Steve Brute

[loki679]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

[LV]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

People are livid mate. It’s not a surprise they are attacking him for anything.

[TBG]

It doesn't need said though.  No (sane) Newcastle fan thinks we should be competing with the likes of Man City, and as a Newcastle fan himself he should know that.

 

All he's done is made us out to be deluded Geordies again that need to be reminded that we were in the Championship two seasons ago.

 

 

 

 

[Guest poor]

the pards is strong in this one

[Guest NobbyOhNobby]

He calls Man Utd "United" whilst managing us. That's enough to make him a total cunt

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He calls Man Utd "United" whilst managing us. That's enough to make him a total cunt

 

Does he? Fucking idiot.

[TRon]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

Rafa was realistic enough to say we couldn't compete for trophies, but he said he wanted to challenge and compete with the top clubs. That might have meant finishing 6th or 8th, the point is, would have been progress. Bruce needs to come out and say something similar. Yes he's said the aim wasn't just to survive, but he's not said what it is. Is he looking to challenge anyone, or is he happy just to have a lovely day out at Wembley if the stars align?

[Chris_R]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

[Interpolic]

I've not been looking much at Bruce's quotes tbh but it seems we're back to the Pards-esque message that we should all be delighted to make up the numbers in the Premier League, all of this after Benitez had been saying we should aim for miles better with sensible investment. 

 

No wonder people are furious.  I don't care enough to be furious right now, but not happy I'll have to listen to that self-defeating patter all over again.

[loki679]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

[LV]

And what’s worse is some people are accepting the self-defeating patter and parroting the message further

[Hhtoon]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

People are livid mate. It’s not a surprise they are attacking him for anything.

 

Doesn't mean they have to be unreasonable and its getting upset about that sort of inoffensive remark that gets the "deluded Geordies" label thrown about.

There are 15 odd teams who best chance of a trophy is a cup and only 6 who can compete for top. 4. Yes, it's Ashley's fault but what Bruce had said is correct at the mo. Now if he'd said we were in a relegation battle then that deserves whinging.

[Hhtoon]

And what’s worse is some people are accepting the self-defeating patter and parroting the message further

 

It's not self-defeating. Its a fact that 15 or so teams have to deal with.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

And what’s worse is some people are accepting the self-defeating patter and parroting the message further

 

It's not self-defeating. Its a fact that 15 or so teams have to deal with.

 

Fuck that shit.

 

BTW we should be competing with Spurs, in fact we should be bigger and better than them.

[Thomson Mouse]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

People are livid mate. It’s not a surprise they are attacking him for anything.

 

Doesn't mean they have to be unreasonable and its getting upset about that sort of inoffensive remark that gets the "deluded Geordies" label thrown about.

There are 15 odd teams who best chance of a trophy is a cup and only 6 who can compete for top. 4. Yes, it's Ashley's fault but what Bruce had said is correct at the mo. Now if he'd said we were in a relegation battle then that deserves whinging.

 

Taken in context with his other quotes he’s basically saying we’re lucky to be in PL and will give a cup a shot.

 

It’s Pardew all over again. Do you seriously think they give one fuck about winning a cup?

 

Anyone who buys this bullshit needs shooting

[TRon]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

[loki679]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

 

So Everton, Leicester and west ham are the big boys at the top end?

[TBG]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

 

So Everton, Leicester and west ham are the big boys at the top end?

 

Are they happy with 17th?

[Bimpy474]

It's not even about challenging other teams really, it's about trying our best, how high and wherever that takes you is fair enough, but at least you gave it everything. We don't even try to do that in fact we deliberately try to do less than our best, it's utterly pathetic.

 

We're like an F1 team who enters a Lada and make out that's all we can manage, while millions of pounds just disappear.

[Chris_R]

And what’s worse is some people are accepting the self-defeating patter and parroting the message further

 

It's not self-defeating. Its a fact that 15 or so teams have to deal with.

 

14 of those 15 teams will be trying to haul themselves, slowly or otherwise, into higher positions though. They'll think that gradually they can push on, get better. They always aim to finish higher than they did last year. If any other team finished 13th last year, they'd be aiming for 12th or higher this year. They can't all finish higher, some will fail, but all of them want to improve on what they did last year.

 

Sometimes a club will hit a good patch and manage to consistently improve. That's how a "Big 4" becomes a "Big 5/6". Or how some teams no longer get talked about as relegation fodder, how there's a divide between,say, the top 6, the next 6, and then those fighting relegation. Leagues within leagues, that kind of thing.

 

One club does not look at last year's finish and try to aim higher. They think "It doesn't matter what we did last year, 17th or better is fine this year".

 

That's us. We have no aspirations.

 

Rafa did. He wanted us out of that bottom group. And he achieved it. Had Rafa stayed and been given the same budget Bruce is looking likely to receive, not a single pundit would tip us for the drop. We'd have made it up into the next "league within a league" and away from the relegation fodder. Give Rafa a few more years of constantly trying to improve, which he would have done, and who knows what might have happened. However now Bruce has come in and - no doubt at the behest of his boss - reset the dial back to "let's just try and stay up".

