I ask the question as we don’t know for certain, but I’d like to bet Elliot Anderson is both baffled and frustrated by Steve Bruce.
The Chronicle have revealed that Luton made a January loan bid for Elliot Anderson and offered him regular game time at Championship level, only for Bruce to ‘block’ the move as he promised Elliot first team minutes.
Well, that now seems like a very short-sighted and even dishonest statement from a Manager that has completely lost any elements of support he may have had. It also seems as if he may have made this statement to more than one “young fringe player.”
In Anderson’s case, he’s played just THREE minutes of football at senior level since the turn of the year, has often been left out of the matchday squad entirely and is now back playing with Saivet/Atsu in our U23’s.
He must be very frustrated that he wasn’t allowed to leave for Championship football that would’ve done him the world of good and surely benefited him and The Club more in the long run than what he’s getting now. Particularly as it feels like that’s where we’re heading!
It seems like a huge mistake not letting him leave on loan, as Bruce clearly feels reluctant to play him now we’re deep in a relegation dog fight. I wonder what Elliot’s thoughts are now both about his own situation and his opinion towards the Manager?
Perhaps the worst bit is, blooding a youngster when our PL status is on the line would be bad timing as it would put him under huge pressure that could break him even at the tender age of 18. Yes, he might have been seen as a saviour, but that would have added to the pressure.
I can’t help thinking that denying Anderson a loan move that would’ve been ideal for all parties must be doubly frustrating for him especially at the moment he’s not even getting a look in now despite Bruce’s assurances and the horrendous injury list we have.
If you’re good enough you’re old enough – and he looks the part, being brave on the ball, well built for his age and reminiscent of a young Ross Barkley. Patience is needed, but having him stuck with our bottom of the table U23 side when he could’ve been getting regular minutes at senior level in the second tier is classic mismanagement. No wonder he cut a frustrated figure in the second string’s 2-1 defeat at Leeds on Monday!
After Bruce’s awful handling of the two Longstaff’s, it feels like Anderson is his latest victim.
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Anderson deserves a chance specially when Bruce has said he will get game time and he blocked his loan move. I’m sure he would make a big difference probably better than what we have in the first team. What have we got to lose we are championship fodder now. It’s the same wit the longstaff brothers why aren’t they playing. A must win game against Brighton a draw is no good Mr Bruce but either way he will come out with his usual tripe saying there was some very good positives and we were unlucky. According to him we’ve been unlucky all season well we have weve got an underachieving championship manager trying and failing to manage his boyhood club, what a joke
Marty(Quote)