Every Newcastle fan is jumping for joy at the prospect of Saudi Arabia’s billions being pumped into our club.
Every Newcastle fan, except Steve Bruce that is.
Day one of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s potential reign will be met by a massive elephant in the room – ‘what on earth do we do with Bruce?’.
Anyone with half a brain will tell you that the most important figure at a football club is the manager, and by splashing out £300million on NUFC, you can be sure that Staveley & Co will want their own man at the helm.
If you spent that much on a house, you certainly wouldn’t want the previous owners wall paper in your living room.
Whether you like him or not, Bruce could quickly become a dead-man walking on Tyneside. To say the reaction to his appointment last summer was poor is an understatement, with many voting with their feet and vowing to stay away from St James’ until Ashley was gone.
Many, myself included, thought we were dead and buried. The departure of Benitez, Rondon and Perez appeared too big a job for Bruce to fill. He was obviously going to be tainted by his stint at Sunderland too, with fans feeling this was another one of Ashley’s tricks to intentionally wind the fans up. Remember Kinnear and Sports Direct Arena?!.
The football has been woeful, but Bruce has surprisingly steadied the ship and kept us in the league, reverting to a back five has worked wonders and we even have an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to – coronavirus permitting.
He has managed to convince the majority of the fanbase that he is just about up to the current task at hand (which is keeping us up these days), but you’d do well to find a single football fan who’d feel he is capable of achieving the ambitions our potential new owners are likely to have.
One man who springs to mind is Mark Hughes. The Welshman was in charge of Man City when Sheikh Mansour came strolling into town, and most feel he was always on borrowed time from the get-go.
When he was replaced by the more fanciable Roberto Mancini less than 18-months into the gig, this marked the beginning of a City era spent competing at the upper echelons of the Premier League.
Bruce could suffer a similar fate, and the romantic return of Rafa Benitez is what some Toon fans are already hoping for. Staveley is thought to be an admirer too.
Let’s not forget, Bruce hasn’t always been the most loyal of dogs himself over the years. As well as both North-East clubs, Bruce’s CV consists of Aston Villa, Birmingham, Sheffield United and Wednesday.
He has reached his ceiling as a manager. He certainly won’t be poached for a job bigger than Newcastle and any exit would likely see him make the move back down to the Championship.
If a takeover is to be the end of Bruce’s stint at the club then our fanbase should only wish him well. After all, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia certainly wouldn’t be interested in freeing us from Mike Ashley if we were sitting in the bottom three.
I saw your comments, Eric and agree. In 2014 circa 20,000 people in this country died of flu.
Let’s assume that seasonal flu this year hasn’t effected anybody because all cases have been coronavirus. Let’s take the average death toll from seasonal flu over the past 5 years (Jan-May) and deduct it off the tally of coronavirus “deaths”. That will give us a better idea where we are and the actual net effect this is having on our citizens.
Look at Sweden. FFS! They are seeing cases reversing some days. They did it differently and did it the correct way in my mind.
Our government were bullied into it by the media and Eric, you are spot on about the media. They’re only interested in point scoring against governments. It’s pathetic. I’ve stopped watching the press conferences and interviews. Just wake me up when we can get back to some sort of normality which will probably be next year if the media get their way.
Stuart79(Quote)
What they are doing is spinning a crisis as a way of selling their pizza.”Oh, isn’t this all terrible and you are all stuck at home, here’s some videos of our store owners acting all caring and concerned – now STFU and order more Pizza!!!”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I do think there are a lot of folk with corona who even if they get really ill still won’t phone 999 as at the moment it looks like once you go in you don’t come out 🙁 They want to be with family if they are gonna die.
Think the press and government could help here by reporting recovered cases in hospital to allay some fears.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stu, it’s been reported this morning that Sweden are seeing a sharp rise in Care home settings due to covid, there is growing concern there apparently.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Don’t think you can really compare it to flu, it’s not flu for starters. It manifest itself in very different ways from incubation period to final outcome. It’s not so spread out either, it’s a lot of cases in one wave, unlike flu which even when it peaks isn’t quite such a storm as this thing
If i got flu tomorrow i will infect 1.5 people likely, if i get corona and go out before symptoms show i will infect 3.5 people, hell of a difference.
