Sheffield Utd 1-0 Newcastle: BRUCE OUT – Excruciatingly bad, yet entirely predictable

Bruce out.

We’ve seen some rubbish since Steve Bruce took charge, but this is a new low for his Newcastle United, with us allowing a previously winless Sheffield United side to play us off the park in a well deserved victory for the Blades.

Yes, we went down to 10 men via two idiotic tackles from Ryan Fraser in the final three minutes of the first half, but we set up so negatively, sat too deep, were passive throughout and took until the 83rd minute to get our first shot on target.

We looked lost all over the pitch and a side that had zero faith in the man that had essentially sent them out to ‘try not to lose’ against a bottom of the table Sheffield United who’d drawn two and lost 15 of their 17 league games before today. Is it any wonder we looked flat from the off when THIS was our plan?

An embarrassing display and perhaps one of the most negative and unacceptably poor approaches to a game I’ve seen from the team I used to adore watching every week. Not now.

That’s now no wins in our last EIGHT in all competitions and TEN hours of football since we last scored a goal from open play, with us also having a woeful 33% of the ball in this one. The results also means third bottom Fulham (who sit 8 behind us at present) now have TWO games in hand on us.

Before the game, most on social media were absolutely bewildered by Bruce’s negative-looking line up before kick iff – and with very good reason. If five in defence wasn’t bad enough against the league’s bottom side who’d scored 8 in 17 games this season, it was even more alarming to see Dummett at left wing-back, Hendrick, Sean Longstaff and Hayden in midfield and Fraser the only attacking player in the side capable of creating for Callum Wilson.

Why was Matty dropped? Why stick with a back five against a side who have been there for the taking all season? Why set up against a winless team as if we’re travelling to Anfield hoping to steal a point? It was beyond grim, and Bruce got what he deserved in the end.

The game kicked off and it was an unsurprisingly scrappy affair over the opening 10 minutes. Lots of long balls, several sloppy passes and neither side able to take control of the game.

It was difficult to know who was playing where, with Longstaff and Fraser regularly swapping sides and Hendrick playing down the middle. One thing was quite clear, mind….Wilson was isolated as ever.

Then to the first few chances of the game, which both fell to men in red and white. First it was McGoldrick who got in behind an AWOL Fernandez and fired too close to Darlow, then Lundstram skied a shot high and wide after finding space in the box seconds later.

The Blades were getting too much joy down Yedlin’s side and were well on top now. We looked lost, passive, were sat far too deep and struggled to string more than two passes together in their half as a result. It was a truly turgid start that was reflective of Bruce’s unbearably negative set up.

Wilson then had a rare touch in the final third and should’ve done better, with Fernandez’s fizzing cross headed wide by the usually reliable striker. It came at him quickly, however he’ll be annoyed to have missed.

Usual service was resumed moments later. First off, we gave them too much time to cross and saw McGoldrick rise above Dummett at the back post – only to head over. Another Blades attack then followed, but we got away with it via Clark’s brilliant block to deny Burke’s goal-bound strike.

If the opening stages weren’t dull enough, this was becoming quite possibly the most infuriating and shambolic approach I’ve EVER seen from a NUFC side, who should’ve been set up to hurt this winless Sheffield United side – not sit off, sit deep and gift them opening after opening.

One counter attack three Newcastle players (yes, we got THREE in their box!) resulted in Osborn blocking a powerful strike from Hayden, but that was as good as it got…before another wave of Sheffield United chances arrived.

First it was Burke, who was through on goal and likely to score before a flying Fernandez bailed us out with a heroic sliding challenge, then a ball across the box was somehow hooked clear from Dummett before Darlow batted away a Bogle striker after the Sheffield United wing-back was allowed to dance through our defence and into the box.

We’d handed them the confidence they’d never had all season by sitting back and gifting them time, space and far too many chances, however we then shot ourselves in the foot in brainless fashion as Fraser picked up too stupid yellow cards in the space of three minutes to see red.

