I'm not trying to be controversial but I totally disagree with the Bruce bashers - loyalty in football barely lasts beyond one defeat, certainly for fans, for chairmen maybe four defeats, when Bruce walked out on us it was bcos he'd already made a bond at Brum at the end of his playing career where his desired return as future manager was made explicit - Jordan really pissed him off when he was here, remember SJ has mellowed and matured he was embarrassing back then, we beat Grimsby 5-0 in a home game, Jordan complained to Bruce that we shouldn't have relaxed after the fifth goal, we beat Everton away on pens in the league cup, Jordan complained that the keeper he'd brought in had dived the wrong way for each of their penalties, you get one go as being a football manager, there is no more fickle or precarious job, and if another better job comes along you have every right to take it - the Brum move was a step sideways but SJ was the straw that broke the camel's back imho, doesn't always work, look at Doog and Bolton, but the vitriol Bruce gets when he comes back here is a backhanded compliment, we played the best football under him since Venables first time round, and his eye for a player with a default level of skill against a player playing above himself is exceptional, he did wonders at Brum and at Wigan, and he'll keep Toon in mid table, I'm no nationalist but I predict a bit of a renaissance for English managers, Smith at Villa will surprise, Wilder might, Potter could too sadly, but Bruce is a much better manager than Mark Hughes, his only failure is Sunderland but Pep would struggle there, it's a vortex of grim, miserable failure, Bruce just looks after himself, why should he care, no fan or chairman cares about him unless form and results are good. It's tough on Wednesday but lambasting Bruce for being mercenary is cr*p, as Simon Jordan explained on Talksport today: "he's a bloody good manager".

So Newcastle will stay up then?

Red and Blue Army!

One season there won't be three teams worse than us. However, definitely Newcastle who struggled last season and will be worse. Brighton have not replaced players well - yet nor have we. Villa have bought. Norwich and Sheff haven't bought much.
That final relegation place seems to look like it could be between us and the Brighton scum.

Red and Blue Army!

As Spike Milligan once said about Chris Evans: "the best thing I can wish you is an early death, or leprosy".

He is a teacher. In Hastings mind you.

COYP

It has been reported that Bruce was 11th choice at Newcastle and wasn't on the original shortlist.Also reported that he will have £90 Mill to spend at Newcastle.

Sheff Wed have issued a statement saying that there are still legal issues to be resolved regarding Bruce and his coaching team leaving the club and joining Newcastle.