Stu, Eric, without lockdown how many deaths do you think we’d have right now ? genuine question.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stu – how do you get a sense of perspective that way then?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Imperial college london researchers into virology say that had we not locked down ,UK would of had up to 490,000 deaths from covid.
We will never no i guess but food for thought.
KIMTOON(Quote)
know
KIMTOON(Quote)
The lockdown was put in place whilst they got the infrastructure in place to cope with the spike – to build the likes of the Nightingale hospitals and avoid the existing hospitals and NHS staff facing what the Italians had.
Whilst they got the right testing in place – which they still have not done!!.
It wasn’t and isn’t a case of bunker down til it’s all over – it was buy us some time so we can get our **** together – but they still haven’t.
It wasn’t media driven, it was driven by advice from top scientists and medical professionals.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well it would at least give people an idea of how it compares with other seasonal viruses that have the ability to cause death. All were seeing at the moment is this death toll that goes up and it’s big numbers now. Over 15,000? How does it compare to seasonal flu in terms of deaths? If in 2014 we had a death count it would have been similar I’m sure. But we didn’t. Why? I think there have been something like 200,000 people tested Positive and 15,000 deaths. That means 185,000 have lent died. Any chance of seeing that in the media? No – why not? As I said perspective.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oliver Holt of the Mail is saying the NUFC takeover is a new low for football and questioning why our fans are not more critical. Stan Collymore is calling it immoral. So, you have the usual publicity seekers getting on their high horse and seeking publicity!
I don’t really know what my view is. Can I justify this by saying there is a lot of bad out there (thanks Cat Stevens)? Trump had that massive pomp and ceremony conference in Saudi. Bush sent the Sauds back home after 9/11 when no other planes were flying. Abramovic pretty much raped a Russian province and then fled the country. The UK and US sell arms to the Saudis. Do 2 wrongs make a right?
I know I will not be getting all sanctimonious like the Daily Mail and Stan Collymore. There are too many other examples of turning a blind eye to make NUFC an example.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – they’re flying by the seat of their arses on this I’m afraid. Last month the number was 250,000. This from the same guy who said similar numbers would die from SARS and got foot and mouth horrifically wrong. There’s no definitive on this and that’s why governments around the world have no idea what to do or how to do it.
Sharpy – European governments had to take the lead from China and from what we saw and heard from China there was no reason to think this wouldn’t be similar to SARS. But clearly now the Chinese were lying out of the back teeth and covering everything up. How were Europe to know?
On testing, Germany actually manufacture the test kits and that’s why they had so many. They even banned the export of them so they could use it in Germany. There was and is a international shortage of two of the components required for the tests. Every country on earth wants them. It’s not really reasonable to expect the UK to have as many as was needed when we look at it sensibly. Same for PPE. Over 1 billion PPE have Ben distributed in 5 weeks. How many more can actually be made in such speed. Again perspective.
I’d also be amazed if the NHS was treating the PPE any different to any organisation that didn’t pay for things. They will be wasting them like normal. Also, many of these care homes are private. Why are they bleating on about not having enough PPE from the NHS when they’re privately owned and funded? Are we now to believe that all these business owners who have been castigates for years have now developed a conscious and aren’t trying to take advantage of the Situation?
Stuart79(Quote)
The same Oliver Holt who flew over to Saudi Arabia to watch Anthony Joshua fight. Clearly not too morally outraged to take advantage of their hospitality I see…
Stuart79(Quote)
I think the argument of Oliver Holt and Stan Collymore is that if you don’t object to the Saudi takeover of NUFC then you implicitly support the Saudi regime and their record on human rights. Where were they before this takeover. Were they campaigning to be on the board of Amnesty International? Donating a % of their salary from their high horses at the Mail and Mirror. Like fck they were! Now they are all concerned having never mentioned it in their lives before.
As I said, I am not sure where I stand on this because it is a bit of a moral dilemma but there are moral dilemmas everywhere it seems.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – but the difference is we know and understand other seasonal viruses better than Corona. We cant stop them killing off people who are seriously ill and catch it – and you are right, would have likely died anyway. But we do have a vaccine for the flu that saves a lot of very ill people from dying without it.