The half-time whistle went and it was the best moment of the first 45 minutes. We know how bad we can be under Bruce, but this was a new low. Not one shot on target (the SIXTH time we’ve done this in a first half this season…more than anyone else in the league), 38% of the ball, an idiotic red card and incredibly fortunate to be level, with Sheffield United having 10 shots and coming close on countless occasions.

After the break we moved to more of a 4-1-3-1 with Schar screening a back four in front of Fernandez and Clark, however that didn’t stop the hosts creating yet another big chance just a few minutes into the restart as Darlow made himself big to block another big chance for Bogle at the back post.

At this point Sheffield United had 65% of the ball, with them picking up from where they left off just before the break and bringing on a striker for a defender in Rhian Brewster.

We were sitting ducks and had managed just 12% of the ball over the first 10 minutes of the second half. Grim….yet it was about to get even worse.

After just about surviving the constant pressure Sheffield United were putting us under with the man advantage, Fernandez was caught swiping the ball away from Billy Sharp with his hand. The prolonged VAR check was ominous and the referee pointed to the spot after looking at the pitch side monitor.

Sharp stepped up and sent Darlow the wrong way to give the hosts a 1-0 lead to put them just 15 minutes away from their first win of the season. It had been coming and was exactly what both they and we deserved.

Steve Bruce’s response? Bring on Andy Carroll and hope hoof-ball to the big man could save his bacon this time around.

Sharp should’ve seen red himself moments later for a cynical and nasty challenge on Schar, but it was somehow ignored by VAR and the original decision of a yellow remained.

Our first shot on target arrived in the 83rd minute via a Wilson header hit straight at Ramsdale, however that was soon followed by a deflected strike from Brewster that came back off the post and into Darlow’s gloves.

The hosts were getting edgy, yet we constantly gave them the breaks in play they needed via a host of needless fouls – several coming from a frustrated Fabian Schar who had clearly lost his head since being seethed down by Sharp.

Six minutes of added time did feature a tame Jacob Murphy free kick hit straight at Ramsdale and a Bogle header that just went wide of his own goal, but the Blades held on for their first win of the season.

We all know Steve Bruce is not a Premier League manager and stealing a living at St James’ Park, but that was a new low even by his poor standards.

He has to go.

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

274 thoughts on “Sheffield Utd 1-0 Newcastle: BRUCE OUT – Excruciatingly bad, yet entirely predictable

  1. Back to Trump. If it wasnt so serious, it would be funny. He is now supposedly refusing to pay Giulliani. I have always hated Giulliani. He used 9/11 for political purposes and I always saw through that. It should be really funny watching the two most corrupt people in New York go at it. The NY Bar association are even considering removing his law license.

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  2. Eric Sykes:
    Back to Trump. If it wasnt so serious, it would be funny. He is now supposedly refusing to pay Giulliani. I have always hated Giulliani. He used 9/11 for political purposes and I always saw through that. It should be really funny watching the two most corrupt people in New York go at it. The NY Bar association are even considering removing his law license.

    Eric, he’s a politician- that’s what they do. They use circumstances for their own gain.

    On another note I would like to know two things;

    1) Why are more people catching Covid in hospitals?
    2) Why are hospitals sending people back to care home’s without being tested for Covid?

    If we find out that the latter is a government plan then I will be the first to criticise them but I have a feeling it isn’t. There really is no excuse for the NHS to not test people before they send them back to care homes.

    Not everything can be the governments fault so I’d like to know who’s taking responsibility for this or is it just the lesser of the two evils?

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  3. Stu, there was a care home manager on GMB saying he is taking in post covid patients to help out an overburdened NHS, i’m sure he won’t be the only one. It’s people who were hospitalised with it but now in recovery. I assume they are testing negative on discharge to his home, there have been no cases to other residents in the home so far.

    On the hospital issue, my daughter has a nurse who works on covid wards living in the flat downstairs in her property who has just tested positive. She said she was in full PPE and very careful as all the staff are, yet she still got it. Now Hazel, her fella and hazels lodger all have to isolate for 10 days.

