Another pitiful display, with a 1-0 win flattering us as we handed Crystal Palace their first win since Boxing Day in another worrying display at both ends.
Bruce vowed to change things, feeling the three January signings would give us something different, yet he picked the same side that crumbled last Sunday and failed to change the system.
He can’t continue to keep doing things the same way and expect different results!
Palace came into this one in horrendous form, often struggle at home and were their to be got at – yet they could’ve quite easily won that 3-0 if it wasn’t for Martin Dubravka.
We’ve now won 1 or our last 9 league games and I genuinely can’t remember the last time we played well. We’ve gotten away with it for months – which has often been down to commendable resilience, hard work and good luck – but that was never sustainable, and it’s starting to show.
The first half was pretty tough to watch. The wind made conditions very difficult at Selhurst Park, but there was no excusing some of our football and basic errors at times.
Dubravka kept us in it early on, making great stops to deny Cahill and Dann from corners, then Christian Benteke missed an absolute sitter moments later, miscuing his header after ghosting into the 6-yard box completely unmarked.
Bentaleb started awfully and was regularly giving the ball away, with his yellow card for kicking the ball away being one of three first half cautions for those in black and white.
We had a period of decent possession and Palace were giving us space to get in behind their midfield if we wanted it – with Zaha also paying very little attention to Lazaro when he got into good positions – but we failed to make the most of that. We sat too deep, struggled to play a passing game out of the back and, on the rare occasion broke their press, a loose touch our poor final ball often let us down.
Sean Longstaff picked out some lovely passes and Lazaro looked lively down our right-hand side, but nothing was sticking to Joelinton, Bentaleb looked way off the pace and our two wide men were struggling to get anything going – with Almiron often being forced to drop deep and Saint-Maximin drifting into central areas to try and get into the game.
It looked like we were going to get into the break all square thanks to some superb Dubravka saves and some awful Benteke finishing, but a Fabian Schar foul gave Patrick Van Aanholt the chance to make it 1-0 from 25-yards just 1 minute before half-time – and he did just that. Dubravka gambled on him going one way but he went the other, with his free-kick finding the top corner and handing Palace a deserved 1-0 lead.
After the second half collapse at Arsenal and woeful first 45 here, a response was needed – but things almost got much worse.
Jordan Ayew hit the post just 2 minutes into the restart after we failed to deal with a cut back across the box, then Gary Cahill missed another big chance moments later, heading wide after a floated Van Aanholt free kick found him free at the back post.
We needed to wake up and get something going yet, aside from a dangerous Danny Rose cross and a long-range effort from Fabian Schar, it was Palace who generally looked the most likely, with Dubravka saving well yet again after a Zaha cut back found Ayew once again.
With 20 minutes to play, Bruce then changed it, taking off Almiron and Rose and bringing on Gayle and Ritchie. I’d hoped this switch would mean a formation change and potential switch to a 3-4-1-2, but Bruce simply moved Joelinton out wide and put Gayle through the middle. We needed a genuine plan B and change of approach, not a like for like switch and ‘hope for the best’.
We sleepwalked our way to the 90th minute, with the player looking lost and frustrated, and a roar went up at the away end when 5 minutes was signalled for stoppage time.
One last push was needed after a pitiful first half display, yet we didn’t get close to the opposition box. Gayle was brought on to increase our goal threat yet I can’t remember him getting a touch – which is more to do with the flawed tactics than his lack of conviction.
To make matters worse, Palace caught us on the counter as we flung bodies forward late on and Lazaro – who’d arguably been our brightest outfield player – took out Zaha as the last man, and received a straight red with 30 seconds to play as a result.
A calamitous end to another pathetic performance.
We may be 7 clear of the bottom 3 still, with Brighton only taking a point and Villa and Bournemouth both losing, but performances like today’s are a reminder that we’re very much still embroiled in a relegation scrap.