The reason the figures for Corona are so high is because we don’t have anything in place to fight back yet – your perspective is that really. It’s bad now, but once we understand it better and have vaccines in place, people will still die because of it, but a lot less once we can understand it better.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric, Miguel Delaney is also having a pop. The same guy who’s employed by The Independent that is part owned by Saudi’s… You really couldn’t make this hypocrisy up.
Stuart79(Quote)
You’ve basically made my point for me. Millions of people are vaccinated each year with flu jabs yet we see thousands still die each year. Nobody had been vaccinated so far in respect of coronavirus and yet deaths aren’t outrageously over and above seasonal flu.
I’m not saying it’s easy or That it’s nothing to worry about. I’m just asking for perspective in comparison to other similar diseases. I’m my view we have completely over reacted in the actions we have taken and will cause more deaths than Coronavirus could ever dream of.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stan Collymore also calling out the Saudi takeover on morals grounds. The same guy who works for or at least did work for Russia Today. The state owned broadcaster who’s owners tried to assassinate two British citizens on the streets of Salisbury.
Stuart79(Quote)
There were moral dilemmas with the Fat Man and child labour etc in his Chinese tat sweat shops. That never stopped The Mail from supporting him. He even gave an exclusive interview to Martin Samuel there. All we need now is Rio Ferdinand to condemn the Saudi takeover 🙂 Or even Richard Keys and his fat buddy from Qatar getting on their moral high horse as well. That would define hypocrite. You could look it up in the dictionary and see hairy hands, no teeth Keys in the margin.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – good on Germany for looking after their own. The testing is a real can of worms for me.
But the care homes and their PPE – the NHS and private care homes have to buy in their PPE – but the government aren’t charging the NHS VAT on theirs, they are the care homes – fair?.
They have also built extra hospitals and recruited extra staff, both rushing through newly trained and bringing back recently retired – they done nothing to help bolster care staff.
My mother in law works in a care home in Aycliffe – 5 have died due to Corona and 6 are in isolation because of it – and she’s had it herself and recovered (perspective) but perspective doesn’t help her cope with nursing those residents.
My cousins daughter works in a home in Newcastle. She gets in from work and has to strip down and wash her clothes immediately and shower immediately before going anywhere near her daughter.
Both have been deeply effected by what they are dealing with mate. The government have failed the care system – and it was the old and vulnerable who were most at risk.
Oh and I don’t know if you knew, but the hospitals have been moving COVID positive patients into care homes for palliative care and because it’s easier to isolate them from other hospital patients they have a better chance of nursing through it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – yeah but we don’t shut the Country down for the flu either mate. If Corona we able to spread as freely as the flu, I suspect the figures would look a lot worse.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s not a hard solution. Lock down the vulnerable. Allow the healthier in the country to continue their lives, get the virus (and yes the odd person would inevitably die) and get immunity. That would help the vulnerable more than anything and also allow our economy to function and raise the money needed to fund vital services.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy – I’m not really sure what difference it makes whether private care homes pay VAT or not. They reclaim it back three months later of off set against the VAT they’re receiving. No issue.
Stuart79(Quote)
Not really how it works Stu. The virus doesn’t understand that it should focus on those who can recover from it and leave the vulnerable alone. The vulnerable also need some of the fit and healthy to care for them – but those fit and healthy have lives outside of caring too – so how do you make sure they don’t take an invisible virus into the homes with them. A lot of vulnerable aren’t in care homes, there’s a lot who still live in their own homes but need carers to go in and help.
That solution sounds a bit survival of the fittest. Step aside old and vulnerable, you’re slowing the rest of us down.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – million’s of pounds is the difference mate. That they need now, not in 3 months time.
If that’s the case, why doesn’t the government say the same to the NHS – because they know the need for that money is now for the NHS, so why would care homes be any different??.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – just to correct you on something as well. We haven’t taken our lead from China, we take our lead from the WHO who’s responsibility it is to make sure the information isn’t lies, and should challenge any discrepancies – hence why Trump has stopped his payments to them as they haven’t done their job properly.
