alexf

Do people remember the Roeder taking over from Souness moment? Where instantly suddenly everything felt fresh, the dark clouds disappear, the sun was out and the team start performing again. Was helped by Shearer breaking the record in the first game ofcourse. But it would be great if something similar could happen. I'm just worried the damage is done and it would take someone like Rafa who already knows alot of these ayers to save the season. Anyone else and I'd have concerns that they wouldn't have enough time to stop the rot and find a system that gets us scoring but protects our inadequacies. Because this is a shit Premier league squad in general, but there are a few talents like ASM and Wilson who can save us if the right system and tactics were implemented. Also badly need to strengthen the midfield before the window closes but that seems incredibly unlikely.

I remember Dubravka's first game. Yes he made alot of impressive saves but I remember being even more impressed with his organising of the defenders around him. I think he needs to come back. Darlow has exceeded expectations but is starting to make silly errors for goals again. In fairness, his goal gets peppered with shits every game so there's bound to be one or two thst slip past. However i've also no doubt Dubravka makes all the saves Darlow does if he had been playing instead. We just take alot of shots so it makes the goalkeepers look great cus they are so busy.

It's all irrelevant because we're shit, Bruce etc.... But in a world where I actually cared. I know it looks like it doesn't matter because he was likely behind the ball but the talk last night about how it was "close to being offside but it doesn't matter because Schar played the ball" is total bullshit. He only plays the ball because he thinks Watkins is onside. Pre VAR the flag would have gone up if the linesman thought he was offside as the ball is played and that would be that. But they don't put flags up anymore. They wouldn't then go..oh but he's stretched to play it so play on. They were trying to say it was like the villa one the other night which it wasn't. There was a player standing offside but didn't effect the defender deciding to control the ball. He then got tackled, City player who was onside then scored. Very little interference. But last night, flag doesn't go up so what was Schar supposed to do? Assume he's offside and just let the ball go past him in the hope it goes up? Total bullshit.

Not that it would happen ever but I wouldn't want him back with no takeover, because if he did then what the fuck was the point in the last 18 months of torture. Fuck I hate Ashley. Destroyed any enjoyment I ever got from this club ?

Have to say. I probably agreed with this point before I'd paid enough attention to Bruce, before he joined. But having now experienced how he conducts himself. I think we're splitting hairs with these two cunts. Both frauds and conmen who just deflect and hide in plain sight, stealing a living.

Mind just goes back to probably the best performance during the Bruce era. Last year against Bournemouth away. But it was as much them being atrocious as us being decent.

Not convinced Howe would get this team firing and avoid relegation considering the way things went for him last year but we're in abit of an anyone but Bruce situation right now. Obviously much rather the takeover and Rafa but I don't think it matters. If the takeover was real then you'd think money won't be an issue in the way it has been for us for last decade. I mean we're rumoured to be sticking with Bruce because of a measly 1 mil pay out for god's sake.

Something like this doesn't happen to any other club in the entire football league. It's basic admin. Surely a renewal is fairly simple when they are still an existing player. This reeks of someone forgetting. Not surprising when majority of staff are furloughed.

One thing that really bugs me is the line about Bruce "matching" Rafa last season that keeps getting trotted out. It's blatantly obvious to all of us that the deep embedded tactics of Rafa carried the team and the it ran itself last season and would have finished where it did by default. What would have been good would be if you take the team forward and improve on the previous. Rafa was building something and there's little doubt in myind we were getting better year on year. It's actually impressive how quickly Bruce undid all the good work before him. He would have actually been better off riding the coat tails of Rafa longer.

Always notice now that we can never keep the ball after a throw in. This was never a thing before Bruce right? ? Surely that's just bad coaching

The sad thing is, even if we got humped worse than Liverpool did against these, I still wouldn't be sure if he'd be sacked or not.

That's probably fair. Although assumes that the new owners definitely want Rafa back. Which we don't know for sure.

He'll do the exact same with ASM. Probably start him today and then whinge woe is me when he does his hamstring again or something.

Hope so. He was beyond tragic against Sheffield. I know everyone was, but he was sunday league standard. Too many injuries and should never play left back, especially left wingback.

