Headlines

Against the dying of the light

Comment: 0 October 5th, 2011 by: admin
Share
Email

Steve Bruce might do well to have a chat with Arsene Wenger.  He might find use for a healthy dose of some advice on how to survive a situation involving angry fans.

Because the bitter criticisms that came screaming towards Wenger a few weeks ago have come flying towards the Sunderland coach’s general direction.  And considering the Black Cats’ 15 wins since the beginning of last season, it’s no surprise.

As far as the increasing dissatisfaction towards the club’s performance, the breaking point is indefinite.  Some may say it’s their current Premier League record that shows only 1 win in 7 games.

For some, it could be as little as those first 5 minutes that saw West Brom net 2 goals in Sunderland territory last October 1.

Or perhaps it was the squad’s 0-0 draw against Swansea, a result that handed Sunderland their third winless match (following a derby loss to Newcastle) at the Premier League.

Amidst the various possibilities, the fact remains that the critics are now circling Bruce’s general perimeter, dealing deep gashes that took the manager by surprise.

According to Bruce, the early criticisms are surprising, coming after only 7 games.  Expressing his shock towards the reactions, Bruce argued about his success in taking Sunderland to 10th place the previous season.

But perhaps 10th place wasn’t good enough.

Hope springs

Bruce stepped in as manager in June 2009 after Ricky Sbragia exited after saving the club from relegation.  During the announcement of his resignation Sbragia explained that his job was to keep Sunderland safe from relegation and it had been achieved.

‘I took over in a difficult situation.  I was asked to keep the club up and I achieved that,’ Sbragia explained to the press.

‘I could’ve been selfish and stayed on but I felt it was best for the club for me to step down.’

The manager also insisted that with Sunderland’s Premier League spot secured, moving forward for the club meant having a coach with a bigger name.

Niall Quinn, the club’s former chairman, was supportive of the decision, and it seemed not in a manner that merely addressed diplomatic requirements.

‘He was given one task – to keep the club up – and he achieved it,’ he noted after calling Sbragia’s job ‘superb.’

‘He is Sunderland through and through,’ gushed Quinn, who afterwards said Sbragia was welcome back to the club at any time.

A month after Sbragia’s exit came Bruce.

Sbragia’s season ended with Sunderland in 16th place.  The year after, with Bruce as manager, Sunderland rested on 13th; the next season – last season – they broke into 10th place.

And as of October 4, 2011, the Black Cats find themselves back in 16th, again a mere 2 notches above an early relegation scare.

Bruce’s argument insists that it is too early in the season to start determining fates.  But perhaps Sunderland’s argument is that after surviving the 2009 relegation scare, the objective has evolved from survival to excellence.

And it is not in any way reflected in their records under Bruce’s care.

Priority check

‘I couldn’t quite get to grips with the intensity of [the fans’ negative reactions] so soon, but there you go,’ said the manager who also described criticisms thrown at him as ‘water off a duck’s back.’

And following their 2-2 draw against West Brom, he had gone from expressing surprise to calling the clamour ‘ridiculous.’

Oy, Bruce, words of advice: regaining the fans’ trust does not start with making their dissatisfaction seem impractical and calling it mere ‘hysteria.’

Many may agree with Bruce that 7 games is in fact too early for judgment.  However there is something to be noted when comparing Sunderland’s early start this season to that of the previous one.

Presently Sunderland’s first 7 games brought 1 win, 3 draws and 3 losses; last season however they began with 1 win, 5 draws and only 1 loss.  They would not tally a second loss until their 10th match.

The first 7 this season may not be much, but it does suggest a weaker start compared to last year’s opener.  And massively more so if one looks at the 4 wins, 0 draws and 3 losses from the year before last, the year Bruce took on the reins.

As far as Sunderland’s supporters go, the point cannot be simpler: they want a better squad.  And they want a manager that they can entrust with their hopes.

And perhaps Brucie should stop mucking about and trying to build a ‘good relationship’ with the team’s board more than with the fans.

‘I was away with Niall and [current Sunderland chairman Ellis] Short a couple of days ago,’ said Bruce in early September after a round of golf days after Sunderland’s 4th straight winless match.  ‘I have said repeatedly the relationship with them I can’t take for granted,’ said Bruce.

And according to him, although the early results have proven disappointing for the chairman (‘of course’), ‘they also understand the job I have done and that I need more than three or four games – thankfully I am convinced that they feel that way too.’

That was almost a month ago; today, three games and only 1 win later, one wonders if the sweat has begun to build.

Play the game right

Someone has to tell Bruce that at the end of the day, a football squad is not limited to the blokes in the locker room.  A squad is the players, plus every other supporter.

And as a manager, he owes it to the players to help them win; and as for the fans, what he owes them is a promise that their beloved team will rise above their expectations.  He would therefore do well to address the concerns of the supporters.

And perhaps chuck the defensive, they-are-being-ridiculous attitude.

Most of all, Bruce should be reminded of the fact that at the end of the day, a club runs on money and fan support.

And if the fans are not happy, his golfing mates may very well start thinking of chucking him out of their next tee off.

And perhaps even Sunderland A.F.C.

 

Leave a Reply