetic fashion project. It consists of putting a JLingz logo that one of his mates drew up for him on a $5 Chinese made hoodie and charging $50. You can look it up and even buy one if you want to look a proper t!t. Who in their right mind would buy that stuff?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t think there is any doubt that Pogba, Rashford and Lingard have let fame go to their heads. They all have seemed to have gone backwards and are more concerned with fashion lines and Instagram doing lame fkcing dances and practicing pathetic goal celebrations and thinking it is cool. Hanging out with Drake and basketball stars in Miami and Vegas seems more important than practicing penalties.
Of course, now Rashford will get a hattrick on Sunday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, what do we do after that shambles? Obviously the sending off didn’t help and now Hayden and Shelvey are out. The 4 at the back was a disaster so back to 5? Fernandez is an option but the 3 CBs have mainly been OK. St Max has to start and you probably assume Bruce will keep Almiron on the right, so I am guessing Atsu makes way. My guess is:
Dubravka
Manquillo Schar Lascelles Dummett Willems
Ki Longstaff
Alnmiron Joelinton St Max
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pogba actually hit some good Hollywood balls in the Arsenal game. The problem is that Rashford is horribly out of form and Lingard is ****. Probably want to have Ki or Lonstaff press him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Roy Keane is the latest to back Solsjkaer to turn it around at Man U. Add Scholes, Neville etc. Don’t you get the feeling that they don’t quite believe it and they are being insincere, but they have to do it because he’s their mate?
A loss to NUFC after our Leicester debacle would really put the pressure on OGS. Souness would enjoy twisting the knife. It would be good for neutrals and those that Man U lorded it over for so long to see Graeme’s biting words.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sean Longstaff is the latest player to come out and “slam” the Leicester performance. Bore off! It’s not just Leicester. All seven games have been **** poor. Here are some damning stats from the Chrinicle:
Fewest shots in PL
Lowest possession of any side this sesson
Least touches in opposition box (65)
Three or more goals conceded in just 7 games
Lowest expected goals ration (Based on quality of chances created).
Bruce has lowest PL win ratio of any PL manager
Lowest Challenge Intensity (How hard we press)
Fewest Progressive passes (Ie forward passes)
Four formations so far
Schar has had more shots than Joelinton
Horrendous!
Stuart79(Quote)
We won’t beat a **** Manure, we are truly awful, no goals in us and MF is now shot along with poor defensive work.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’d play young Matty in midfield instead of Ki, who is so slight and ineffective. At least Matty would be snapping at ankles and full of running.
georgio(Quote)
Just spoke to a mate and he’s already at the stage where he wants us to get a thrashing on Sunday so it makes it more likely Bruce gets fired.
Sad, but the majority don’t give a **** If we win, lose or draw to be honest.
Stuart79(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
I think Bruce will say he doesn’t want to put pressure on Matty Longstaff. Even now, playing the Instagram Stars is still a big game because of the media attention they get. Royston, Souey and Jose in the studio should be a good watch if we can get something from the game.
Chicago Bears play at The Daniel Levy Stadium on Sunday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Actually, the Sky Studio will probably be the most interesting part of the game. We’ll see the hoops they will jump through NOT to blame OGS or Bruce for the terrible starts this season. Not to mention the awful football from both sides. We get just about every Man U game in the US and they have been shyte. That 4-0 win against Chelsea was the luckiest 4-0 I have ever seen and gave their fans false hope.
I suppose I am becoming a grumpy old man complaining about the Instagram stars. It is just that what they do on there from what I have seen is so lame. And those choreographed goal dances/celebrations. The only word for them as well is LAME.
I did get my JLingz Hoodie in the mail today and will proudly wear it to the pub to watch the match on Sunday. Hope he starts but can’t see it after the way he played against Arsenal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You have to wonder what Charnley is doing. We can ignore the hiring of Rafa because he approached them. But before that?
Pardew, from the dole when we were well placed in the PL under a Manager who got us promoted at the first time of asking after getting the job by default.
Ugly John Carver. A mole with a white stick could see he was out of his depth.
McClaren. Sacked by Derby in the Championship before turning up at NUFC 2 weeks later.
Bruce. Villa sacked him after a bad run of results and then got promoted in the same season with exactly the same team he left behind. He then goes to a mid-table Championship team which most would say is exactly his level.