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  4. Oh and the nurses chap too, that’s 4 people unable to work for 10 days. Hazel is losing out the most as she only does bank care work for Brandon trust and for me 2 nights a week, she won’t qualify for SSP, and i have lost a carer for lew for 3 nights out of the 10.
    It could yet get worse if anyone of the 3 non infected adults start to show symptoms.
    Very scary that full PPE doesn’t stop infection too.

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  5. I suppose there’s a good chance they catch it somewhere else then, Kim? Maybe in the supermarket…

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  6. Arsenal were terrible yesterday. They can rest assured we will allow them to play themselves into a bit of confidence

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  7. Stuart and Eric – can’t you just email each other with all this non football stuff?

    I see Ighalo’s loan is almost up. He’s only 31. I’d give him a go.

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  8. georgio:
    Stuart and Eric – can’t you just email each other with all this non football stuff?

    I see Ighalo’s loan is almost up. He’s only 31. I’d give him a go.

    No. It’s more interesting than football anyway. But then again so is Dickinson’s Real Deal

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  9. Stuart79: No. It’s more interesting than football anyway. But then again so is Dickinson’s Real Deal

    Does he still wear suits that are two sizes too small?

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  10. OK Stewie. We can leave now that georgio has said so and we can watch for 1 post per day from others and 1 a month from georgio.

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  11. georgio:
    Stuart and Eric – can’t you just email each other with all this non football stuff?

    I see Ighalo’s loan is almost up. He’s only 31. I’d give him a go.

    Georgio – Ighalo is on something like 200k a week or more mate. Don’t disagree he could be a decent option but there’s no way we’d pay even half his wages.

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  12. How did the swear check let you say D!ckinson? It doesnt let you say **** or c@ck, Even in a name.

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  13. Oh, and Trump will be acquitted. They brought the wrong action. They can never prove that he sent insurgents to the Capitol. His words were too nuanced and he didnt march with them.

    They should have impeached him on his tapes. Just like Nixon. It is on tape that he tried to subvert the election. That is easy. A speech on the hill ginning up his morons is hard to prove that it was treason. He committed treason, on the phone. That is what they should be going after.

    Sorry georgio. What am I supposed to talk about? Anderson?

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  14. He said: “It’s something we have to address and I can understand the frustration myself. Watching it myself was so disappointing.

    “We’re not easy on the eye. We have to erase that first half against Sheff United and do what’s better.“

    He’s been saying this for 18 months. He’s either lying or he’s not capable of it.

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  15. After fielding a five-man defence against the club’s rock bottom side, Bruce said: “In hindsight, I picked the wrong team so I have to come in front of you and accept that.

    “The performance wasn’t good enough.

    “We have done OK against big teams and big opposition, and I went the wrong way.

    “In hindsight, I picked the wrong team“.

    People will say it’s good he can admit it but I’m sorry, it’s even more worrying that he actually made that decision to play the formation and tactics.

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  16. kimtoon:
    Great, so now the Brazilian variant of covid has been detected here.

    Doesn’t really matter if all it does is transmit faster than the old virus. We already have that one – were well ahead of the curve

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  17. Stuart79: Doesn’t really matter if all it does is transmit faster than the old virus. We already have that one – were well ahead of the curve

    Kim – just seen it on the news now. The virologist who made the claim has now retracted the statement. It’s not the Brazilian variant after all… If they don’t know what they’re doing what chance have we.

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  18. The Chronicle taking over the batten from the national media with the negativity fest.

    Headline: “Pensioners forced to queue in freezing cold to get Covid-19 vaccine at Centre for Life”

    Later in article: “It is understood that patients turning up early for their appointments was the reason behind the huge delays for vaccinations.”

    Do they not have any idea what they print? They’re useless. What if some old people are reading that and decide not to go because of this headline?

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  19. Eric – do you mean our Anderson (nephew of Geoff Allen) or Phillipe Anderson at WHU?
    Ours looks a real prospect but we’ve had that before with the Longstaffs, Aarons, Arma etc. Still I’d give him a go as an attacking midfielder.
    Fellipe- very very talented but prone to going missing some times. Well out of favour with Moyes. Another I’d give a chance to.

