jackyboy

I assume Ashley refused to release Bruce so Spurs went for their second choice

Can't believe he's not in the England squad, the man's on fire

Watched the game yesterday but the buzz has gone fore me and I doubt it will ever return. Been watching and supporting my team for best part of 70 years but Ashley and the cabbage have killed that. The team from the keeper to the midfield are Rafas team apart from the LB and play in the way that Rafa drilled them to so I don't expect any real hammerings. The front 2 wide men just get the ball and run at the defense hoping something gives. ASM despite his talent and workrate doesn't even look for a pass once he gets over the half way line. Almiron has lost confidence and does his run then looks for the easy safe pass rather than try something which might not work. Joelinton is on his own mainly challenging for high balls and is beginning to look frustrated. Luckily we have Bruces dynamic substitutions, Atsu for ASM and Carroll for Joelinton. Why not Gale with his pace? why Carroll all of the time. Has he ever influenced the side when he's made his substitute appearances, certainly not in my eyes. If we stay up it will be because of our (Rafas) defensive players and system and not any input from the cabbage

We are winning games not because of Steve Bruce but despite Steve Bruce.

Truth is, if Bruce won the treble here I'd still hate and never ever respect the guy. I've always dreaded having him as manager when we were linked in the past and I still feel the same about him now

His old manager says that defenders just don't know what he's going to do next, unfortunately, nor do his team mates and nor does he

I think any team would have looked good against that West Ham team on Saturday. Probably the worst 'hammers' performance I have ever seen. I never rated Pellegrini when he was at Man City and he's done nothing to change my opinion.

He said himself that at half time HE DECIDED to defend the 1 goal lead. How can that be the players or Rafas fault? What pisses me off is that he never gets pulled by the press on some of the ridiculous things he comes out with

Keep 10 men behind the ball, defend deep and hope that ASM or Miggy does a miracle dribble and score from a hopeful punt forward. Those are the tactics and it's called front foot football

He says he deserves respect???? I was always lead to believe that you earned respect and he certainly hasn't earned any from me

How on earth can Bruce say that it's a big blow not having Andy available. The man's delusional

To be honest I think that Rondon would look crap being left on his own up front under Bruces set up

About 5 years ago I went to one of evening with Jimmy Greaves nights and he was brilliant. Sadly not long after he had the stroke which pretty much ended the man we knew. Anyway on his show he talked about Andy Carroll and what he said sticks in my mind. '32 fucking million he said, that's ridiculous. You can't coach a striker on anticipation, they've either got or they haven't and Andy Carroll hasn't. He only tries to get on the end of something AFTER the ball has been played. He never anticipates what might happen and make runs into those positions. Yes he's big, yes he's a handful but he can always be stopped because you know what he's going to do' And so it went on, and when I watch Andy Carroll Jimmy Greaves was spot on

I feel exactly the same. I switched the game on, watched the first 20 minutes and just wasn't interested. In fact I wanted Chelsea to score. I'm 75 and used to get excited in the build up to the game but Ashley/Bruce have destroyed it all. Even this forum feels like it's dying, hardly any posts now, so bloody sad.

They will never stamp out racism in football or anywhere else. It has always been there but in years gone by it was called banter. Now it gets fed on social media and news channels which gives publicity to those seeking to create aggravation and it's become much more aggressive. Best way is to ignore it, laugh at it Alf Garnett style.

Take away the penalties and it's not great. Spent too much time as a thug to be a one of the greats

He must have something because Ashley knows how to pick winners when it comes to football

Having watched the first few games I doubt Joelinton will never ever be as good as Rondon was. He just looks like a raw Andy Carroll to me and why on earth Carroll gets the reception he does when warming up or coming on is embarrassing, you'd think it was Messi coming on and not some failed injury prone centre forward from 10 years ago

I have always rated Bruce as a grade 1 tosser and over the years when he has been linked to the club I have dreaded him coming here. Worst fears now fulfilled, the only consolation is it might just hurt Ashley

man U were successful with the Neville brothers so Bruce thinks the same will happen here

Man U are having trouble scoring so sadly I can see us getting a point and having to listen to Bruce telling us what a great performance it was against a very good Man U side.

Carroll will be able to use his physical strength for the 10 minutes per game that he's on the pitch

A season ticket holder at Villa says that this would be typical Bruce. He says at Villa they had some really good young players but Bruce didn't know how to set the team up to get the best out of them so they finished up on the bench. Looks like more of the same

Won't take too long before the players get fed up with being criticised and booed and then rebel in the dressing room. It won't get rid of Bruce but it would be nice to see him suffer a bit more. He looks like he is in the verge of a breakdown anyway so any little nudge will help

Feel really sorry for the guy and can see Bruce making him the fall guy. He is being asked to play a totally different roll to that under Rafa. He is playing far too deep and can't be expected to make runs with the ball and score goals starting from his own penalty box. He will soon be dropped in favour of lumping the ball up to Carrol and Joelinton