I want to get behind the Manager and to give him the benefit of the doubt but they make that very hard at NUFC. Then they promote Nickson, who to my knowledge only has the scouting of Ayoze Perez on his CV. Hiring has-beens and never-weres (OGS) and having no direction in recruitment. Are we trying to be Man U? Even then, Man U have a few trophies post Fergie even though their football has been awful to watch. So, we are Man U without the trophies.
I mean, so much was made of Rafa having a database on players throughout the world and him hammering the phones when he went back to the Wirral in the off-season. What did Nickson actually do? What were his qualifications to be Head of Recruitment when Rafa was doing all of the recruiting?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We all could see that Bruce was the wrong move, but we still wanted to be proved wrong. I wanted Bruce to succeed, despite my doubts. As I have said a few times now I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. NOT NOW. He has had his honeymoon period with me and HE now has to win ME over. A win against Man U would be a start because who knows how toxic this will become going into the International break with another failure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Welcome to the club, Eric.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – I agree, but I would include the players in that too mate.
Whether they understand Bruce’s gameplan or not – they are professional players who know they have to work hard. They have to track back. They have to be able to pass the **** ball to one another.
Regardless who is in charge, the basic concept of the game doesn’t change – and the players don’t even seem to be doing that at the moment – they certainly didn’t against Norwich or Leicester.
They are all in this together as far as I’m concerned.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I agree to a degree, Sharpy. But the reason we have good managers and bad managers is that some get more out of players than others. My biggest problem is that there is just no plan, no pattern of play and having changed formation 4 times already it shows the manager really doesn’t know how to get the best out of the players. That’s worrying.
We could well beat Man Ure but that will paper over the cracks.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – the cracks are chasms mate. Bruce looks totally out of his depth so I’m not surprised the players do too. The changes to formations and selection suggest he really doesn’t know what he’s doing and he should not be slagging his players off publically. Stop Digging Steve.
georgio(Quote)
I mentioned yesterday what Wagner has done getting Schalke from 14th to 4th whilst Huddersfield are bottom of The Championship. A Manager does matter and there are so many examples of it I won’t bore you with more.
When Bruce was appointed I said I thought he was top 5 Championship and bottom 5 PL but I was willing to give him a chance. A result against a bad Man U and I will be happier going into the break. At the moment I am just not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel because Charnley would be the one to pick Bruce’s replacement. And as I said earlier, what has Nickson ever done and why is he de facto Director of Football because the only other one who would pick players is Charnley? They have already said that the say Bruce has is when they present him with a player (probably in the tunnel holding up a scarf, so it is not even a rubber stamp, it is no say at all).
Back to the good old days of Schteve with an ineffective coach being given players that he doesn’t want.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: I turned the Leicester game off after an hour and that is the 1st time I have done that in ages. Probably not since Ugly John. So, I am getting very worried now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The one thing I haven’t mentioned is that Bruce goes on death spirals like Pardew and McClaren. That’s why he gets sacked so often. It happened at Villa and Sunderland and Hull. And probably the other teams he has managed as well.
This may actually be peak Bruce 🙂 We are seeing him at his best at the moment 🙂
I hope not, as I don’t think our squad is relegation level. But if Bruce really is this bad then let’s lose the next 3 and force the issue.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – in Bruce’s defence, the changes have been more due to injuries over him tinkering for the sake of it.
If all of our players had been fit and available for the last 7 games, I suspect we would have seen a more settled team.
That’s also probably made it difficult to get his plan going.
But all clubs suffer that, and in the meantime he should still have to team drilled to do the basics – and we aren’t capable of doing those things effectively at the moment.
It baffles me how we aren’t more dangerous for set pieces. For a team with 3 CBs and other than Atsu and Almiron – all our players are 6ft plus – yet when was the last time we scored from a corner?!.
I think Bruce is a very limited manager – but our squad doesn’t really offer a plan B with all of the injuries we’ve had.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – when Brighton played us they had three players put injured who would normally play. They Out played us.
I complain about no goals but it shouldn’t mean we can’t create chances. He has had Almiron, Longstaff, Shelvey, Hayden and Atsu available and we create less chances than Cardiff did last season ffs!
Stuart79(Quote)
Sheff Utd have a style of play, so too Brighton and Aston Villa. It can be argued we have better players. Or are we saying our players aren’t capable of passing the ball, moving and keeping possession but their players are?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I did say all clubs suffer the same. But my main point about injuries was that ours meant he’s had to change formation – with our 2 left wing backs out.