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  20. Stuart79:
    After fielding a five-man defence against the club’s rock bottom side, Bruce said: “In hindsight, I picked the wrong team so I have to come in front of you and accept that.

    “The performance wasn’t good enough.

    “We have done OK against big teams and big opposition, and I went the wrong way.

    “In hindsight, I picked the wrong team“.

    People will say it’s good he can admit it but I’m sorry, it’s even more worrying that he actually made that decision to play the formation and tactics.

    Stu – no issues with the 5 man defence – it’s the 3 midfielders & personnel that he put in that system.

    3 CBs is fine if you have wingbacks – Dummett is not a wingback, he’s a full back or CB – his strength is not getting forward & putting crosses in.

    The 3 midfielders he went aren’t known for getting into the box – and it was evident early on in the first half that wasn’t happening.

    You can kind of forgive it if his options were limited, but he had Almiron, Joelinton, Carroll & Gayle all on the bench.

    I can understand if he wanted to rest Joelinton & Carroll – Joe has played quite a few games & Carroll played 120mins against Arsenal. But Almiron & Gayle haven’t played much and would have been fresh enough for that game I reckon.

    He got it totally wrong from the start. But my biggest problem is he sat and done nowt about it, despite having the players on the bench.
    His first change only came when Dummett got injured.

    You watch him on the sidelines and he is regularly talking with the other Steve’s – are they all missing it?
    What are they talking about? – are they pointing it out and he’s ignoring them? – is he asking their advice and they are talking him out of it?.
    Ultimately it’s his decision, but it blows my mind that a team of 3 of them, none of them are getting it.

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  21. georgio:
    Eric – do you mean our Anderson (nephew of Geoff Allen) or Phillipe Anderson at WHU?
    Ours looks a real prospect but we’ve had that before with the Longstaffs, Aarons, Arma etc. Still I’d give him a go as an attacking midfielder.
    Fellipe- very very talented but prone to going missing some times. Well out of favour with Moyes. Another I’d give a chance to.

    Ours

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  22. Not to worry, Bruceys taken his gloves off. Sit back, relax & enjoy the free flowing, all out attacking, samba style football people ⚽️??⚽️??⚽️??

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  23. It is sad what Bruce says. He says he wants us on the front foot and we are a work in progress. He makes his excuses for who we have played and why we played the way we did. That excuse is partly valid. But then he sets up with at least 8 defenders against Sheffield fcn United!

    Can somebody please ask him about what 2 false 10s means at his press conference before Arsenal. I am really interested to know if he knows what he meant.

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  24. I think Bruce might not know who he is dealing with – the NUFC fans, I mean, we parse the Manager’s words, we follow football and our team. We actually listen to what he says. 2 False 10s! Of course he would get feedback/blowback. This is not Wigan where half the fans think they turned up for a Rugby League game.

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  25. Not sure Bruce needed the foul language in his interview like.

    Let’s add unprofessional to list of qualities shall we.

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  26. Eric – it amazed me just how much he played down the term ‘under pressure’ – if he doesn’t believe he’s under then it’s coz he’s not under pressure from Ashley.

    He kept referring to other clubs like Arsenal, Palace and Wolves going through a difficult spell – 2 things to that – 1. The fans aren’t complaining about the run of form – we are going through a run of difficult games – it’s the total lack of effort to try and win the games that has us p!ssed off. 2.1 those teams he mentions are trying to win their games. 2.2 he doesn’t manage those teams & more importantly we don’t support them – so nobody gives a **** about them!!.

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  27. Hopefully Bruce will stop after the first two lines of “My Way” and just fck off:

    And now, the end is near
    And so I face the final curtain

    Hopefully, Arsenal is his las game but I suspect he will get Villa, Leeds and Everton.

    4 games, 3 away and how many points do we expect. I think we will be lucky to get 1 point. Will that be enough to see him on his way, his way!

