Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Risso]

All the games when Hogan came on as a sub, and offered nothing at all; no goals, no touches, no hold up play, no threat, nothing whatsoever, those were the times we should have been giving the likes of O'Hare a run out.

[Fred Crump]

Absolutely !

[john e]

the list of ins and outs is quite revealing

the players we sold especially the French collective we paid biggish money for we probably didn't get our money back but got a large percentage back, as they were deamed not good enough or to brittle for this league

however the litmus test is this
most of them have under better coaching and better managers have gone on and improved, they arnt pulling up trees and and the verge of greatness but have all improved

if they were sold on the open market today they would probably double there value as a collective group from when we bought them

now take a look at the players who were bought in to replace them, is there a single one that has improved is there a single one who we could sell and get our money back, I doubt it especially with the high wages that they came on

if we had to sell all the Bruce buy ins we would be looking at a massive loss whereas the ones he let go are worth more than when we sold them

Bruce can't spot a player he can't spot talent he goes for the pragmatic type of footballer he buys experienced work horses with little flair or passing ability

my biggest gripe as always is he builds nothing for the medium to long term he puts together basic sides of industrious old plodders and tries to get through on experience, it has worked for him in the past there is no denying

but we need a better plan now we need a better manager we need a miracle

[Ads]

All the games when Hogan came on as a sub, and offered nothing at all; no goals, no touches, no hold up play, no threat, nothing whatsoever, those were the times we should have been giving the likes of O'Hare a run out.

Boro away springs to mind when RHM offered a lot more mobility than Hogan.

I think the main four all look good players. I know we have a tendency to talk up our kids but I would back all four in the squad.

[tomd2103]

All the games when Hogan came on as a sub, and offered nothing at all; no goals, no touches, no hold up play, no threat, nothing whatsoever, those were the times we should have been giving the likes of O'Hare a run out.

Boro away springs to mind when RHM offered a lot more mobility than Hogan.

I think the main four all look good players. I know we have a tendency to talk up our kids but I would back all four in the squad.

I was talking to someone about RHM the other day and couldn't quite remember which home game it was this season (might have been Bristol City) when he came on and gave the centre halves a real tough time.   

[john2710]

I've watched a lot of the U23 games & for me the only one anywhere near ready for the first team is RHM & at a stretch possibly Doyle-Hayes.

The others, O'Hare included, may well have talent but we've all seen young players who didn't make the step up. 

[Risso]

All the games when Hogan came on as a sub, and offered nothing at all; no goals, no touches, no hold up play, no threat, nothing whatsoever, those were the times we should have been giving the likes of O'Hare a run out.

Boro away springs to mind when RHM offered a lot more mobility than Hogan.

Thanks, was trying to think of what game it was.  RHM came on, was looking for the ball, taking people on and generally looking very dangerous indeed.  The difference between the two players was quite stark.

[paul_e]

I've watched a lot of the U23 games & for me the only one anywhere near ready for the first team is RHM & at a stretch possibly Doyle-Hayes.

The others, O'Hare included, may well have talent but we've all seen young players who didn't make the step up. 

I disagree slightly, some players need that step up to really kick on. Despite what happened to him later Gabby is a perfect example of that, at reserve level he was firmly in the shadows of the Moore brothers but within 10 games of being in the first team squad he looked easily the better player and after about 50 odd games was an England player.  Even if that doesn't happen giving a young player who is too good for reserve football (there's 5-6 of them in the squad) a handful of games as experience and then taking them out of the spotlight is a great way to see who has the right attitude. The ones who start working harder and pushing themselves more get back there quickly and are better players for it.

RHM is the big one for me, I reckon he's already a better option from the bench than Hogan because his pace makes him a threat.  O'Hare would be there for me because, if Jack picks up a knock, I don't see a more established player who has the vision or guile to fill the gap, so I'd see if he can do it. I'd have one of Suliman or Bedeau on the bench as well, it's not often you need to replace a centre half but you could easily give them 15-20 minute run outs here and there. Finally I'd have Davies, Green and Lyden around the squad as well, both of the latter have looked at home in the first team at times but been screwed by injuries whilst Davies has enough potential to be persevered with.

Give it another year and I'd be looking at Bazeley-Graham getting in as well, he looks a real talent to me.

[Clampy]

I've watched a lot of the U23 games & for me the only one anywhere near ready for the first team is RHM & at a stretch possibly Doyle-Hayes.

The others, O'Hare included, may well have talent but we've all seen young players who didn't make the step up. 

I've watched a few games online and RHM is the main stand out and he was out for a long time and as promising as he looks, I honestly don't think O'Hare is ready just yet. I'd send him out on loan personally, it didn't do Grealish any harm.

[SamTheMouse]

What did we pay for Hogan? Wasn't it over 10 million?

If so... what a fucking waste of money for such a short, slow player. Whoever thought it was worth spunking eight figures on him needs a good slap.

[robleflaneur]

the list of ins and outs is quite revealing

the players we sold especially the French collective we paid biggish money for we probably didn't get our money back but got a large percentage back, as they were deamed not good enough or to brittle for this league

however the litmus test is this
most of them have under better coaching and better managers have gone on and improved, they arnt pulling up trees and and the verge of greatness but have all improved

if they were sold on the open market today they would probably double there value as a collective group from when we bought them

now take a look at the players who were bought in to replace them, is there a single one that has improved is there a single one who we could sell and get our money back, I doubt it especially with the high wages that they came on

if we had to sell all the Bruce buy ins we would be looking at a massive loss whereas the ones he let go are worth more than when we sold them

Bruce can't spot a player he can't spot talent he goes for the pragmatic type of footballer he buys experienced work horses with little flair or passing ability

my biggest gripe as always is he builds nothing for the medium to long term he puts together basic sides of industrious old plodders and tries to get through on experi.ence, it has worked for him in the past there is no denying

but we need a better plan now we need a better manager we need a miracle

I would disagree on two things..Bruce has a reasonable track record in buying players.But you are absolutely spot on about the poor coaching in recent years and perfectly summing up Bruce in putting together 'basic sides of industrious old plodders'
And that's why I don't think we need a miracle,just a better manager who will be able to realise the full potential of his playing staff.

[Mister E]

I've watched a lot of the U23 games & for me the only one anywhere near ready for the first team is RHM & at a stretch possibly Doyle-Hayes.

The others, O'Hare included, may well have talent but we've all seen young players who didn't make the step up. 

I've watched a few games online and RHM is the main stand out and he was out for a long time and as promising as he looks, I honestly don't think O'Hare is ready just yet. I'd send him out on loan personally, it didn't do Grealish any harm.

Doyle-Hayes looked worth a few games too.

[Mister E]

... we've all seen young players who didn't make the step up. 

To make that assessment, we need to see them in context i.e. playing in the championship. And, this needs a manager who knows how to ‘blood’ players effectively.

[sirlordbaltimore]

All the games when Hogan came on as a sub, and offered nothing at all; no goals, no touches, no hold up play, no threat, nothing whatsoever, those were the times we should have been giving the likes of O'Hare a run out.

as a striker ?

not sure i'd have liked to have seen O'Hare running around chasing aimless hoofs or crosses into the box like Hogan had to

[sirlordbaltimore]

What did we pay for Hogan? Wasn't it over 10 million?

If so... what a fucking waste of money for such a short, slow player. Whoever thought it was worth spunking eight figures on him needs a good slap.

Just over 9m i believe. I don't recall a queue forming of football manager know it all's saying we shouldn't be signing him at the time mind.