Burnley await next weekend. You’d think things can only get better, but Bruce’s lack of tactical nous and failure to change following several toothless displays make me fear it’ll only get worse.
Grim.
Once again the cabbage has no plan B
MIND IN SAYING HAT HE HAS NO PLAN A
Well the way I see it is there is only one way we are going and that’s down
We have players who don’t know what they are supposed to be doing
We have a centre forward who in our mangers own words is a baby and is still learning ( he will be 30 years old in my mind and still learning as this guy will not score 10 goals a season in This league)
We have players playing out of position and a player in Steve cabbage Bruce’s heed saying is a natural goal scorer sitting on the bench and he brings him on with 10 mins to go
To think I played football with Bruce at wallsend boys club when he was a good player I think Man Utd made him think he was the next Furgerson
Never mind rank over
Davidp(Quote)
Did not watch the game today.
Did Joelinton improve his stat on winning aerial duels?
I do not expect us to score a goal in any game now so the best we can hope for is is a no score bore and a single point. Unfortunately that will mean relegation.
On a brighter note we can look forward to next season and derby matches with the mackems.
sidekick(Quote)
We had 25 points at Christmas and have 6 in the 9 games since. That is relegation form and did we really even deserve anything against Chelsea, Everton and Wolves? Or even Norwich? Without amazing luck and Dubravka it would be maybe 1 point from 9 games. And the performances FFS.
Bruce has form for going on death spirals.
He is sticking with this stupid system of having all of our players at our 18 yard line and wanting Miggy and St Max to run it out with no-one to pass to.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Club going from bad to worse even hardcore supporters must see it’s time for boycott, FCB does not give a **** as long as the cash keeps rolling in.
davep(Quote)
Sidekick – I can totally understand why you don’t rate Joelinton.
I just don’t understand why he is constantly the sole recipient of your criticism?!.
The lad himself says the role he’s being played in is not natural to him.
Bruce has said all week that he’s not selfish enough to be a CF – and yet he continues to pick him and play him there.
The lads confidence must be shot to **** by now!! He must dread match days as much as any fan!!.
I haven’t yet seen you criticise Bruce on here for keep picking the lad or playing him up front.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m wondering if the fact Bruce has thrown the new places straight into the team has p!ss some of our squad off.
I know the Longstaff boys are in contract talks – and I think Shelvey may also be – not sure about Hayden either actually. But for Bentalab to come in and go straight into the team is bound to p!ss them off – especially Matty, who hasn’t really been given regular football.
I think Ritchie is in talks – but Rose has been thrown straight in.
Manquillo contract is up I think, but Lazaro has gone straight in.
2 of the 3 newbies have little PL experience between them and Rose hasn’t played much for Spurs in the last 2 seasons – yet all 3 walk into our team. Not great loyalty from Bruce that imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Did you watch the game? Longstaff may be a geordie but he just isnt good enough. He didnt pick out great passes he kicked it over lazaros head about 3 times. He is just not good enough. His passing was woeful. My nan could do better and she has beendead for 10 years. Bentaleb was just as bad but that doesnt mean you should have rose tinted specs about Sean. I would have any other 2 cms in the PL over those two. Pedestrian and can pass. You cant blame the forwards when the midfield is that bad.
M(Quote)
Pedestrian and CANT pass obviously
M(Quote)
M – not sure if you read my post, but I never mentioned Sean – and if I did my point would have been foolish as Sean actually started. Im a bit lost off by your post, but sorry to hear about your gran.
I have no rose tinted specs for Sean and would have sold him to Man Utd if they genuinely offered anything over £30m for him.
You however, have emphasised my point by saying Bentalab wasn’t great either. So should he really be getting in ahead of Hayden or Matty then? (Not sure if Shelvey is fit, but him as well if he is).
Should Rose be getting in ahead of Ritchie and should Lazaro be getting in ahead of Yedlin or more so Manquillo?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy
I am not averse to criticising managers .
