Adam2003

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/may/17/liam-rosenior-released-brighton-bitter-pill I just posted this in the Bruce thread but also relevant here - on club culture at Brighton. Agree with the original post and think this is moving in the right direction.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/may/17/liam-rosenior-released-brighton-bitter-pill This is about Brighton but when he talks about club culture, I think that’s something Bruce (and the club) have started building here that had been missing for years. That would be my concern in changing to another manager, even if they were one who played prettier football. Now, hopefully whoever we get in next is someone who carries this culture forward and evolves it, but personally as things stand I would stick with Bruce to let him keep building it.

Such a weird time to do this! It’s the same at every club so not a criticism, but I don’t understand why it’s not done just before they go on hols in the summer... strange mindset to do these before the biggest games.

I find it makes life and watching football more enjoyable, but I wish those who are disappointed with an 80+ point season including multiple four and five-goal wins all the best for the future season when we somehow perform better than that! In hoping for the latter, I suppose, they are the true optimists.

I think Grabban could do a job for us in the top flight next season

Still firmly believe his signing has been responsible for turning round our toxic team spirit and the “losing is ok” culture we had. I think we will look back in a few years and think he was a transformative signing whether we go up or not, way beyond how he has played on the pitch where Chester has been as good. It’s easy to forget what a soft touch we have been for years and years and I think this would have continued without his leadership.

Would rather Cardiff be in the playoffs with us than Fulham, so good to drag them back in (although I think any of the three of us can beat the others on our day).

No-one had ever managed a team before their first time! How is Mellberg getting on in management now out of interest? That’d get you the fans on board for a couple of months at least...! (I sometimes wonder how much club boards are having conversations like that...)

Agreed. If you don’t enjoy chasing promotion (and still being in with a shout) and putting four or five goals past a number of teams, it may be time to find a new high... I don’t think Aston Villa will do it for you any more!

We are finishing fourth. We will have to play someone pretty average in the semi final over two legs, and if we can't beat them we don't deserve to go up. Then we will play Fulham for promotion. It'll be exciting*. *I'll be hiding under the bed...

And further to that at this point I would go as far as to predict our season will come down to one game at Wembley vs Cardiff or Fulham - anyone’s game...! It’ll be exciting at least...

I’m just working on the basis now that it’s nice being one of the top four teams in a division for the first time in a long time and let’s see what the end of the season brings. Seems likely to be the playoffs, in which case it’ll be a rollercoaster ride I am sure. If we scrape top two, great, but I think it might be a few points out of reach come May. Bring on the playoffs and JT lifting that trophy at Wembley...

I don’t think we will catch Wolves so for me, definitely! Unless both can lose...

No, you’re wrong. He had a few days out. He may or may not turn out to be good enough to get us promoted but let’s not rewrite history. Let’s hope a 4-2 win away from home gets us back to winning ways after two poor games. We will have other defeats between now and May. Let’s not panic when we do.

Snodgrass left and Birkir and Jedinak holding? Hourihane behind Hogan?

Steve Bruce has done here what Brian Clough did with Dave Mackay and it’s working just as well.

I don’t disbelieve those numbers as such (all look very believable) but where have they got them from? Just media speculation? (Haven’t watched the video so if they make clear they’ve done some real investigation then fair play).

Motored forward to set up the chance for the third goal. Will be a good player long term and probably a useful asset for us short term.

I want to say I’d honestly question the judgment of anyone who really thought he was crap. He’s always been a good player, since way before he was with us and I’m amazed people didn’t see that. BUT I know I’m just as guilty of it with another player(s) - we just write people off (or build them up) way too soon with little understanding of what goes into making them perform or not. I don’t think I can do that with a professional accountant or a car salesman, despite knowing the basics of what they do, but I think I can do it with everyone in football. I’ve never spent, say, a week at a training ground in my life but because I’ve watched a load of games and played to an OK level I (we) think I (we) know what goes into doing a good job or having the potential to do it. Managers, players, CEO, etc. It’s the modern game. No-one would go to the opera and say “oh well I don’t think they used that soprano right” or watch firemen put out a fire and think “he could have been faster connecting that hose”... But football would be boring if we didn’t all think we were the expert! And even the real experts get it completely wrong. So I try just to enjoy it when it’s going well and not worry too much when it’s not.

I'm lost here... surely we want our keeper to have the best save percentage in the league? We also want him to face the least shots in the league, of course, but the former isn't a sign of anything bad, is it?

Makes sense, thanks!

Presumably they are on the phone to OTHER people if they are trying to get players in on loan... their 'black books' hopefully have more numbers than each other's office extension...

Two questions from me... (1) how does that relate to free transfers? If we signed Neymar on a free, is he worthless as an asset in accounting terms? And (2) what about wages? Surely Hogan (to use your example)'s wages are sitting in some sort of future liability column or something? And shifting them becomes a cost we will no longer have to bear over time?

Well yeah I mean he’s a United fan so I’m not saying he’s that bright... maybe he meant centre back but I’m sure he said defensive midfield. Anyway, fingers crossed this helps the cause!

A United supporting friend whose opinion I trust thinks he should be starting in defensive midfield for them. I haven’t watched him (or watched them for a while to be honest) but on that basis, even if he’s getting really carried away, I’m guessing there’s a good chance this kid will do a better job than Whelan, Jedinak or BB (no disrespect to any of them), plus be cover elsewhere.