Shadow Puppets

I think the problem is, and I agree with it, I don’t think there’s any confidence that Graeme Jones would do any better of a job. Let’s be honest, apart from that slight upturn in form earlier this year, his tactics (which we have been playing) have been woeful. The owners quite clearly want a complete break. A fresh start. And it’s taking time to find the right man/team for that. We’re just going to have to have patience and trust in them making a good choice on that front. I personally think the result would be no different if Jones was in charge on Sunday, so sacking Bruce without a replacement would make zero difference in my opinion. Best just to have a complete break.

You despise Lampard and Gerrard? ? I always find that hilarious.

You really are relentless in your negativity aren’t you? ? Do you not understand that the club has literally ZERO footballing executives in place? They have owned the club for 10 days. Bruce IS leaving. They’re just getting things aligned. Things aren’t always as simple as making things happen immediately because Twitter says it needs to. Just have some patience (and trust) man. You’re working yourself into a frenzy over something you have no understanding of.

Need to do something about the stadium PA. Sounds like utter shit, waaaay too loud / harsh (at least in the Milburn stand)

According to his bio, a Saudi journalist.

He’s the weirdest player in our team IMO. Genuinely can’t pinpoint anything that he’s particularly good at. He’s just ok at a few things here and there. So laboured in most of the things he attempts to do.

? Don’t get the dislike of Gerrard at all. A born leader, doing pretty well with Rangers, and a man I think the team would fully get behind. We’re not looking for our long term manager here. We’re looking for someone to keep us up, steady the ship for the next couple of years. That’s all.

Is Ando7 an ITK?

The club are recommending everyone brings their NHS COVID Pass tomorrow, with spot checks possible.

That is an excellent article and really puts it into perspective just how much has happened this week, and why Bruce hasn’t gone yet. Should make everyone feel better.

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Two perfect posts

Stopped caring whether he’s sacked this week or not. Happy to trust the new regime’s judgement on when is best to do it. Just going to enjoy Sunday ?

Yeah, I know. Point is, he most likely would have been told if Bruce was staying. He’s clearly going…it’s just a question of exactly when.

Downie still reporting on SSN that he is expected to leave before Sunday.

It isn’t a big decision from a sporting POV, but it is if you haven’t even got a board / sporting director / CEO / sporting advisors sorted.

I mean it’s blatantly obvious he’s leaving very soon. If he wasn’t, they would have said so.

Ranieri wasn’t sacked when their new owners came in for over 9 months. I agree they should be ruthless, but maybe it’s foolish to be ruthless without having any of the sporting setup in place to source replacements / coaches.

You need to calm down a bit man. They’ve been in charge for 5 days…in reality 2-3 working days. Barely have their feet under the desk. I fully expect everything to need signing off at boardroom level…but as far as I’m aware the makeup of the boardroom is not yet complete. You have to remember that Stavely and Mehrdad are the “current” day to day runners of the club…they are being judged by PIF too. So if they don’t perform well / make the correct decisions in the short term, they may be replaced too. There’s a lot of their shoulders to get the early decisions right, and to do that with nothing lined up / no boardroom in place etc, is a risk.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/amanda-staveley-made-to-wait-for-permission-to-dismiss-steve-bruce-vn60v5bp2 Amanda Staveley, the Newcastle United director, is waiting for the green light from the club’s new Saudi owners before sacking Steve Bruce. The Times has learnt that all decisions must now be approved by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the majority shareholder. Despite it seeming inevitable that Bruce will be leaving the club — with conference calls having taken place to discuss his departure — that go-ahead has not yet been given.

He’s still leaving. Not a chance in hell Steve Bruce is managing us in a few weeks time.

Got a funny feeling we might see an announcement that Bruce is leaving immediately AFTER the Spurs game… perhaps “stepping down” / pushed with a thank you for his service keeping us in the league. Keeping it amicable, allowing him his 1000th game to be his potentially last game in top flight football, getting a full week of training in, keeping the fans off his back for the game etc… and then a fresh start from next week. Seems like a nice balance…keeping fans happy, giving them more time to get a plan in place, keeping the press on side by not appearing too trigger happy etc. Basically a compromise to suit everyone. Just a scenario that I’ve just dreamt up, but seems relatively plausible.

In many cases, sure. But the Steve’s are very much a coaching team. I’d put money on if Bruce is going, his mates are going with him.

From Craig Hope: Meanwhile, head coach Steve Bruce remains in post having met with Amanda Staveley at the training ground on Monday. However, it was always understood that it would take until at least the middle of the week before removing Bruce ahead of Sunday’s visit of Spurs. The focus of the new owners remains on the managerial situation, with appointments such as sporting director and chief executive to follow in due course. Sources have played down the likelihood of Frank Lampard being the man to take charge, although they have also stressed that many options are on the table given the number of voices involved in the process.

Weird idea? It’s pretty common place for a manager and HIS coaches to leave a club at the same time.