I criticised Rafa many times when his cheerleader , Fun Rafa , would come straight on to defend him.
I was very disappointed when Steve Bruce got the job. I fully expect him to relegate us in the near future and if he is still managing us in the Championship there will be no swift return to the Premiership.
You are absolutely correct to say I should be criticising Bruce for playing Joelinton up front.
I have criticised Bruce for playing him at all and said many times he should be dropped and played in the under 23 squad or even loaned out to try and get him some confidence because he certainly is not ready for the Premiership.
sidekick(Quote)
Sidekick – I don’t get how he can drop players to put 3 brand new and untested loanees straight in, yet he keeps putting Joelinton in, despite admitting that he’s not making the grade. I know there’s very little behind him like (in terms of alternative forwards), but he’s flogging the kid to death and it’s a mistake imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Manquillo is still injured, so I am not surprised Lazaro started. I am pretty sure that there must be a guarantee of playing time. The others though should be eased in or be backup in Rose’s case.
Bentaleb was not even training with the first team in Germany never mind playing. I doubt he was even getting any games in the reserves either.
The Spurs contract renewals were a mess and Rose had been complaining. I never rated him that highly anyway and I am pretty sure Mourinho would be happy for a disruptive influence to leave.
I had been complaining that it was totally dumb to disrupt the team and play them all right away, even of our options were limited and certain players like Hayden did need a break.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Every team we play knows how we will set up. It must be so easy to gameplan against us. Then there is the fatigue factor. Having big lump defenders chasing shadows every game must tire them out both mentally and physically. They would have to say to themselves – this is not what I signed up for. Add in the inability of our mid-field to pass and there being no outlet and you have a recipe for disaster.
I haven’t even mentioned non-scoring strikers and what the hell has happened to Sean Longstaff.
I am OK with 3 centre halfs and wingbacks but that is not how we play. We get every man behind the ball but never counter-attack in numbers.
WE ARE JUST SO PREDICTABLE.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – fair enough with Manquillo, but I’m not sure Lazaro should have come in and went straight in ahead of Yedlin either, unless Yed is unfit.
As you say, we got 31 points with the players we had – were we in a position where we needed to guarantee play time just to get players in on loan – especially to a player who has no PL experience.
I’m not saying don’t play the newbies – more ease them in. Because I do think he’s possibly p!ssed some of the senior players off by putting 3 brand new players straight in and the adjustment that causes, when they were doing well picking up the points.
Some of those players have contracts that need sorting too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think the bottom 6 in no particular order will be made up of:
Norwich
Watford
Villa
B’mth
Newcastle
West Ham
I think Norwich finish bottom, but our only hope is that 2 of those remaining teams have a worse run in than us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bentelab looks awful as does Rose whom i knew would be a bad signing, there’s a reason Spuds let him go. Oh and he got his agent to ring Steve when he saw Willems get crocked apparently so not actually scouted or inquired by steve or the club.
Lazzaro looked to be a good loan on last weeks showing , albeit he has said he won’t stay beyond this season . I thought he looked less effective yesterday and the last minute red just summed up our awful performance and i use that term lightly.
Joe is better defending than anything he does up top, he hasn’t a clue and looks devoid of confidence in front of goal.
Only one player can hold their head up from yesterday and it’s Dubravka, where would we be without him, that first save was world class. He will be snapped up if we go down .
The ONE thing we had to brag about was a tidy defense thanks to Rafa, now even that’s gone .
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sharply I agree with much of what you say but I would put my gran in ahead of Yedlin.
Groucho(Quote)
Interesting that Bruce has finally said it might be time to change! Jesus Christ how long has it taken…?! Need to attack more. Absolutely no doubt about it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim, they’re both good players but playing in this game plan?
Stuart79(Quote)
1 win in 9. What a time for a death spiral…
Stuart79(Quote)
Bentelab put two fingers to the fans when leaving the pitch
icedog(Quote)
Stuart, i don’t rate Rose, he looks overweight and unfit, maybe he’ll get back to his former ability and i can eat my words. I’m praying that Willems recovers well and returns to what he was as i thought he looked very good.
