Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[AsTallAsLions]

My issue is that we never look like being a consistent machine that wins matches. We seem to make hardwork of most games. The lack of energy and drive (especially after Cardiff's defeat the night before) is worrying as is Adomah and Snoddys lack of spark.

Indeed. We're creating little of note lately and Bruce doesn't seem to have a clue how to change that. So the focus for me would be on keeping things extremely tight at the back and either hope for a lucky break or hold out for penalties. Which is exactly how the playoffs have gone in the last couple of seasons.

[boozey182]

Getting rid of him now would be the managerial equivalent of bringing on a sub keeper just before a penalty shoot out. Which I always think is an excellent tactic, but it's high risk and we'd look stupid if it backfired now, so it won't happen. Plus, rather than being a 'promotion expert', isn't Bruce more of a 'playoff expert'? Although I'm not sure if his record against the top six is always as bad going into it as ours is right now.

I still think our problems this year go back to poor preparation last summer. I know we've had injuries to key players (Jack and Kodjia) and if they would have been fit all year, who knows, but we came into the season with Taylor as our only proper left back (he's so bad an out-of-position Alan Hutton keeps him out of the team), a semi-retired centre back with no adequate cover and for the millionth season running we have a midfield that lacks one player that can run, pass, shoot and tackle to an adequate standard.

We still lack pace throughout the whole team, but particularly at the back - which forces us to drop too deep, leaving massive holes between midfield and defence. We still have a static midfield which leads to aimless punts upfield. We're still mentally weak when the going gets tough. We still don't react to teams changing tactics mid-game, either on the bench or on the pitch. We still don't use our squad well enough, presumably through fear of the immediate results rather than the long term impact (if any club should be prepared for injuries, you'd think we'd have had enough experience of it by now).

These aren't new problems. And they aren't hidden either, and yet they weren't addressed. Yet again we've tried to get in 'leaders, players that have been there and done that'. But it hasn't been enough. Again. I appreciate that the character of our team needs improving, but how about we try to get them to be better at football as well? With pace, energy and skill.

If we do fail in the playoffs, we might be forced to look at our young players and less well known players on their way up, rather than household names on their way down. It might not be the end of the world.

[Mister E]

... we've been pretty poor and disjointed for a large amount of games this season ... because financially we are fucked if we don't go up. I don't get all this defeatism.

I don't think the disappointment exuded on here resulting from the last few games should necessarily be interpreted as defeatism, but I think it's totally valid that people are questioning the manager's competence after failing to build on the Wolves victory against teams that - frankly - should have been dispatched with ruthless efficiency.
If we'd done what we should have done - taken 9 points from Bolton, Hull and Naaarwich - we would be well set, feeling optimistic and positive and ready for whatever the play-offs throw at us.
We haven't done, and my sense is that many people now fear the prospects in the play-offs (with Fulham playing great football, Millwall and Boro winning for fun and Derby re-finding their mojo); if, indeed, we are in the top 6. We have been pretty poor throughout this season and it's beginning to feel like a wasted 12 months.
But, let's have that conversation at the end of the season when the facts are lain bare before us. After all, we don't need to be brilliant to win through via the play-offs; just competent.

[Mister E]

Getting rid of him now would be the managerial equivalent of bringing on a sub keeper just before a penalty shoot out. Which I always think is an excellent tactic, but it's high risk and we'd look stupid if it backfired now, so it won't happen. Plus, rather than being a 'promotion expert', isn't Bruce more of a 'playoff expert'? Although I'm not sure if his record against the top six is always as bad going into it as ours is right now.

I still think our problems this year go back to poor preparation last summer. I know we've had injuries to key players (Jack and Kodjia) and if they would have been fit all year, who knows, but we came into the season with Taylor as our only proper left back (he's so bad an out-of-position Alan Hutton keeps him out of the team), a semi-retired centre back with no adequate cover and for the millionth season running we have a midfield that lacks one player that can run, pass, shoot and tackle to an adequate standard.

We still lack pace throughout the whole team, but particularly at the back - which forces us to drop too deep, leaving massive holes between midfield and defence. We still have a static midfield which leads to aimless punts upfield. We're still mentally weak when the going gets tough. We still don't react to teams changing tactics mid-game, either on the bench or on the pitch. We still don't use our squad well enough, presumably through fear of the immediate results rather than the long term impact (if any club should be prepared for injuries, you'd think we'd have had enough experience of it by now).

These aren't new problems. And they aren't hidden either, and yet they weren't addressed. Yet again we've tried to get in 'leaders, players that have been there and done that'. But it hasn't been enough. Again. I appreciate that the character of our team needs improving, but how about we try to get them to be better at football as well? With pace, energy and skill.

If we do fail in the playoffs, we might be forced to look at our young players and less well known players on their way up, rather than household names on their way down. It might not be the end of the world.

Excellent post, mate. Absolutely captures my thoughts.

[Ad@m]

After all, we don't need to be brilliant to win through via the play-offs; just competent.

That's what I'm worried about - against QPR, Bolton, Hull and Norwich we've been anything but competent!

[boozey182]

My issue is that we never look like being a consistent machine that wins matches. We seem to make hardwork of most games. The lack of energy and drive (especially after Cardiff's defeat the night before) is worrying as is Adomah and Snoddys lack of spark.