    The likeliest scenario is that we get 1 point and 1 goal. I havent looked it up but I think that would be 2 goals and 2 points in 12 games. Yeah i know you dont get points in the cups but I am trying to make a point here 🙂

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  28. You should all go to NUFC.com and see Bruce’s full quotes. It is the most passive-aggressive drivel I have ever seen from a NUFC Manager. More cringingly self serving than an Ugly John rant. NUFC.com say this is Bruce’s 11th Manager’s job and he has quit 8 of them. So much for him saying he will see it through.

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  29. Eric Sykes: Can somebody please ask him about what 2 false 10s

    Using Longstaff and Fraser as false 10s is hardly inspiring. I’m sure they could do it in training sessions but neither of them are anywhere near good enough to pull it off in a game. And if there is no support for them (especially from the wings), how are they meant to get up to the areas they are supposed to get into? They spend all their time on the back foot.

    We must be the only team in the PL where the midfield gets isolated.

    I can see the theory, but we just don’t have the talent for that sort of game. We ended up with 1 deep lying 10 who couldn’t get forward and another who tried to be everywhere and only succeeded in getting himself sent off.

    I think Bruce has a mindset of shoehorning players into roles regardless of their skill set rather than looking at the skill set and devising roles for the them.

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  30. I’ve always agreed with Eric. He has a very well developed sense of the world, impeccable political viewpoints and insightful opinions on all things Australian.

    Ahem.

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  31. BrisV: I know I am am **** sometimes. My views on Aussies were based on very limited personal contact. Some idiots I met in Munich when I lived there, others I met on a 3 week trip to Egypt where they tried to get the guide fired and then a boyfriend of a friend who turned out to be a bit of a Psycho when he was off his lithium.

    I let that cloud my vision a bit. Not about you and AMF, but I forgot that my favourite cricket commentators were all Aussies. Benaud and Ponting and even Shame Warne. I realised you are not all bad. Just the majority.

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  32. I am still trying to get over what Bruce said. That he was blaming the mindset of the players that Rafa had supposedly instilled 18 months after he, Bruce, had got the job. How can he have the balls to say something like that? Is he that VIZ character who carries them around in a wheel barrow?

    He really is making less sense than Ugly John now.

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  33. Not looking forward to the Villa rearranged game either. I can see 2 penalties in that one. Fernandez, Lascelles and Schar are a Grealish dive waiting to happen.

    3 away games in the next 4. Leeds at home. Bruce saying he will now play Bruce-ball, whatever that is? I have changed my mind and think we will get zero points. I was a bit optimistic before hoping for 1 point.

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  34. Yes Eric, Bruce is essentially saying that for 18 months he continued to let the players play like they did under Rafa even though that wasn’t “his way”. Who takes a job and does it someone else’s way?

    Is he saying the players prefer playing this turgid football? Where attacking players are asked to defend for the majority of the game? But now he’s going to burden them with attacking football…? I think he’s delusional.

    He’s not capable of changing that’s the real issue here. He won’t admit it. He’s not as honourable or honest as someone like Keegan.

    Does anybody expect to see a change in the way we play? I don’t.

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  35. Bruce is on very thin ice blaming the players and even Rafa for his own shortcomings. A majority of the fan base still revere Rafa so he is picking a fight he cannot win. I actually think Rafa was vastly overrated at NUFC and was going downhill at Napoli and Madrid. Maybe his ideas had grown stale, I dont know. I am in the minority though and Bruce is an idiot for picking this fight when he doesnt need to. I think he must have got his hand on Pards’ and Ugly John’s book of excuses that they left in the office.

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  36. If there isn’t a distinct change in tactics over the next few games Bruce is going to look even more of a idiot. Because he’s told us he’s doing it his way so we can judge on that. But our next few games against teams who we will continue to defend deep and surrender possession so Klee won’t see any difference.

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  37. He is really boiling my pee now with his latest excuses.
    Is he seriously blaming Rafa for his tactical shortcomings ?
    Just f*** off Steve, you have no honor or sense of decency . Funny how the managers who came after YOU at clubs YOU managed did so much better.