Bentaleb also looks unfit, was he getting any playing time at all before us ?
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ofcourse he did ice, doesn’t surprise me one bit, his reputation for questionable mindset seems right doesn’t it .
Misfits, crocks, send us all your outcasts seems to be our mantra under Jabba.
Kimtoon(Quote)
This club needs serious investment from a new owner and soon, cause it’s dying in front of our eyes.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: Bentelab was in a Colback situation where he was banished to the reserves to train. I don’t think they would pick him for games as he had pssed the hierarchy off. It wasn’t just the Manager. My guess is that they were keeping him fit to move him on, to anybody who would have him. But he is way off being match fit. Bruce was an idiot to put him straight in the team.
He has shown in the past that he has skills, but he has been out for too long just to get thrown back in. You have to treat him like a player who has been out with a long term injury.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How the hell do you lose to a team that has Ayew and Benteke as their main strikers? I think Palace are now safe but they are still a **** team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Must admit I have always liked Rose and was pleased we got him. However if he is fat and unfit why is he being picked? Surely his condition and that of others should be apparent in training. Bruce’s selections do question his competence. I believe he is out of his depth.
Groucho(Quote)
Question posed on the net, “who was the driving force behind Crystal Palace win?” Reply should be Steve Bruce.
Groucho(Quote)
Question posed on the net, “who was the driving force behind Crystal Palace win?” Reply should I be, “Steve Bruce. “
Groucho(Quote)
Bruce has to take responsibility for all of this. The 3 new (Bentaleb was dreadful) guys aren’t up to it and several of our decent players have lost all faith and confidence. Miggy, Sean, Schar have all gone backwards. At the top may just be the guy who is causing all of the problems with his inept displays.
georgio(Quote)
Changing the subject away from Brucie as it is depressing.
Watching Man U and this new player they got – Fernadez – has improved them a lot. Watford have actually played OK but are 3-0 down. Still don’t rate OGS but that 4th CL spot is not out of the question. Player for player they match Chelsea and are better than Spurs. With all the money they spent they should have some good players!
It will be interesting to see what happens when show pony Pogba is fit.
Norwich looked doomed. Watford have the players to stay up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ritchie and Hayden need picking next week, that’s if they haven’t been completely p issed off at being dropped .
Also, question , do St Max and Miggy get on, anyone know ? Read a rumor that they don’t .
Kimtoon(Quote)
George Caulkin
@GeorgeCaulkin
·
15h
And the biggest elephant in the room? A PL club that has had to give away up to 10,000 half season tickets to maintain the pretence of a sold out stadium. Does the manager have responsibility for results, performances? Of course. But what is this club aspiring to?
Kimtoon(Quote)
will be a new right back as well, plus Gayle. So that will be at least 4 changes. I would actually make it 5 with Matty for Sean.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, yep Matty for me too.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I just checked and Joelinton has started every PL game bar Sheffield. The lad needs a rest. That’s another reason to start Gayle.
That price tag is an anvil around his neck. I have seen so many people questioning it. There are at least 3 reasons to doubt it:
1. He wasn’t even established in the Bundesliga. Only 1 season.
2. We have seen him play.
3. There is no way Ashley would sanction 40 million flat out. There have to be add-ons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Groucho – Yedlin hasn’t been great this season, and if fit Manquillo would be in based on how he’s done this season.
But whilst Yedlin hasn’t played great – at least he’s a natural RWB. Lazaro admits to being a winger who is being asked to play RWB and struggles with the defending.
It’s also not like he’s in great form and deserves to go straight into the team.
Yedlin is apparently well liked in the dressing room, and as poor as Yedlin has been this season, I do think there will be senior players thinking Bruce should be a bit more loyal to Yedlin until Lazaro proves he should be on the team ahead of players already there.
