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I really want to like Bruce, but he makes it so hard with these lineups. Gabby over Adomah is just plain stupid, I don't care what minor injury he might be nursing.

I hope he scores a hattrick tonight.

1 hour ago, sparrow1988 said:

There's a film about it .Worth a look.

No wonder I never understood it.

Obviously he's lacking a little on the talent side, but the even bigger issue for me really is his weak mentality. Someone mentioned a lack of bravery to his play, and I think that's spot on. I could see him improving, he's got more potential than Westwood, but he really needs to step up to the plate, be more positive, more forward thinking, and ultimately just impose himself where it counts. 

What the f**k is a trainspotter? 

Norwich are in terrible form, and like others have pointed out, their style of play should suit us. Thus I can only see a win for us. Just don't expect it to be comfortable or pretty. 

Ps. No Gabby please. Not in the starting eleven, not on the bench. 

12 minutes ago, srsmithusa said:

Just an observation.  Sometimes, I've heard coaches instruct players not to tackle.  "Stay on your feet!  Just contain him."  I do wonder how often, when some of us criticize AW for "pulling out of tackles" as cowardice, he is, in reality making the right decision, and fans sometimes know less than we think we do about the game.

Talk about clutching at straws... however I actually think Westy is perfectly fine squadplayer at this level, and he most certainly does get too much stick on here. I hope we keep him.

I seriously recon he just doesn't fancy being in the second tier all that much. TBH I'm not the slightest surprised that no PL teams went for him in the summer. 

That's more like it Jackieboy! 

2 hours ago, Godders said:

That said, he will have earned a tilt at leading us under Xia's plans for world domination when he does get us up.

So this is a certainty already? Don't get me wrong, he's made a fantastic start, and long may it continue, but there is still a long way to go...

I agree though, IF he gets us up, this season or the next, he'll have earned the right to give it a go in the PL.

I still keep waiting for even more end product. Goals mainly. But perhaps it's a tad unfair at this point in time, and we should just be happy he's playing well and not getting the wrong kind of headlines.

He's just so unbelievably talented, I simply can't shake off the feeling we really have a world class player in the making. 

2 hours ago, markavfc40 said:

Since his reintroduction into the first team squad according to the manager he has trained really hard, lost over a stone in weight, impressed his team mates with his desire and attitude and in terms of his time on the pitch he has made a positive contribution to an excellent run of results for us. I have no complaints.

I'm fairly certain the manager would have a similar opinion of me, if I were to be introduced to the first team squad. Doesn't mean I'm good enough to play at this level for AVFC.

Fwiw I don't agree regarding his 'positive contribution', and I honestly believe the outcome resultswise would've been the same with any other forward we have. I certainly don't hate him or anything, I just don't see what he adds, besides a large immobile body. His primary job is to score goals, and if/when that starts to happen again, I'll happily change my opinion.

Impossible to argue against these results, even though I was against the appointment initially. I wouldn't say Bruce has won me over just yet, but it's happening.

I really don't like the inclusion of Gabby to the playing squad, but I suppose it makes sense with ACN coming and what not.

He's managed to change the mentality and instill some much needed grit to the squad. I still think the biggest challenge is ahead, he needs to get us playing even better, and seriously dominate these games, because we have surely have the squad for it. 

It's gonna be interesting to see how we handle the pressure going forward, because if we keep up this form, he's also gonna have to deal with the added expectations of a possible promotion. 

1 minute ago, AshVilla said:

I think he's a weak link and needs to be replaced in Jan

Hutton is a fine defender. We have bigger priorities elsewhere.

Splendid lineup. No Gabby. Thank you Steve Bruce! I'll surely join in on the wankfest later! Now let's tear them a new one!

I hear Rooney is available.

42 minutes ago, striker said:

Would like to see Elphick sold in January. Too slow.

Madness. FFS we've just bought him this summer. What happens if Baker or Chester get injured, you really wanna see Richards or Hutton playing as a centre back?

I keep having the same feeling with Jack as I do with Ayew, they're both talented, and they both do a lot of 'neat things', but in terms of actual end product, it's mostly just a lot of 'nice touches'. I'd love it if Jack where to 'come good', but just how long are we supposed to have to wait for this? Surely Cardiff at home now is the game where he'll finally deliver!? 

On 11/20/2016 at 13:43, Juju said:

Gabby is simply a metaphor for a number of man/player management skills Bruce appears to have, and it will be interesting to see if he can to continue it at a decent club, with decent resources and a genuinely ambitious chairman.

If this where true, I'd have no problem with Gabby getting some time on the pitch, preferably only in the dying minutes of a match. Unfortunately I don't agree, and seeing him get the nod over Ayew, Gestede, Kozak, RHM, Green and whatever up and coming youngsters we have, suggest Bruce actually rates him, which is very disappointing.

Still, as long as we're not losing, I'm (mostly) gonna keep my views in the matter 'civilized'. Fwiw I don't think he offered much anything against Brighton. Got a pretty decent, lucky chance as well, which he totally squandered. To me he looked as clumsy, and unfit as ever. Considering he's overall 'contribution' thus far this season, I can pretty much guarantee that RHM or even Gestede would've done no worse. 

Don't know if he was substituted due to fatigue, a knock or both, but I really hope we don't see him starting against Cardiff.

4 minutes ago, Daweii said:

Are we seriously questioning Bruce's decision after our form under him? If he thinks that starting eleven will win then I trust him. If it doesn't win then questions can be asked...

Certainly.

Utterly baffling that Gabby is starting. I sincerely hope SB knows what he is doing.

So will the Bruce wankfest continue?

I really hope so.

6 minutes ago, DK82 said:

Sounds like Traore is destroying Arsenal, doing really well down the left and unlucky not to have scored and got an assist.

Hardly. He's had a few touches though.

Are we winning yet? I want another Bruce wankfest tonight!

1 minute ago, bannedfromHandV said:

We are talking Steve Stone right?

 

If so, unless I've lost significant parts of my memory lately (which is something I accept could be true) he was not a left back.

May have played as a RWB at times but not a LB, anyone else care to interject?

Sure, I might be mistaken. Guess it only further validates my initial point. We've not had a decent left back in about 20 years.