Why is it always worded that Ashley would have to fork out if he were to sack Bruce. I swear I never hear it insinuated any other clubs owners fork out there own personal wealth to sack someone. Same with when we buy players etc. It's always Ashley dug into his pockets and we should be grateful etc. Correct me if I'm wrong but all of these things almost always show up in the club accounts. The only time it's come from Ashley is when he loaned us money for relegation? (forgetting it was his own mismanagement that caused it both times) Even then it's always owed back to him and not a free gift.

imagine winning the ball back that high up the pitch and letting ASM cause havoc.

It infuriated Ashley that Rafa wouldn't sign off on the Joelinton deal. He expected Rafa to be overflowing with gratitude and instead Rafa told him it was a bad idea. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7290821/Mike-Ashley-insists-impossible-hold-Rafa-Benitez-Newcastle.html To think Rafa knew more about football than Ashley. Who'd have thought it eh? This never got thrown back at Ashley, no one questioned him for comment. He gave it the big one and arrogantly shit all over Rafa publicly. Yet Rafa has been unequivocally proven right with every game Joelinton plays. Should never be forgotten and it perfectly encapsulates Ashleys reign. Almost as poignant as the "they knowingly and willing mislead fans" quote.

You could probably change "touch" to "meaningful involvement" because I agree I don't remember him doing anything until he got it on the far corner and attempt a dribble then lost the ball easily. I watched without the fake crowd noise and its painfully obvious how much instruction you hear shouted at "Joe" from the coaches and the players. Saw Wilson and even the young lad who came on having to point and shout at him to get into certain positions. Wilson was visible getting pissed off with everything he did. At one point Carroll was sprinting past him to help out in defense even though it looked like it should be Joelinton who should have been helping out the defence but he was just walking back. He's not a premier league footballer and needs replacing with anyone who can run and do something with the ball.

Even though we all know its bullshit. But for the pundits that swallow his spiel. How come they haven't questioned why he got the last two games the wrong way round and didn't park the bus tonight and go "too attacking" against Sheffield? I mean surely that shows he hasn't got a clue even if they thought he was doing a good job before. I know the answer so dunno why I'm bothering question it.

Neville only analysis is that Rafa Football was "awful as well" and that Bruce does better in first half of seasons. Leaving out important info that Rafa teams always finish season much stronger and that we had a weaker squad that had just been promoted. I take his point that it is a bit irrelevant in the grand scheme when it is the owner and how he runs us that is the main issue. But you can't just dismiss Bruce isn't taking us back in every category as Carragher pointed out.

I know he's yet to manage a team without world class players, but still ? I've gotta assume he can get a better points return than Steve "go out and play" Bruce.

It's like politics. People seem to pick their side and stick to it no matter what. Republicans vs Democrats or Takeover hopers vs no hopers it's all the same. I think what some seem to forget (or not, depending on if they are just trolling) is that the positive optimists are clinging to this because the alternative is more Ashley and more Bruce which really is terminal for our club in my opinion. So for me its only the hope of the takeover that keeps me from completely giving up what was once a massive part of my life. The joy I will feel should the takeover go through will be pure relief and positivity for the future. If it doesn't then not much will change compared to the despair I feel now. Although it will be easier to detach from watching once hope is truly gone. For the pessimists, I wonder if they will share the same joy if this takeover went through, or if it will be dampened because they wanted to be the ones to say to everyone "told you so" if it didn't happen.

So what happened to this guy? He was the first choice right back at start of season. Got his new contract and everything and seemed to have won alot of people over and then vanished? Another who spoke out of turn to Bruce and got hit with the "long covid"

Finally a pundit calling him out on his bullshit, sort of. He basically inherited an incredibly well drilled team from Rafa. Made claims of wanting to be more attacking and then kept reverting back to Rafas 3 cb formation but an even more defensive version of it with Shelvey brought back in. Because he was unable to coach any other gamelan or formation himself. Got through last year off the back of us being hard to break down and ASM being the unique talent he is. Then eventually the Rafa drills wear off as I assume the training is absolutely tragic.

Reminds me of something Micah Richards said I think during or after the Sheffield game. Something like "I've always liked Steve Bruce and and like how he sets up his teams...." I mean like, what!? Where do you even start with that. They are so resistant to criticising an English manager that they come out with such drivel. A statement like that, based on his history of free flowing teams? Or after he's just set up with a back 5 and 3 defensive midfielders against the bottom team.