Ritchie De Laet - CONFIRMED

[achilles]

Bruce has signed Elmo, Bree and Tuanzebe (twice), also gave Hutton a new contract.

Might be no coincidence that RDL hasnt got a look in under him.

That might be a very good reason to say no more signings, use what you have in their correct positions, it really, really isn't rocket science!

[SoccerHQ]

Didn't he play right or left midfield a bit in pre season?

Might be worth a go there and put AEM back at right back.

[Tayls_7]

Didn't he play right or left midfield a bit in pre season?

Might be worth a go there and put AEM back at right back.

Has Bruce tried...

                              Traffic cone (c)

           Taylor   Green   Chester (obvs)   Hutton

                                    Grealish
                 Whelan                              Kodija
                                    De Laet
                       Jedinak           Bjarnnson

[brontebilly]

Bruce has signed Elmo, Bree and Tuanzebe (twice), also gave Hutton a new contract.

Might be no coincidence that RDL hasnt got a look in under him.

That might be a very good reason to say no more signings, use what you have in their correct positions, it really, really isn't rocket science!

Mourinho is at the same crap at Old Trafford, throwing his toys out of the pram because the board didnt allow him to sign more centre halves

Its really why we urgently need a strong CEO/DOF (which Steve Round clearly wasnt) to truly oversee player recruitment and relegate the manager somewhat to being the first team coach

The Tuanzebe deal already has a touch of the old boys network about it

[achilles]

So Bruce definitely has a 'bomb squad' then!

Just wish a journalist would ask Bruce what has happened to De Laet instead of the normal rubbish!

[Mister E]

It irritates me that He plays a make-shift defence when am experiennced RDL doesn't get in the matchday squad.

[Brassneck]

It wouldn't surprise me to see RDL go back out on loan.

[Hookeysmith]

Appreciate it was only pre season but from what I saw he looked really bright and adventurous going forward

[Steve67]

Managers get it in to their heads that player a is crap no matter what. Elmo or RDL? Who would Bruce pick? Tuanzebe atm but longer term will be Elmo all day long. Shame because I like RDL.

[GarTomas]

Managers get it in to their heads that player a is crap no matter what. Elmo or RDL? Who would Bruce pick? Tuanzebe atm but longer term will be Elmo all day long. Shame because I like RDL.

It’s an odd one. Richards, Tshibola and McCormack were nowhere no pre season so clearly bombed out.

RDL was used and performed well so odd that he’s been frozen out.  Last night I could understand why Axel played right back as he injects some pace but RDL is no slouch either so he easily could of played RB so Axel plays in the centre.

RDL would probably be better in the middle than Jedinak as well.

[rooboy316]

One less right back in the squad now...

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city-sign-epl-winner-ritchie-de-laet-20180914-p503pn.html

[Risso]

It's entirely possible to argue that De Laet and Elphick aren't the greatest players in the world so going on loan makes some sort of sense.  However, in the context of us having one fit centre back, and having to play the utterly abysmal Jedinak there, who hasn't even performed at a remotely competent level, it makes no sense whatsoever. Bruce is a fucking idiot, and how and why the fool is still here is completely baffling. 

[Duncan Shaw]

This is really weird, he's a really decent option at this level and looked good in pre-season.  Unless he is on big wages and Bruce has been told to trim, then  cannot see any logic to this whatsoever.

[AsTallAsLions]

If this were a case of the owners wanting him to trim the squad and wages, you'd bet he'd be bleating about it to the press. "Constraints, pressure from above, that's football" ... unfortunately I think this is just a case of Bruce being an awful gobshite.

[TheTimVilla]

If this were a case of the owners wanting him to trim the squad and wages, you'd bet he'd be bleating about it to the press. "Constraints, pressure from above, that's football" ... unfortunately I think this is just a case of Bruce being an awful gobshite.

I think it's more that he promised to get rid of some wages if he were to get the likes of Bolasie, Abraham, El Ghazi, etc in. Hence him telling Adomah to do one on deadline day. I guess we'll find out how far beyond FFP we are in due course.