I think we're very easy to play against. Our tactics are not complicated; get it out wide to the wingers, who will cut inside and cross. Or give it Jack and hope he does something. So you crowd Jack, and force the wingers outside. Meanwhile you run at pace at our defence and try draw one of the centre backs out of position. I think most of us would have been able to come up with that plan months ago so it's not surprising other teams have caught on, and Bruce doesn't seem to be able to have an answer for it.

[AsTallAsLions]

My issue is that we never look like being a consistent machine that wins matches. We seem to make hardwork of most games. The lack of energy and drive (especially after Cardiff's defeat the night before) is worrying as is Adomah and Snoddys lack of spark.

I think we're very easy to play against. Our tactics are not complicated; get it out wide to the wingers, who will cut inside and cross. Or give it Jack and hope he does something. So you crowd Jack, and force the wingers outside. Meanwhile you run at pace at our defence and try draw one of the centre backs out of position. I think most of us would have been able to come up with that plan months ago so it's not surprising other teams have caught on, and Bruce doesn't seem to be able to have an answer for it.

Spot on.

[Risso]

In the very slight chance we now get promoted playing the way we play, Bruce should by no means at all be leading us out in the Premier league. It's an absolute no brainer. I can see the media outcry now if 'hard done by Bruce' was to get the boot after achieving promotion. Joke.

I also think, that Grealish, Johnstone and Chester are the only premier league class players we have in our matchday squad. The others would have to go! And that includes John Terry.

Unfortuantely though, all I can see is another year in the chamionship. Happy Monday everyone.

There's no room for sentiment in football though.  Look at Southampton who swiftly ditched Adkins after promotion for Pochettino.  Of course that depends on having a vision for how you want the club to be run for the next few years and finding the right manager to implement it, but Bruce has no clear vision, and the Premier League is rightly turning into a graveyard for dinosaur managers like Pulis, Pardew, Hughes and the like.  I'd even include Lambert in that, because even though he's not that old, he has no recognisable style of play, other than obviously "excellent".

[ChicagoLion]

Now pretty much every one accepts that a Bruce and the team are failing at the business end of the season but somehow think it is still a good idea to leave him in charge for the play offs.
It does not mean appointing a replacement, it does mean utilising the resources we have to get the best out of this squad for 6 games.
Bruce is not the man to do it.

[Mister E]

After all, we don't need to be brilliant to win through via the play-offs; just competent.

That's what I'm worried about - against QPR, Bolton, Hull and Norwich we've been anything but competent!

I don't disagree ....

[achilles]

Basically, the side that Bruce puts out are a bunch of individuals, very rarely playing as an actual team.
That is why Hogan has got absolutely no chance of making it here, he used to play for a very efficient team at Brentford.
On the same premise, it is exactly why Kodjia plays so well for us, especially as a centre-forward, as he is more of an individual than a team player.
Tactically we are absolutely appalling, no midfield player remotely tries to burst from midfield to get beyond our striker.

I said at the beginning of the season that I wanted Bruce to have until the end of this season and nothing has changed my mind.
The playoffs are a lottery but ironically our team of individuals might be better suited to them as at any point in time one of them may produce some individual magic!

Whatever happens though Bruce has to go at the end of the season!

[Clampy]

Basically, the side that Bruce puts out are a bunch of individuals, very rarely playing as an actual team.
That is why Hogan has got absolutely no chance of making it here, he used to play for a very efficient team at Brentford.
On the same premise, it is exactly why Kodjia plays so well for us, especially as a centre-forward, as he is more of an individual than a team player.
Tactically we are absolutely appalling, no midfield player remotely tries to burst from midfield to get beyond our striker.

I said at the beginning of the season that I wanted Bruce to have until the end of this season and nothing has changed my mind.
The playoffs are a lottery but ironically our team of individuals might be better suited to them as at any point in time one of them may produce some individual magic!

Whatever happens though Bruce has to go at the end of the season!

Hourihane has weighed in with some goals from midfield in fairness.

[achilles]

Basically, the side that Bruce puts out are a bunch of individuals, very rarely playing as an actual team.
That is why Hogan has got absolutely no chance of making it here, he used to play for a very efficient team at Brentford.
On the same premise, it is exactly why Kodjia plays so well for us, especially as a centre-forward, as he is more of an individual than a team player.
Tactically we are absolutely appalling, no midfield player remotely tries to burst from midfield to get beyond our striker.

I said at the beginning of the season that I wanted Bruce to have until the end of this season and nothing has changed my mind.
The playoffs are a lottery but ironically our team of individuals might be better suited to them as at any point in time one of them may produce some individual magic!

Whatever happens though Bruce has to go at the end of the season!

Hourihane has weighed in with some goals from midfield in fairness.

Mostly outside of the box, the one against Reading is the only one I can think of inside the box, but I could be wrong!

The point I am making is for flick-ons from Davis or anybody, otherwise it is just so easy for the opposition's defence when you know nobody is going to try and get behind you.
We just don't do anything different from one week to the next, tactically!

[Hookeysmith]

I know hope springs eternal and all that but following the Wolves game I looked at the table and the next 5 fixtures and was actually thinking the following was not just possible but probable

QPR - Win
Bolton  -Win
Hull - Win
Reading - Win
Norwich - draw


13 points and I do not feel that would have been an over the top expectation - out of the first 15 points on offer we have 4 (26% win ratio)  that is fucking criminal, especially so when you look at the level of opposition.

I have no confidence in SB to take us through the play offs and I really do not want to hear "he has done it before" as that just is not washing anymore

[Chris Jameson]

He has done it before.