Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[mr underhill]

of course, but Sam's kicking is still wanky

[villa `cross the mersey]

He clearly didn’t take much time practicing his laugh as a kid either, Jesus.
[/quitters his laugh is shocking - to be fair he was probably high as a kite at the time ........or am I confusing him with Jason Donovan? Come to think of it I've never seen Bosnich or Donavan together in the same room

[ChicagoLion]

It looks like some fatigue has set in.
He is picking the same players week in week out now.
The challenge is how to keep the team fresh without losing momentum.
A few Adomah. Hourihane Barney looked leggy today.

Week in week out.....remind me of all the points we have lost ? I'm being obtuse I know, but it's like reading comments from an inverse Paul Lambert

I don't see the problem with sticking with a winning team either. It  makes perfect sense to me.

Maybe the MON March collapses are too fresh in the memory.

[garyfouroaks]

when will this living hell of six consecutive victories end?

[Ayup]

It’s possible to have commentary about the managerial history of Steve Bruce specific to player acquisition without it being immediately perceived as a criticism of him. All managers buy players that don’t work out or spend money that ends up being a waste. Heck we saw it up close with MON.

As it relates to our current manager he is likely to be the one identifying players accompanied by a significant budget if we do go up. I just hope that his eye for talent has improved. But that also goes for the people around him starting with Wyness and Round.

The other relevance is that what he did that summer is very similar to what he did with us last January.  Currently 2 of his signings from that window have found some form and aren't high on the 'get rid list' but before that we had nearly a year where the only signing he made in that window who looked to be an upgrade on what we had was Hourihane.  If his signings are of the same scattergun nature in the summer (if we're promoted) then it will be very relevant.  Those aren't the only 2 windows where he's had a bit of cash and has decided to throw it around and then work out what to do with the squad later.

Paul e I don't know if your being serious or on a wind up but can you explain in more detail this "scattergun" approach on transfers. I know you have been banging on and on and on and on and on and on and on that you don't want Bruce but at the moment he is getting results and if he gets us promoted that will be the first stage completed. All managers make good and poor signings but I don't get the comment about a scattergun approach in signings.
Terry has been an excellent signing, Johnson looks solid in goal, Snoddy has been doing the business I know you find it hard at the moment to knock him for results so you are trying to find another reason for finding fault. So could you please explain in detail the scattergun approach? I didn't expect many signings to be completed in the January transfer window but a striker as back up was needed and a striker is what he got in, hardly a scattergun approach.

I think the short answer to that is, some people don't like possibly being wrong

In my short time on here, you have never been wrong.

[tomd2103]

I think he has got a couple of decisions to make before the weekend as I think it just needs freshening up a bit in a couple of areas.  I think in particular Hourihane needs to come out for a bit with maybe Onomah coming in to give a bit of extra energy. 

[passitsideways]

I think it'll depend on whether he expects the derby to be a scrap like the past three have or whether having Grealish in there will mean we'll be able to move the ball around well enough to play proper football for once.  If it's the former, I'd expect Jedinak to be in there given there's no one around who's better at mopping up long punts, and maybe push Bjarnason up a little further in midfield since he seems to have a knack for scoring scrappy goals.

[Mister E]

I think he has got a couple of decisions to make before the weekend as I think it just needs freshening up a bit in a couple of areas.  I think in particular Hourihane needs to come out for a bit with maybe Onomah coming in to give a bit of extra energy. 

Problem is Onomah is a liability - too many giveaway passes and silly fouls conceded. In my opinion.

[sickbeggar]

Well i think if we play like we did against Burton we'll get beat. Hopefully the motivation factor involved will rule out another complacent performance

[Bad English]

When we speak of freshening-up I always think 'what about the opposition?' Surely that lot have expended plenty of energy being utter toss all season and plenty hauling their sorry carcasses back to winning ways, have they not? Bruce's job is to know everything about us and them, and pick a starting XI and a bench to funeral the raggedy heathens. Or he can fuck off! ;-)

[Villafirst]

I think I'd replace Elmohamady with Tuanzebe - extra pace and strength. Could be useful in nullifying Jota. A gamble, but maybe worth it?

[Holte L2]

I think I'd replace Elmohamady with Tuanzebe - extra pace and strength. Could be useful in nullifying Jota. A gamble, but maybe worth it?

Not a chance. Elmohamady has looked solid apart from Saturday's guff. 

[Risso]

I think I'd replace Elmohamady with Tuanzebe - extra pace and strength. Could be useful in nullifying Jota. A gamble, but maybe worth it?

Not a chance. Elmohamady has looked solid apart from Saturday's guff. 

There's no way he's going to chuck a new kid into a derby for his full debut.  Jedinak for Hourihane is my guess.

[VinnieChase84]

I think I'd replace Elmohamady with Tuanzebe - extra pace and strength. Could be useful in nullifying Jota. A gamble, but maybe worth it?

Press them high, pass and move like we have been doing and all will be well

[Diablo]

I think I'd replace Elmohamady with Tuanzebe - extra pace and strength. Could be useful in nullifying Jota. A gamble, but maybe worth it?

Not a chance. Elmohamady has looked solid apart from Saturday's guff. 

His distribution against Sheff Utd was awful although in his defence he did contribute towards the winner.