I’m not saying Yedlin should be guaranteed a place. He’s not playing well – but then neither is Joelinton and swapping him out.
I just think it’s foolish to introduce as many as 3 new players into a fairly settled team that had done well enough to get 31 pts in the first half of the season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The giant arsed Everton Mackem goalie just made another error that led to Arsenal hitting the bar. He tried to overelaborate again in passing out and was robbed. Hope Southgate was there. Pickford needs to be dropped.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Someone explain this to me. We were playing like **** apart from Dubs and maybe St Max and Bruce saves one of his subs. Matty Longstaff and Yedlin could definitely have done with a few minutes and Lejeune got a brace from set pieces at Everton and that looked like the only way we would score.
Just look at Olly’s ratings to see any of them could have been subbed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ve watched the extended highlights of Burnley v B’mth yesterday and Burnley could have won 5 or 6 nil.
I couldn’t tell from the highlights whether that was because Burnley were class or B’mth were rubbish. But given that we have made Arsenal and Palace look good in the last 2 games, I think we’ll do the same for Burnley if Bruce doesn’t make some kind of changes (for the better).
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jesus H. Chris The Chronic are still banging on about a takeover. It is their first headline today with stock pictures of Stavely and the Sheikh. Their “news” is that their is no news FFS.
I have ignored it for weeks but it is in their “Chronicle Live” story feed so I glanced at what they had to say. And as I just said, they said nowt, fck all. And they say they don’t do clickbait.
There are some real stories out there if only they would look. Is Bruce being required to play the loanees? Is he under pressure to start Joe who has started 27 PL games. Are we sleepwalking to relegation. What do Bruce’s other Steves coaches actually do? Why has it taken Bruce this long to consider a change of system? How are some seemingly talented players playing so ****? Why can’t they play together. Why do we sit so deep, deeper than any other team in the league? Why is Bruce now blaming the players, is he Pardew? Will Bruce suddenly take off his mask like in Scooby Doo to reveal that he really is Pardew in a fat suit?
It is obvious that any takeover will be contingent on PL survival so stop giving us updates on something that is not news yet (if it ever was).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hidden in all of Bruce’s ramblings from the weekend is that he is sure the loanees will improve. I think he is hinting he might continue with Rose and Bentelab against Burnley. My guess is Hayden comes back in but unless Jonjo is fit we will see Bentelab again.
He needs to ease them in. If Rose plays ahead of Ritchie we will know there is a requirement that he plays if fit.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There is a full on fan mutiny now. It is not only directed at Ashley but his enabler Steve Bruce. I have read the places where there are the most comments – Eds, The Mag, Guardian match report – and the mood is suicidal with many doing other things rather than watch/listen to/go to the match. The atrocious football was sort of swept under the rug when we were accumulating points. But now, after 6 points from 27 the 3 Steves’ chickens are coming home to roost.
In any other club, Bruce would have 2 games to save his job. There must be alternatives out there in Europe. From some of the overachievers in Germany, Spain or Italy where there are quite a few. Our squad is not bad and they would probably triple their wages even under the Fat Man (horrible thought, got me thinking of his wife’s nocturnal activities).
Bruce’s excuses are now Pardew-esque and he is throwing his players under the bus, now suggesting they are not playing according to plan. But then in the next breath saying maybe he needs to change the plan and players. What is it Steve?
I said around Christmas that I thought with 25 points Brucie had done a good job and would probably keep us up. I also said that the way we were playing and seeing his in-game Management that he would eventually take us down. Probably next year. I sort of stick with this but things have gotten so much worse since then.
A team with 31 points from 27 games should not be relegated but unless Bruce drastically changes course it is now a possibility. And yet the Fat Man sits on his hands.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Steve’s usual trajectory is: does OK – death spiral – sacked. But we are NUFC under Ashley so who knows. I think a better manager could turn this around in a week.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, I can’t imagine there is one single employee at NUFC who is under pressure. It’s pathetic. The club had to GIVE AWAY FOR FREE 10,000 season tickets. That is literally the greatest visible evidence of what this club has now become. Nobody should ever forget that.
