“You can talk about tactics as much as you like, it’s all about players”.
Incase you haven’t seen it already, this is what Steve Bruce told the press this morning when asked about our struggles this season.
Essentially, he’s playing down the importance of his tactics, formations, team selections and instructions to his players and instead insists that it’s all on them.
Whether he realises it or not, this is him throwing his squad under the bus and deflecting any responsibility away from himself when it comes to the grim situation we find ourselves in.
Yet, in reality, if it was solely down to the quality of player at the club we’d be closer to the top 10 than we would the bottom three, with all this talk of his squad “not being good enough” for anything other than a relegation battle being the biggest myth on Tyneside for me.
After all, we have arguably the best striker in the bottom half, an exciting attacking trio of Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Fraser, a top goalkeeper, a host of solid centre-backs and a left-back Liverpool wanted before he got Bruced.
There’s plenty limitations to this side, but for Bruce to suggest this season is on them more than his ‘tactics’ is laughable when this is a man who fielded a 5-4-1 formation featuring four centre-backs and a midfielder out wide against a previously winless Sheffield United!
Also, it’s become quite clear that any genuine identity and tactics the players have bought into have only come about since Graeme Jones arrived on the scene – something that’s coincided with improved performances and deserved wins (which have been VERY rare under Bruce) against Everton and Southampton.
It doesn’t really need explaining as to why Bruce’s comment is painfully dated and reflective of the era he still operates in, but if it was players > tactics then Sheffield United would’ve been relegated last season – not finished 9th – Leicester would’ve never won the title in 2016 and Burnley could have never stayed up for five years. Leeds are another example – plenty ‘Championship’ players, yet a manager, system and style that has them pushing for a top 10 finish on their first season back.
This is not a witch-hunt. This is a manager who regularly gets called a “nice guy”, yet in truth has no issue throwing his players under the bus 24 hours before our biggest game of the season.
Saying that, if it was all about the players and his ‘tactics’ aren’t all that important, he could always walk away and leave them to it…
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What’s the old saying? Far better to keep your mouth shut and let people assume you’re an idiot than keep opening it and confirming it.
Bruce has no credibility left and very little time at this club. He will always be remembered as one of the worst managers this club has ever had making even the likes of Pardew look like Guardiola.
taken4mugs(Quote)
The clown has spoken
Ricky(Quote)
No more than I expected from spineless excuse of a so called manager. He probably got his coaches badges from the back of a cereal box. How many times does this guy need to get sacked to prove he is not a so called coach.
Paul Estebanez(Quote)
Brilliant and accurate assessment ?
Ron(Quote)
How many more times do we have to put up with this Arseholes jibes against these players.
Steve Bruce couldn’t run my bath, never mind a football team.
I just hope we can get a Manager who knows what Football is all about instead of this useless Prat. The Premier league hiarchy should
Exile or Ban this Prat from Managing Premiership Football Teams once and for all.
David Martins(Quote)
*** this clown we call our manager never seems to take responsibility for any of the endless bad results we have had. He now says its the players who are at fault christ this man is an absolute joke. Mr Bruce who picks the team ????. Shelvey has been horrendous bring back the Longstaff brothers and change Darlow to our number 1. Just listened to Bruce losing it when asked about laughing with Solskjaer, would anyone be happy with yet another loss taking us nearer to relegation wether uve known the bloke 20years or not
Marty(Quote)
Olly – I’ve never heard anything so daft for ages.
So why have the likes of City have spent hundreds and hundreds of millions on players when all they needed was a decent manager?
Oddly Rafa agreed with Brucie.
What was it, something like it would need a miracle to keep this team up? Surely he was talking about the quality of the players and not his ability.
If it was about the manager then injuries would make no difference to a team’s performance.
Bruce is 100% correct – it’s about the players. Always has been, always will be.
What you call Bruce throwing the players under the bus, other might call just telling a basic truth.
BykerBill(Quote)
Yep, another mention for the fat waiter, get over it.
Garry Wallace(Quote)
Bruce’s agent returns
Olly Hawkins(Quote)