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  38. It could be a repeat of McClaren saying judge me after 10 games and then when we get there moving the goal posts. Arsenal should be a decent test of the new Bruce. I have wactched quite a few of their games and they can be got at, even Palace outplayed them some of the time.

    Stuart is right that he is digging his own grave. At a normal club that is. But will Ashley sack him. Can anybody see us getting any points from the next 4 games. Sheffield was our chance and look what happened there.

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  39. Stuart: you still on Covid Vaccination Watch?

    I will say something that is obvious but I never hear politicians over here say. You dont have to vaccinate the entire population to see results. You are vaccinating the most vulnerable, the most likely to die. The figues show that 80% of the Covid deaths are 65 and over. What % of the population is that? Maybe a third, tops. And then there are kids who they are not even looking at yet so the truly vulnerable will be about 20-25%. That’s actually not that many people and will be covered with about 20 million shots in the UK.

    After the Xmas surge and vaccine rollout you should see deaths plummet. It is a bit of harsh thing to say but it is the ones now in hospital that have to die to see changes in the numbers.

    I just hope this all comes through in the stats so they can reopen when they said they want to.

    Over here Biden has a plan to vaccinate 50 million in 100 days. On top of the 13 million or so already done that should be enough to get the rates back to what they were in the summer.

    I have an out of state trip planned in Mid May and I am certain I will be able to go. If I went today I think they wouldnt let me out of the airport as I do not have an address for 10 days and they require a quarantine. Maine borders Canada so the weather would be **** anyway.

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  40. Also Stuart: i will agree with you on the media. Not about Trump’s “fake news”. It is him that pumps out more than anybody in cahoots with his Pals at Murdoch’s Fox News. He just repeated that term so much that his followers accept it. No, it is a different way that the news is reported – bad news sell, gets eyeballs, gets clicks. So that’s what the media concentrate on so that’s the picture you get. Even if vaccinations are on target you will get the news about delays, gaps in the pipeline, deaths etc. And the best (worst) person to spread that news is Chicken Little himself – Piers Morgan.

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  41. Eric, there’s already been a reduction in hospitalisation of over 80’s since the vaccine started. But 14m people are expected to be vaccinated by mid February. That’s everyone over 70 in the country plus the clinically vulnerable. That equates to 9/10 deaths in the UK from Covid.

    There really will be no excuse not to lift some of the restrictions at the end of February with a view of having most restrictions lifted by April. But I don’t think that will happen unfortunately. There doesn’t seem to be a sensible realisation that we also must live with it.

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  42. Eric Sykes:
    Also Stuart: i will agree with you on the media. Not about Trump’s “fake news”. It is him that pumps out more than anybody in cahoots with his Pals at Murdoch’s Fox News. He just repeated that term so much that his followers accept it. No, it is a different way that the news is reported – bad news sell, gets eyeballs, gets clicks. So that’s what the media concentrate on so that’s the picture you get. Even if vaccinations are on target you will get the news about delays, gaps in the pipeline, deaths etc. And the best (worst) person to spread that news is Chicken Little himself – Piers Morgan.

    Opposition politicians are as bad. Jon Ashworth who’s the shadow health secretary said the vaccine roll out was going well but then said instead of the 14m target by mid February it should be 30m. Just doubled like that! Easy as that. It makes me sick the party politik that I see everyday from politicians and media alike.

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  43. The numbers favour Biden. He is coming into Office with at least 2 vaccines approved over here and I think the Astra Zeneca one will be green lighted soon. So, get over this surge and it will look like a miracle as the numbers come down. Places of business and schools will reopen and the economy will surge and unemployment plunge. It would have happened even if Trump was reelected but Ol’ Joe will get the credit. Karma can be a b!tch sometimes you orange monster.

    The new administration are even changing the name of the vaccination effort from “Operation Warp Speed”. This is good PR for Biden as this will fade from people’s memory and Trump will get even less credit. He doesnt deserve any BTW as at best he ignored Corona Virus and even promoted practices that would aid the spread, mocking people for wearing a mask.