Brighton danced around us – but it wasn’t a tactical master class. Their players aren’t head and shoulders better than ours – it was simple pass and move stuff. But it was slick and each of them were able to pass the ball to each other. We aren’t able to do those simple things at the moment – it’s ridiculous.
Sheff Utd and Norwich have started so well this season – but that’s coz they are doing the basics so well.
Stu you are right about creating chances, but I’d settle for just keeping the **** ball for now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – a perfect example was the reasons why Bruce said he changed to a back four on Sunday. He said Willems was injured so he went to a back four. Dummett played there last season. Surely that’s better than complete changing the who system?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – maybe, but then a back 4 isn’t really new to these players either though. Also, maybe when making that decision, Bruce thought that extra forward was a better option in trying to address the goal scoring/creating problem.
It’s not like any of them were out of position.
The players didn’t put a shift in and Lascelles was anonymous as a captain. P!ss poor.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Could be the same score at Daniel Levy Stadium at the American Football game on Sunday. The Chicago Bears would need to get a touchdown and conversion for 7 points. The other team would need a safety which is when they take the ball away from the other team in their own end zone for 2 points.
7-2. Simple.
I bet that is more than the 66-1 that Stuart won with the NUFC and England cricket win he put 20 quid on. How about it Stu? Worth a fiver.
I think not, but then again that other bet…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not even sure if there has ever been a 7-2 score in American football before. It is possible as I said but I doubt it has happened. Probably could get 5000-1.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What is worse? 7-2 at home at the Daniel Levy Cheese Emporium?
Or 5-0 away and down to 10 men?
Poch hasn’t won anything but neither has Bruce. At least Spurs won’t be relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
At least everyone is talking about Spurs instead of us now 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – came on to say exactly the same thing ?. Ashley must be loving Man Utd and Spurs at the minute coz all of the media attention is on them right now.
Our protesters could do what they like at the weekend – we could only have 20k turn up. If Pogba has a sinker, or Man Utd don’t turn us over convincingly – that’s whats grabbing the headlines
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was talking about Spurs a long time ago because it p1ssed me off all of the journo’s and pundits w@nking about The Daniel Levy Stadium. I had never really been for or against Spurs before that. Then NBC had like a 2 hour live special introducing the new stadium and had Susan Serrandan on who is mother in law of one of the US commentators. They even asked her about the stadium. That was it for me. I don’t know why it bothered me but it did.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: at some point they have to stop putting us on the telly. This will be 3 weeks in a row when we are the only game in the Sat 5.30 or Sun 4.30 timeslot. At some point they will have to realise it is like torturing animals – it is not fun to watch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rashford is on the same money as Kane. Saint Harold has to look at that and think – hang on there is something wrong here, I am in my prime and scoring goals for us and England and being paid the same as that Instagram Star? Spurs need to be in the Champions League to pay for the stadium but they cannot pay their players. That’s why there are some contract disputes. They are losing 2 of their back 4 and their best midfielder. The remainder of last nights back 4 are Aurier who is **** and Rose who they wanted to sell . Then there is the midfield – Sissoko and Winks. Good luck with that for a full season.
I just don’t see how they hang on to their better players if they pay half the wages of the other top 6. Then they have to replace them and they wont afford that if they let their contracts run down and lose them for nothing.
They should probably cash in on Kane, because I see 4-8 place in their tealeaves. 4th if they have an exceptional and lucky year. I don’t see this as the big 6 anymore, I see it as the big 5 at least until some of The Daniel Levy Stadium is paid off.
THAT’S ENOUGH SPURS ERIC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Who decided Pogba was a world class player? He is possibly a world class talent, but I am not even sure of that. A player who turns up 1 in 3 games is not world class, at least if you are using Messi and Ronaldo as a bench mark. He was **** at the Euros. Sissoko was better FFS. At the World Cup he was OK but I think France would have won without him. He was also vastly overrated at Juve. His pirouettes and failed Hollywood passes were tolerated because they had the best defense in the world at the time and they could just give him the ball back and let him have another go.
I hope I haven’t jinxed us with this and talk of Rashford. JLingz to score a hattrick! Now, that’s a reverse jinx because that will never happen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)