 

It really doesn't have to be that way though and the last 2 years have shown us that. It needn't even cost any money, just the will and the right manager prudently backed with what the club generates itself. Accepting mediocrity is not compulsory, it isn't for other clubs and it shouldn't be for us.

[loki679]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

 

So Everton, Leicester and west ham are the big boys at the top end?

 

Are they happy with 17th?

 

That's not the point. We were discussing Bruce's quote, not the ambition of those clubs.

[Shearergol]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

 

So Everton, Leicester and west ham are the big boys at the top end?

 

Are they happy with 17th?

 

That's not the point. We were discussing Bruce's quote, not the ambition of those clubs.

 

The quotes are attached to the level of hope we have. Under Rafa we had a hope that we might attempt to compete and improve. Under Bruce we have a hope that we stay in the league.

 

Bravo for sticking to your guns over this btw, I think plenty of people have given extremely good reasons why people are pissed off by the quotes for you to understand it by now, so I'm assuming you just feel strongly enough that you're happy with Bruce's "little club" opinion.

[Chris_R]

 

That's not the point. We were discussing Bruce's quote, not the ambition of those clubs.

 

Would Rafa have said that? The manager can determine the ambition of the club. Pardew and Bruce spend all their time telling us to look down and fear the teams below us. The likes of Rafa, SBR and KK would tell you to look up and try to catch the clubs ahead of you.

 

It's a mentality thing. It stinks. I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. And by try, I'm still talking of the mentality, not of throwing money at it. Rafa wasn't given a penny yet still kept trying to make us better in every aspect of what he did. Bruce is setting his stand out as just accepting where we are.

[loki679]

Go look at the predictions thread, how many are picking us to get in the top four? Top six? What's our best chance of a trophy this season?

 

In fact let's take a quick straw poll.

 

Finishing position in the PL:

Best chance of a trophy:

 

But nobody is even debating that, but to have your manager come out before the season starts to remind us of it (adding the, great day out comment) just takes the piss.

 

Part of the reason we can't compete in this league is the fact that we have the worst manager in the league now.

 

Nar, it's not. He's come out and said exactly the same as us for the last ten years which is a pretty realistic assessment of our situation. If he'd said we were going to compete with the big boys this season he'd have got slated for that too.

 

What he's said isn't particularly unreasonable considering our ownership situation, it seems no matter what he says he'll get stick. Fair enough, you might say but attacking him for a perfectly reasonable view on our prospects diminishes the effect of the actual bad stuff like attacking the fans protest.

 

Crucify the man for attacking the fans, for the shite way he's treated a decent club who gave him a chance. Crucify him when the season starts and we're adrift before Christmas, for taking Ashley's money to help run his boyhood club into the ground.

 

For saying our best chance of a trophy is a cup?  Just pettiness.

 

The difference between Bruce and Rafa is that Rafa would always say what a big city this was, what potential the club had, how he wanted to build something and that he did believe that, given the right resources and backing, the club absolutely COULD compete in the league.

 

Then Bruce comes in and immediately declares a complete lack of ambition, no intent to build anything, and that the best we can hope for is a cup run in competitions the ownership of the club have publicly disdained for over a decade.

 

It's shit.

 

You've got one person looking at last year's 13th place finish and saying we can push on into the top 10, and you've got another looking at it and saying "look, we finished 13th, therefore we're 13th best and should just avoid relegation.

 

Aye, and which one is right? With Ashley in charge we'll never challenge the top clubs, directing your ire at Bruce for some fairly innocuous soundbites is missing the target.

 

No one expects us to challenge the top clubs, but we should be looking to challenge the ones just below that rather than looking to survive. Everton, Leicester, West Ham, etc.

 

So Everton, Leicester and west ham are the big boys at the top end?

 

Are they happy with 17th?

 

That's not the point. We were discussing Bruce's quote, not the ambition of those clubs.

 

The quotes are attached to the level of hope we have. Under Rafa we had a hope that we might attempt to compete and improve. Under Bruce we have a hope that we stay in the league.

 

Bravo for sticking to your guns over this btw, I think plenty of people have given extremely good reasons why people are pissed off by the quotes for you to understand it by now, so I'm assuming you just feel strongly enough that you're happy with Bruce's "little club" opinion.

 

Again, your 'little club' strawman won't stand, I haven't said that and it's not what I believe. Let me ask you, what is our best chance of a trophy this season?

[Interpolic]

I doubt the managers of Wolves, Everton, West Ham or Leicester are prattling on about not being able to compete with the top 6 in the press.

 

Besides the fact it is not a helpful attitude for the manager of the club to be broadcasting in public, it's a diversion tactic - distract attention from our self-imposed ceiling by pointing about 10 places upwards moaning that something nobody expects us to achieve is unachievable.

 

The manager shouldn't be commenting on what we can't do, trying to lower expectations before a ball is even kicked.  He's a self-serving loser, like Pardew was.  And unsurprisingly it's the same strawman bullshit argument his new boss peddles in the press whenever interviewed.