Consortium of one

Oh yeah sure he scored a cracking goal arriving late in the box like that but he should have been setting up defensively 40 yards deeper. Bruce needs to get that sorted.

This. When we went down a man he knew what his job was and he did it well. He covered a lot of ground, closed down well and broke up play. He'll be a good player under a real coach.

Shit manager

Miggy was immense ASM was bright Hayden, Lewis, Krafht, Willock and Dummett stood tall Darlow had a nice run but its time for Dubs to be the number one. Joelinton seems a reluctant footballer Shelvey still sucks Hendrick is a Neanderthal I hope CW comes back soon Schar's injury looks pretty bad Wow. Felt like that game lasted 4 or 6 hours.

Yes is the answer Rafa is 100% football focused, gets results but nobody likes him Martinez doesn't believe in footballers having kids Bruce is the best of the lot, always asking how the kids are. "Gaffer, got a sec?" "Sure." "When we're hoofing it into the mixer, where would you like me to be?" "...Kids OK?"

about 1978

"Who knows how to set the time?"

Bruce has shown himself to have not only never been tactically adept but no man manager. He never learned anything from SAF. SAF learned to adapt to the foreign invasion (of both players and mangers) and used his management skills to get his teams to buy into his tactical tweaks. Before you can get the players to buy in you have to be able to counter others tactics by adapting your own. Any sport that is tactic reliant is always evolving as good managers or coaches are adjusting to and countering what the other does. It's one thing to suddenly press higher and force quick turnovers but what do you when your opponent parks the bus? A good manager will always have a plan B (or C) in his pocket. He will have drilled his team in how to go about and implement the change tactically. His players will be comfortable with the tactical shift because they've prepared for it and its been discussed with them. So imagine you start with a structured 433, you press higher up the pitch with lethal intent. Your opponent sees this and sits back more and makes his team harder to break down. The good manager implements plan B. Your CF is instructed to roam more and drag around a defender or two. Your wide forwards and perhaps a CM are instructed to move into the open space. Or maybe your opponent has been pillaging down the right hand side with a wide man and an overlapping fullback. Make the decision before the game to take that immobile left CM off and play a younger more mobile to cover cover that flank. Also your left sided forward will know that when the FB overlaps that he has to have an eye on moving into his space for cover. Now that young LB won't be pinned back and afraid to get forward because he knows he's got cover. And the best part is that as the players see their manager make these adjustments they gain confidence in him. They know his changes will work and they won't be hung out to dry. Trust is built. Who are you more likely to run through a brick wall for: the manager who puts you in position to succeed or the manager who keeps telling you you have to run through a brick wall for them? This is how Bruce gets totally exposed as a fraud. He can never be a good man manager because eventually all the back clapping and clichés are exposed to be just words with absolutely nothing to back them up.

I love me some Miggy

This

The team is crying for an athletic cm. If he can carry the ball a bit, pass and press I'm all for it. Hayden Longstaffs Willock Almiron ASM Wilson Hendrick doesn't see the pitch at all. Give the Longstaffs an extended run. If they fail, turn to Shelvey for the occasional wonder pass.

I thought I saw CabbageHead shouting a lot more instructions than I ever did in the past. He Must have been yelling, "Do what Graeme says! Listen to Graeme!"

But who's healthy behind them?

Snowing like a bastard here in Connecticut so I'll be going home from work early. I'll get to watch the deadline day festivities for the first time ever. I mean, we're not going to do anything other than monitoring but still.

That header was textbook. The distance from goal, the placement and the pace...should considered for goal of the year.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching the match. First time in quite a long time

Should be playing every minute possible.

Played much better and you could see his confidence grow as the game went on. I don't think he'll ever be a world beater but he can do a job.

Seriously? That's bad. I have a lot of respect for him.

The club has a lot of deadwood and Rafa was in the process off shifting them off. I can't believe the club won't let Ritchie go for any price.

Big Joe's punishment will be to play every game until Bruce is sacke

Don't forget the cross we put in against Villa.

Based on what I've read he wants to come back.

signed copies of his books.