Sorry bit I think that’s important too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Who did the WHO take their lead from? There is only one place they can take their lead from and that’s from a country where it starts…
Stuart79(Quote)
China feed the information into them but so does every Country. So by the time it was heading for us they would have data from China, Italy, Spain and anyone else with cases of Corona – they were able to provide a much bigger picture than just how it effected China.
Perspective as you would say.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If more vulnerable people stay inside they’re less likely to catch it. This isn’t about survival of the fittest, Sharpy. It’s about protecting the vulnerable while allowing the rest of the country get back to something like normal which will in turn provide money for people to be cared for. You don’t seem to have any comprehension about the impact this is currently having on the economy and the impact it’s going to have in the future.
By allowing the healthiest to go out it will instantly reduce strain on the NHS, those infected in care homes by workers can then get the treatment they need. People hospitalised will be a lot less than if the whole country were allowed out all at once. So far from your survival of the fittest jive it’s the total opposite. It’s protection of the vulnerable.
It’s also been missed by you that people will clearly changed their behaviour which makes transmission less likely and then the caters are less likely to be passing it on to patients. People, having seen the impact will wash their hands more frequently, places will have hand sanitizers everywhere, people will continue to social distance in shops other places and people will instantly know when to self isolate if they come down with any symptoms. It’s also a fair assumption to make they the government will have far more test kits available in the next few weeks than they did at the start of this. All pointing towards less people with the virus and less spreading.
What’s your solution? Sharpy other than just continuing to break the country in bits?
Personally I think it’s unacceptable for any government to put the whole country‘s future at risk like they risk doing currently.
The question is, Sharpy – at what cost?
Stuart79(Quote)
Sorry I know this is a football blog.
I just don’t care as much about what Oliver Holt or Stan Collymore have to say about anything.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Who did Spain and Italy take their lead from?
Stuart79(Quote)
I suppose, in Lehman’s terms I saying something has to give. We can’t continue like this. Where we will have no money to fund the NHS, the police, education ect… Let alone the millions of people who’s health will be negatively impacted what about the explosion in suicides and mental health cases if this goes on. Do they not matter? Is it only coronavirus victims who are important these days? It seems so – that’s why we’re on lockdown for another three weeks. Let alone the children who have now no education.
Stuart79(Quote)
Worth a comment this. I read a great piece in the paper this morning asking the following question:
If you are old or vulnerable or both and have a choice between possibly catching the virus or living out what could be the final year life without ever seeing your children or grandchildren again what would you choose?
These are the questions that are going through peoples minds in this lock down.
Stuart79(Quote)
Classic example of the pathetic media. Today deaths are in the 600’s which is a big drop and great news in the scheme of things. What does the media lead with? “Coronavirus deaths rocket through 16,000 mark”. Pitiful absolutely pitiful.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – you were making this point 2 days into the lock down – you’re like a caged tiger.
I get that it’s frustrating and trust me, the economical impact is far from lost on me. I have plenty of family members on furlough. My mam works for Dorothy Perkins in the Metro Centre – the owner is Phil Green who closed his Outfit shops before all of this kicked off and his other shops were already at risk. With Warehouse closed down during COVID, she’s at risk of loosing her job. But, she’s 64 and recovering from breast cancer so COVID could be far more costly than loosing her job mate.
If go out and get it was the best solution, the government had that option. But having taken the advice, they opted against that and that every Country before us had went into lockdown I can understand why to be fair. Who knows if it was the right call – but it would have been mad dangerous to go the complete opposite way to everyone else.
The lockdown was right whilst the infrastructure was put in place. Now the Nightingale hospital is built and functional, testing is taking place daily at IKEA car park and we are in a better place – I would ease the lockdown – not lift it completely, but certainly ease it to maybe no more than 50-100 people in social gatherings.
For places like the Metro Centre you adopt a one way system with social distancing and face masks to minimise the spread.
I’m not sure we need pubs and restaurants reopened just yet though.
My solution would be face masks Stu. The evidence certainly suggests they could protect enough to start taking steps back to normality.