    I think Piers may even reluctantly have to say something nice to Boris which will make Stewie happy.

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  44. over two million deaths worldwide now with the virus,is there anything action wise we should take against China who kicked this off,surely they must pay some how???

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  45. surely jabba must take action over Bruce this cannot go on his track record at every club hes been at is the same so hes not going to change he must have the worst track record of any manager in any lge,no change and jabba is in big trouble over any chance of a takeover they wont buy a ccc club

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  46. If football can get through the next couple of weeks without a big outbreak I think it can remain open. I am changing my tune a bit. I really think they should have had a pause but as the number of deaths comes down they will have a reason to play on even as there are some new cases in football.

    There, that’s as positive as I can be for one morning. I will get back to slagging off Bruce. I’ll even give the team selection for Arsenal a go.

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  47. Washington is going to look like North Korea next week. The pictures sent around the world will send a very damaging message about the current state of the USA.

    They have 25,000 troops in camouflage with automatic weapons. The Washing Capitol Police numbers 4,000. This is just to protect congress and there are regular police on top of this. They are putting up giant fences all around The Monuments and the National Mall. They even have massive concrete barriers to stop vehicle entry for fear of car bombs. It will look like a war zone and the Orange Man-Baby wants a salute from the Military on the morning of the inauguration. He is a first class clown. How will the optics look for that Donald!

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  48. Ice, they won’t sack him, sadly they never learn. We will sleep walk to relegation again at this rate.

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  49. kimtoon:
    Ice, they won’t sack him, sadly they never learn. We will sleep walk to relegation again at this rate.

    hows the house hunt/move going mate??

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  50. So Carers uk got the Government to agree to put unpaid carers like me and many others into group 6 along with disabled people with underlying health concerns due to the people we care for being at risk if we contract the virus.
    Yippee i have jumped one place 🙄
    Lewis is also in group 6.

    My daughter and the lass who comes in at night for 3 hours are in group 2 because they are paid carers .

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  51. icedog: hows the house hunt/move going mate??

    Ice i have decided i was born under a black star mate. The drain survey on the bungalow is a horror show ! cracks , displaced joints and a blockage that prevented them going any further . Also not able to access a rear foul man hole due to neighbor erecting a fence over it! There are two surface water pipes that also run across the front lawn and rear lawn with defects which cross over into right hand side neighbors and possibly more properties . Paid £270 for a drain survey they couldn’t complete, they scoped 68 meters of pipe !
    They can’t even give me a quote because at the moment we don’t know full extent of damage to fix or what i would be responsible for and what is shared responsibility and what is wessex waters liability.
    I now need the vender to contact Wessex water to find out about the foul manhole they couldn’t access and what exactly is the bungalow owners responsibility. Will the vender be happy to do that, god only knows.
    Until i know what is my responsibility should i buy it i cannot get a quote.
    They may well just put it back on the market and hope the next buyer doesn’t check the drains.
    Really upset tbh mate .

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  52. Oh and with other cost i have blown £500 so far, i thought it would be 3rd time lucky Ice, who am i kidding.
    Just praying the vender helps out here now as i still want it .

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  53. When West Brom scored I thought our week would go from bad to worse but now Wolves are 2-1 up. West Brom have some tough games including a couple of relegation 6-poiters:

    West Ham A
    Man City H
    Fulham H
    Sheffield A
    Spurs A
    Man U H

    I think they are down. If they dont beat Fulham and Sheffield I think they are certs. Oh, the look on Fat Sam’s face when that happens. As the season progresses I might even watch his press conferences. There is nothing better than that arrogant pr!ck trying to cover for his failures. WBA players better watch out for buses as they are about to be thrown under a few.

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  54. Icedog:
    That’s a. bloody SH:tmate surely your luck must change at some point

    The drains condition doesn’t scare me Ice, they can be fixed, but i’m not prepared to take on the cost of it , especially because i don’t know how much it will cost because the scope was not finished and we don’t know who has responsibility for what.
    It’s really up to the vendor now like, only they can ask wessex water for help on that not me 🙁
    Worried what the house survey will find now too .

