Guest Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 If Bruce goes on to succeed it’s because of the groundwork set down the last 3 years. The Championship season which was pretty much an apprenticeship for how he wanted us to play first season back to survive. I remember the calls saying to play 4-4-2 with Gayle & Mitrovic, but everything he did was to drill the players for how they’d need to play if we were to survive in the first season. The second season up we started slowly but picked up for a month or two to keep us in the fight. From February onwards once he had the tools to be able to do so (ie, Almiron) he was a bit more forward thinking after already making us solid. Taking over after Rafa should have been a piece of piss, not the impossible job it’s been made out to be. He’s been given £62m of forwards to link with Almiron, it should have been the dream job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 If Bruce goes on to succeed it’s because of the groundwork set down the last 3 years. The Championship season which was pretty much an apprenticeship for how he wanted us to play first season back to survive. I remember the calls saying to play 4-4-2 with Gayle & Mitrovic, but everything he did was to drill the players for how they’d need to play if we were to survive in the first season. The second season up we started slowly but picked up for a month or two to keep us in the fight. From February onwards once he had the tools to be able to do so (ie, Almiron) he was a bit more forward thinking after already making us solid. Taking over after Rafa should have been a piece of piss, not the impossible job it’s been made out to be. He’s been given £62m of forwards to link with Almiron, it should have been the dream job. Depends what you mean by goes on to succeed. I would reckon Rafa would get us comfortably midtable with this squad, although you could argue he wouldn't have wanted some of the signings we made over the summer. Bruce has to achieve something similar to be considered a success, and most people wouldn't really describe finishing 11th or 12th a success. But let's be generous and consider that progress at least. IMO, while he can use Rafa's groundwork to stay safe for a season, I think it will go downhill quite quickly after that without specialist coaching. He did seem quite chuffed with our threat on the counter last week, conveniently forgetting that it is part of the Rafa playbook of sitting deep then hitting on the break. You can't do that with front foot football so if he wants to talk about developing along those lines, he'll have to bring his own ideas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Success would be safe mid-table. He shouldn’t be given any special allowances. We’d have expected to be at least matching what we did last season if Rafa had stayed, maybe giving allowance for new signings to adjust given Perez & Rondon left. Bruce should be expected to achieve the same. He won’t, but 14th-15th is failure. 12th is also failure in reality, but if you look at the squads I think we’ve better personnel than Norwich, Villa, Sheff Utd, Brighton, Southampton & Burnley, while Watford seem a mess. There’s no reason he should be expected to finish ahead of this crowd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paully Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakka Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Oh we see the direction he's taking us alright. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakka Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Long before he's even seen it too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minhosa Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 No Steve, not a fucking clue. I can confirm I'm hoping you're not in a job every time an international break comes around though. Every fucking weekend actually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonArmy1892 Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Can he just fuck off, grovelling cunt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonTastic Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce has been presented with the LG Performance of the Week award in recognition of the Magpies’ 3-2 victory over West Ham last weekend. First half strikes from Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernández got United up and running at the London Stadium on Saturday, before Jonjo Shelvey’s stunning free kick made it 3-0 after the break. Late strikes from Fabian Balbuena and Robert Snodgrass couldn’t take the gloss off what was a fine win away from home for Bruce’s men, who are now a point off a place in the top half of the Premier League. The award, which is determined by the League Manager’s Association panel comprising LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson, former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton, Barry Fry, Joe Royle, Sir Alex Ferguson and Dave Bassett, was presented to Bruce at the Magpies’ Benton training centre ahead of their fixture against AFC Bournemouth. The United boss also received a celebratory bottle of champagne, courtesy of Tanners Wines, and the LG Performance of the Week trophy to commemorate the victory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Oh we see the direction he's taking us alright. " Taxi! Follow that car with Rafa in it, and don't lose it round the corners!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happinesstan Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 Oh we see the direction he's taking us alright. " Taxi! Follow that car with Rafa in it, and don't lose it round the corners!" Not losing people at corners is probably the only area that Bruce can improve upon Rafa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 I know matchdays are hard to judge a coaches input, but given that Antia was supposedly in charge of set-pieces we were never convincing. We seem better in that respect so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 He can smell round corners Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 I know matchdays are hard to judge a coaches input, but given that Antia was supposedly in charge of set-pieces we were never convincing. We seem better in that respect so far. Having only watched one match I’m surprised we’re better at anything. Are you sure we’re not just only scoring from set pieces and conceding more from open play? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LV Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 He can smell round corners Especially if it’s the aroma of Gregg’s pasty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonArmy1892 Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 He can smell round corners Especially if it’s the aroma of Gregg’s pasty Greg might have something to say about that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 This 'direction' is as clear and predictable as a Saint-Maximin dribble. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Has anyone seen anything in any of our games to think that we're anything but utter shite, results aside? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonArmy1892 Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Has anyone seen anything in any of our games to think that we're anything but utter s****, results aside? Decent keeper and quite a bit of pace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 This 'direction' is as clear and predictable as a Saint-Maximin dribble. Pinning the lot on that guy is the direction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBG Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Has anyone seen anything in any of our games to think that we're anything but utter s****, results aside? Decent keeper and quite a bit of pace. All down to Bruce having them running faster in training. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackyboy Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samptime29 Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 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 If Bruce won the treble, you'd still hate him and never respect him? WTF :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 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 If Bruce won the treble, you'd still hate him and never respect him? WTF :lol: It's called principles. Doubtful if you've ever had any, so understandable you don't understand what he means. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happinesstan Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 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 If Bruce won the treble, you'd still hate him and never respect him? WTF :lol: If Bruce wins the treble, I'll wear Lady Gaga's skin in Fenwick's window. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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