If people could start going to funerals, meet up with friends and go shopping it’s at least a start – even if they insist on a curfew or something like that in the very beginning.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The World Health Organisation mate, who would have analysed data from China then offered their advice and recommendations.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Totally understand and agree.
The post regarding the choice of the elderly and vulnerable is a huge emotional strain – and will effect mental health too – coz my old don’t have the tech for video calls for example.
Your post on the media report – also agree. Poor onesided wording.
Sharpy17(Quote)
sunday death rates always low because of delay in registering deaths, it will be back up tomorrow sadly.
Stu, on the social care point, these carers go in and out of many homes in a day so shielding the truly vulnerable is almost impossible.
I have seen lots of elderly out at supermarket because they cannot get a delivery slot.
One of the few small mercies re this virus is it doesn’t effect kids, if it did and these numbers related to children then i suspect a lot more would respect a lockdown.
KIMTOON(Quote)
As for collymore and Holt, did they kick off when a saudi prince took over Sheff utd ? Have they had much to say about Qatar sports investments owning PSG, and their human rights records for folk working on the new stadia over there?
I’m sorry but there are sections of the press and other fans /explayers who just don’t want us to ever achieve anything.
Were they kicking off when our Queen hosted the Saudi royals at Buck palace or when our Government was selling them arms ?
Why is it Toon fans have to be the moral conscience of our country .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kimtoon: there seems to be a section of the media who do not like NUFC. They almost bask in seeing us fail and there are enough on Ed’s blog to keep that going for another 1000 years 🙂 Ed and his son seem extremely nice but that lot on there – I wouldn’t p!ss on them if they were on fire. Especially Tsunki.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – we are uniting Arabs with Jews and it’s being negotiated by a woman … how many boxes does that tick man??? ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
Haven’t read Eds in quite a few days. I cant bear to read their self congratulating cheerleaders who think they have anything to do with Ashley leaving. A firm offer, C-19 and Ashley’s other companies imploding is what is making this happen. Not some w@nker on Eds who wanted to march on Charnley’s house and scare his wife and kids. And gave out his address.
Let’s be totally clear on that. It was not NUST or that idiot on Eds that made this happen. Ashely was not influenced in the slightest by any of those people.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s enough of my b!tching. This self isolating is not doing me any good 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Excellent point and our would be new owners have today pledged $500 million to various global health charities in the fight against covid19.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Or rather the Saudi Government has.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric, I rarely if ever go on Eds, some of them are ok but there is way too much bitching and bickering on there. They seem incapable of reasoned debate without getting very personal .
KIMTOON(Quote)
That’s the difference Kimtoon, mate. Sharpy and Stuart can disagree but can be mostly civil about it. I said a few things to the Aussies and I regret that. But the things I said were not totally nasty, just some recollections of people I have met and tarring AMF and Brisvegas with the same brush. Maybe a bit well served with alcohol on a few occasions as well 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t self-flagellate, Eric, it makes no difference to me what you say.
A few responses before I leave you to your little kaffeeklatsch:
1. Re Saudis – I recall there was moral outrage from fans when we signed Wonga as a sponsor. It’s not just media tarts that act outraged to fuel their bias.
2. Can’t wait to celebrate losing Ashley.
3. I hope that when we do come out of lockdown we adopt a system that cares more about people than money. Remember that it is our local communities that are keeping us going – the very communities that neo-liberal capitalism tries to destroy.
4. Media (particularly British newspapers – apart from The Guardian) have been ***** for decades. Interesting to see those that are usually its cheerleaders are now critical when it suits their ideological agenda.
5. I’m sure there are things but I was speed reading through the comments.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I will take off my hair shirt BrisV.
it is a bit complicated isn’t it. Are we expected to fix world politics, a 2000 year + argument in the middle east and make Trump not crazy anymore. When all we want is a good football team !
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh, and have Lee Ryder write a decent article and more than 200 words.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Guardian! ???? They have more correction pieces in the paper than news stories.
Stuart79(Quote)
Been watching Trump having some cracking dust ups with journalists out there.
I wish some of ours had the balls to challenge our government in the same way!!.