On Bruce, he won’t be sacked. Even if he has a Carver esque dive which I fully expect him to and we survive last day I still doubt he will be sacked. They will see this as a transitional season where Bruce has done well. Problem is because of Jabba every season for us is transitional. We transition from one mess to another.
If we lose against Burnley then I can’t see us staying up to be honest.
Stuart79(Quote)
We won’t beat Burnley, thay are able to score goals and we aren’t . Logic tells you that means we will lose.
Kimtoon(Quote)
They not thay
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – Ashley Barnes, Chris Woods, Vydra and Jay Rod … all together probably cost less than Joelinton alone.
Sean Dyche has them all playing and scoring goals – 4 bang average forwards all of which have individually scored more than Joelinton this season.
Their form so far in 2020 is only bettered by Liverpool and City.
Season after season Dyche manages to get an average squad of players playing well and are never really in the relegation dog fights. The only season they came close was due to achieving Europa football.
Dyche is the English Rafa imo and would be Ashley’s wet dream.
Sharpy17(Quote)
NBC Sports have done a strength of schedule assessment of the relegation candidates. They rate us as having the 2nd weakest and see us surviving. Obviously they haven’t watched us play recently but it will be a travesty for Bruce to take us down given the points we already have on board and our relatively easy schedule.
Click below:
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2020/02/24/predicting-premier-league-relegation-battle/
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hey Olly: you could re-work that NBC article into something for here. We are getting to the business end of the season and we may be relying on other teams doing badly for us to stay up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy , very true mate re Dyche .
Kimtoon(Quote)
I wonder if Steve has been instructed he has to start Joe given what has been spent. It makes no sense otherwise, he knows the lad isn’t cutting it in that position and even Steve’s not daft enough to keep flogging a dead horse.
He says he rates Gayle and talks him up yet doesn’t start him so i’m a bit baffled to be honest.
I still don’t rate Gayle by the way but we have a better chance playing a proven forward from the start.
I would put joe , Gayle and St Max up front have 3 in MF and 4 at the back. Or 2 in mf with Miggy in the 10 slot. We have nothing to lose in that formation and it might stop us getting overran in mf.
Kimtoon(Quote)
2 mins to go – I predict a ‘mare for the most overrated footballer on the planet – Declan Rice.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Moyes has gone with the celebrated Bruce Formation 9-0-1.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Moyes night have gone with that formation but they look a lot more threatening than we do. I’ve seen enough from West Ham tonight to show they are likely to stay up.
Stuart79(Quote)
WTF Hammers winning at the mo 😯 👿
Kimtoon(Quote)
Thank God their keeper is having a mare!
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s better liverpool
Kimtoon(Quote)
Phew, cheers liverpool, every little helps
Kimtoon(Quote)
Wham actually defended as a group and then attacked as a group. Brucie should get a video of that game to see how to move forward as a team.
West Ham have a terrible next 5 games but have some good players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Jarrod Bowen keeps them up Sharpy will have a conniption fit.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m off to Napa Valley today via Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco. Newcastle have driven me to drink. I will try and get up early for the Burnley match but if I’m being honest I have no expectation of being motivated to do so. I fully expect us to be nearer the bottom and out of the cup by the time I get back and I’m only away one week!
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – I don’t think he’s that good a player to single handedly keep them up – he was that player for Hull, but that’s a lower standard.
I do think he’ll be a very good PL player given the chance though and would have been an excellent signing for us. I do think we missed out on a good player there for a decent price too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watching the WH game last night, seeing the fans protest against their owners, their players having 30% possession, a bang average manager on the sideline looking clueless – it struck me that West Ham are just cockney Geordies really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
WTF?!?!!! – that should read c0ckney Geordies ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Been to all of them but wont bore you with too many details. Vancouver is my favourite by far. Seattle downtown is much smaller than you would think and touristy. San Fran has many very aggressive homeless so keep your temper in check.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Moyes got his tactics spot on but they still lost. West Ham are still in deep **** because they are so inconsistent. They could easily look lost again in their next game. That has been the story of their season and I doubt it will change.