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  55. I reckon I might be able to get the vaccination in April. I am not in a high risk group but just thinking numbers wise. There are 14 million already done, plus another 50 million by then. The kids are not on the list so that will takes out 75 Million in a population of 330 million. Then there was something I hadnt accounted for – The Trumpers. A lot of them wont even get the vaccination, they think it is all a hoax. I think you have a few of them over there as well. My mother said there were.

    I hate to be so optimistic, but there is light at the end of the tunnel on both sides of the pond 🙂 Just have to wait the next 2 months out. If they open the pubs here I am going. The numbers are already below what’s needed in Chicago but they are playing it safe after last time.

    I hate to give Stewie encouragement but I think the news will get better from here.

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  56. Eric Sykes:
    I reckon I might be able to get the vaccination in April. I am not in a high risk group but just thinking numbers wise. There are 14 million already done, plus another 50 million by then. The kids are not on the list so that will takes out 75 Million in a population of 330 million. Then there was something I hadnt accounted for – The Trumpers. A lot of them wont even get the vaccination, they think it is all a hoax. I think you have a few of them over there as well. My mother said there were.

    I hate to be so optimistic, but there is light at the end of the tunnel on both sides of the pond ? Just have to wait the next 2 months out. If they open the pubs here I am going. The numbers are already below what’s needed in Chicago but they are playing it safe after last time.

    I hate to give Stewie encouragement but I think the news will get better from here.

    I don’t need encouragement, Eric, I just plough on.

    I have a trip booked to New York and Seattle in March but that’s not going to happen so I have also booked for Sept as a replacement for when they cancel the flights.

    Three things will determine when we are back to normal for me:

    1) Pubs open without restrictions
    2) Can go and watch a game of football again without restrictions (not that I’d be rushing to SJP)
    3) Long haul flights operational again regularly

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  57. Stuart: I have a good friend who lives in Seattle. I have been a couple of times recently and can give you a few tips. Its not very big so you can see it in a couple of days. Lots of money there now because of tech so it is very expensive and the waterfront is touristy. My favourite place was an old Grunge bar downtown where Nirvana played. Still has live music. I will get the name for you if you go.

    Boll0cks, I jinxed Wolves. Big Fat Sam will be his unbearable self.

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  58. Brighton have the current longest PL winless streak at 9. They always look OK and then they lose. Maybe it is the sign of a BAD team when they play well and lose. You know, the opposite that old adage where they say it is the sign of a GOOD team when they play badly and win.

    Next longest winless streaks are 6 games – NUFC, Fulham, Wolves.

    Unless Brighton get their **** together they could go down. Still think it is Sheffield, West Brom and one other.

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  59. I think we have a very good chance of pushing the winless streak to 10. I know Sharpy does too.

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  60. Eric Sykes:
    I think we have a very good chance of pushing the winless streak to 10. I know Sharpy does too.

    Eric – what annoys me is that I don’t buy into this Championship players craic I’ve heard from Bruce and some of the pundits. I actually think we have some very decent players & set up correctly, with the right motivation, I think we’ve got a group of players that could give any team a real game this season. I’m not saying beat anyone & everyone – but certainly compete & even pick up more points than we have already.

    You watch Brighton & their players aren’t better than ours – but they are motivated & play with a belief that the manager gives them. They play some lovely football to watch & I know people will point out they are below us in the league but they have drawn as many as they’ve lost – they don’t have the forward to convert the wins, I think we do in Wilson.

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  61. Table will look a helluva lot worse in 4 games time. Does anybody give us a chance against Arsenal? Fernandez is out which gives Bruce cover to go 4 at the back. We will probably see Lascelles back and maybe even Manquillo. Let’s see who Bruce plays in a non-Rafa formation. It will probably be 4-3-3 in name only because we know we will play 9-0-1. C’mon you fat cabbage prove me wrong!

    Darlow

    Manquillo Lascelles Clark Dummett

    Hayden Shelvey Matty

    Murphy Wilson Miggy

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