Why in the lockdown are flights still coming into the UK. On Thursday for example, a chartered flight landed from Romania with around 150 farm workers on it.
I understand that farms still need to operate, it’s lambing season and crops need harvesting. But, with all of the jobs lost in this Country, do we really need to be flying in foreign labour?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m not going to allow myself to start thinking of players we could sign when the takeover happens –
But instead, expecting this is going to be a building process – who from the current squad would stay?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dubravka, At least 4 of the CBs not sure about the WBs. CM one or two might be squad players. ASM & Almiron. Probably upgrade say 6 players.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – which players would you keep mate?
What formation would you like to see?
And what positions would you prioritise?
Sharpy17(Quote)
We are going to need a backup keeper, a right back, central midfielder, winger and a goalscorer. I doubt we will keep any of the loan players apart from if Willems fully recovers. The others were Ashley cut price specials who we got because they weren’t playing at their clubs.
All of the other players are vulnerable except Dubravka, St Max and Almiron. That doesn’t mean we will get rid of the whole team immediately but we do have to make some room. Those to go:
Carroll, Yedlin, Atsu, Darlow and a centre back.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree with Sharpy on flying in foreign labour to harvest crops.
We have thousands of asylum seekers in this Country , mainly young fit people , who are not allowed to work until their asylum is granted. In the meantime they are given a room in a hostel and an allowance of £37 per week.
I would imagine that these asylum seekers would be very willing to live and work on our farms and earn a wage rather than rely on our Government to support them.
sidekick(Quote)
I don’t understand the logic of people saying keep Bruce until the end of the season unless your 1st choice wont move during the season. We are pretty much guaranteed safety so use the 9 games as a pre-season for a new Manager. Poch and Allegri are available so we wouldn’t have to take a flyer on the likes of Gerrard or Viera.
And if people say we couldn’t attract Poch or Allegri then what about Bielsa at Leeds and Ancelotti at Everton?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My preference on manager would be Poch. I know Eric favours the German lad and I’d take him, but I think Poch knowing the league and having already proven he can build a squad with Spurs – he’d be my choice.
I think keepers are fine for now (in terms of priorities)
Centre backs are fine (in terms of priorities)
Full backs need upgrading both sides.
Midfield I think we need a Tiote and a Cabaye type midfielder – young Matty could potentially be that Cabaye type player I think.
Wing forwards I’m happy with ASM and Almiron, but the right side needs improvement.
I don’t think I need to say forwards – that’s obvious.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, That’s exactly what I said, but I used less words 😛
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sidekick – why restrict it to just asylum seekers mate? – if they want to pursue a career in farming then by all means – but what about young British people who may want to pursue a career in farming.
We should be investing in apprenticeship and promoting career paths into things like this and other occupations that depend heavily on foreign labour – and there is nothing racist attached to that at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: do you think we need a Director of Football. I think I would give Nickson a C based almost entirely on the failure of Joelinton. Man City, Chelsea and PSG have shown you can buy success. But then there are other examples of clubs throwing money away like Fulham, Villa and Everton. We need a plan and I don’t think it should involve Bruce and Nickson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
? players wise it is. Who would you like as manager mate?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – I think they should have a director of football. I think it will be a clean sweep and all new faces in in terms of running the club – which is good but will mean there’s nobody who knows NUFC and what we are all about.
I would see if we can tempt Sir Les from QPR. He’s worked with the Reubens at QPR, and has also experienced NUFC firsthand – only for 2 seasons I know, but I think he would get what’s important to the fans and would be a good middle man imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Would anybody shed a tear for Bruce? I wouldn’t. We have been Dubravka away from bottom 3 all season playing the most unattractive brand of football I have ever seen. I see a lot of people, mainly pundits, saying he has done an excellent job. No he hasn’t, he got very lucky and wasn’t willing to change until very recently. I often wondered what him and his coaches did in training? Surely they couldn’t be coaching the 9-0-1 formation but that is what we saw every weekend.