Their next games are Southampton, Arsenal, Wolves, Spurs, Chelsea. 3 London Derbies! Good performances are not enough. Unless they get a couple of wins from these fixtures I think it will turn even more toxic. They already have the anti-owners banners and black balloons at the ready.
Moyes needs to perform a miracle even though they have some decent players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Ham are about evens to go down at the bookies. We are 8-1. It is all about points on the board because we have been the worst team in the league in my opinion. Especially since Christmas and I think we are 2nd bottom in the form table since then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is finally dawning on the public and pundits exactly how bad we are. About half of our games are televised on regular TV here. I would normally go to the pub to watch the others. I gave up doing that though back in September because it wasn’t worth my time and money. I still follow it but would rather listen to the radio commentary and watch whatever other PL game they show.
I have tried to stay positive on here but realise that actions speak louder than words. And my actions have been to turn apathetic about watching games. That’s not a boycott or anti-Bruce as such, it is/was an unconscious protest against the anti-football we play.
I would get up, with the game on at 9am and think should I go down the pub. Then it would be why? I know what I am it for, it is like an unforced visit to the dentist. So I would/will stay at home.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Very sad Eric. Heading a bit that way myself. Very very sad.
georgio(Quote)
georgio: I am still hopeful of this turning around a bit. Bruce must realise that the anti-football is not working now and things must change. We are bottom on almost all relevant stats but that is only a reflection of the anti-football we play and reinforces what we as fans see. He must also be able to see it. We do not have the worst squad in the league and he has to free them up a bit.
I have never seen a team sit this deep game after game. Just watching West Ham yesterday brought that fact home. Moyes set them up defensively but they were defending/pressing on the half way line not at their own 18 fckn yard box as Bruce has us playing against bloody Palace FFS, who had been abysmal before they played us and who have “strikers” who could hit a cow’s **** with a banjo.
Bruce has to change for his own good. He has the Pardew pattern of start OK, death spiral, the sack. After 30 years as a Manager he has to see this and want to break the pattern.
I see us surviving by the skin of our teeth. I would love Fatty to sack him in the summer but I don’t think that will happen. Next preference would be sack him after 10 games next season as I do not hold out any hope of a good start.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If I was the Fat Lad I would give Bruce 2 more games. If we continue as we are I would sack him and bring in Duncan Ferguson on a 2 year contract. Sack all of the coaches as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
According to Olly’s article on the Mirror’s info that Bruce is planning to do what he should have done against Palace and that is not to start the 3 loanees all together who hadn’t played hardly any football in the last year. Genius!!!
I don’t care if he plays 3 at the back again but he has to make sure that the whole team doesn’t camp out on our 18 yard line. And if we use that system, then make sure the wing backs play as wing backs.
And keep a gap between the defense and midfield. I wouldn’t mind seeing Schar given more of a license to push upfield and make it a midfield 3 when we have the ball.
Not sure about keeping Sean Longstaff. Would prefer Matty but if we play Sean I would have him on a short leash and if he has another ‘mare I would sub him at half time.
I need a win against Burnley to lift my mood. I think that would have us virtually safe and buy back a tiny bit of good will for Bruce who has lost any he had by our appalling performances since Christmas (at least before Xmas we were playing **** but picking up points).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Man City fans don’t do that stupid Posnan **** anymore. Remember they would turn their backs to the field and jump up and down after a goal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s the football Eric. I’ve seen much worse United teams than this but at the moment everyone else looks better than us. All of them including Norwich, Villa etc. We get played off the park every bloody game. Soul destroying.
georgio(Quote)