There is no loyalty in football and Bruce shouldn’t be shown any. I know he is not the only one, but Bruce has been willing to jump ship. At Sheffield and also when he went to Birmingham to work for Sullivan and Gold.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You just have to look back at match day comments on here to believe it is the right move to sack Bruce. Dubai Toon would be bouncing off walls every half time. To a man (and Kimtoon) we would all be complaining about the quality of football. Cheering the LUCKY and Dubravka driven results but knowing we were lucky. I have often wondered if any of the pundits praising Bruce had even watched any of our games. Not the high profile ones like Man U and Liverpool where we have become accustomed to tonkings, but Brighton and Norwich.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy – I nearly agree with you about US. I really wish some of our politicians would have the balls to call out our media when in press conferences or interviews. The media have acted disgracefully for a while now.
I agree about the flights. Why we are still allowing non UK citizens in is beyond me. There’s enough people in this country who can pick fruit ffs! If we only need 150, Christ!
Stuart79(Quote)
The players I’d keep –
GK – Dubravka, Darlow, Woodman
CB – Lascelles, Schar, Clark, Fernandez
LB – Dummett (as back up)
RB – Yedlin (only as back up)
MF – Shelvey, Hayden, Longstaff bros
LW – ASM, Joelinton
ACM – Almiron
RW – Ritchie (as back up and only coz he’s just signed a new contract)
CF – clear out the lot and buy 2 new ones.
I do think someone like Poch could improve some of those players like Joelinton – we won’t get £40m back and I think he looked better on the left – he’d do as back up to ASM for now I think.
I think we need a first choice RB, LB, a defensive midfielder and creative midfielder, a first choice RW, 2 forwards and maybe a back up ACM.
That’s 8 all together for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would keep Darlow as a back up keeper .
I would sell Yedlin , Krafth , Saivet , Atsu , Gayle and Muto.
I would love to get rid of Joelinton but we would take a massive financial hit on his sale. Might be better to keep him and see if he could turn into a decent no 10.
Of the loan players we have an option to buy :
Willems – great defender but serious injury risk – buy and keep fingers crossed.
Lazaro – does he really want to play for us ? – buy if he is willing to commit.
Bentelab – not sure , I am on the fence on this one.
We definitely need a proven striker , regardless of cost , and another good striker as a back up.
sidekick(Quote)
And Bruce goes on death spirals, most notably at Sunderland and Villa. The negative part of me had been expecting an 8 game losing streak at some point. There have been so many games where we should have lost, Chelsea is the one that immediately springs to mind. I know I am flogging a dead horse but I reckon Dubravka has probably saved us at least 10 points. And how many goals do we have? Is it 24. Less goals than games anyway.
And the stats. We are bottom in almost all of them except saves made. Is that the sign of a good manager? No, it is the sign of a very lucky manager whose luck would have eventually run out. Let’s put him out of his misery. He seems like an OK guy, but we need someone better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OK Manager
1 Ancelotti
2 Conte
3 Lucescu
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sidekick: I forgot about Muto. I don’t think we can give Saivet away. I think he will do a ginger Jack and just run down his contract, or we could buy him out of it! Time to get rid of the dead wood.
We have some PL quality players and we can’t get rid of them all in one transfer window.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would love for them to prioritise a training facility upgrade too – it’s probably been a lick of paint in the last 10-12 years.
Also, let’s really develop a top academy. We used to be a region that produced some of England’s best players!!.
Kids in this region still love football, and it’s generational – they still wear the Newcastle and Sunderland strips, despite how sh!te the football has been in the NE. I really don’t see many Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Man Utd tops up here.
Let’s get an academy going and improve our scouting system locally and globally and bring players through the ranks. I’d much rather we spent £70m doing that than on one player.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We will probably get a statement signing. Remember Man City’s was Robinho who turned out to be totally unsuitable for the PL. Then they went out and got David Silva and Aguero so their DoF redeemed himself.
Even with the Saudi money it will be a while before we can compete on wages as they cant blatantly flaunt FFP like Citeh did. And Alexis Sanchez is supposedly on 400k a week plus bonuses. There’s just no way we will be in that market for years.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – as long as you only nearly did mate. I’m not sure what would happen if we completely agreed on something – some kind of Matrix reaction I reckon ?
Sharpy17(Quote)