Will Bruce Stay Or Go?

It was 14 league games ago that Sunderland recorded their last Premiership win of the season.

In the last 13 games, we’ve managed to pick up only 6 points. That’s 6 points out of a possible 39! It’s relegation form and I think Sunday’s home game against Fulham will be make or break time for Steve Bruce.

Fulham are a side who have not won away in the league so far and if we have any chance of rescuing our God-awful season, this is the time to do it. It really is a must win game, after failing to beat both Wigan and Stoke at home, we can’t afford to drop points in this one. We’re facing a side that have a shocking away record and if we can’t beat Fulham on Sunday then who can we beat?

The team look unorganised and have done so for months, Bruce appears to be unable to change things around when we find ourselves behind and when we concede a goal, we might as well forfeit the game as there’s never a way back.

Personally, I was pleased when Bruce was appointed. I’m still behind him and desperately want him to succeed but it’s got to come to a point when enough is enough. I know in theory managers should be given time to mould their side and build their squad but in this day and age, teams can’t afford to be relegated. And if managers do not hit the ground running and get the results in quickly then they must be replaced. For the first time in years we’ve really been given some optimism, we’ve had the money to spend and we’ve invested in what are considered to be “quality” players. However, we’re playing the same poor football that we saw last season and the results of late are comparable to the two seasons we finished at the foot of the table.

Yes, we’ve had injuries and suspensions but that’s something as a squad we’ve got to deal with. When you compare the Sunderland squad on paper to the teams around us (Stoke City, Wigan, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Wolves) we really should be clear of them. The sad fact is though, out of the 5 teams mentioned, we’ve only taken 9 points from them out of a possible 24.

I don’t believe Bruce is the sole blame. The players must stand up and acknowledge that they haven’t been good enough but it’s becoming clear that we still have players who are being selected that are lucky to be playing in the Premiership. George McCartney has been consistently poor all season. Yet there is no competition for his place. Malbranque has lost the plot. Bardsley relies on winning the ball and blasting it up the field at every opportunity without any thought of where the ball is going. Turner’s decision making is suspect. Kilgallon needs more time but the question must be asked, why did we sign him and what can he offer us that we already didn’t have? Lorik Cana is another player that has failed to impress. After starting the season so well, his form, much like the teams has gradually grown worse. Apart from the odd horrifically timed challenge, he has been hiding and for a captain it’s just not acceptable.

I hope with the majority of our players back from injury and suspension Bruce can bring some stability to the side and regain the form which saw us in the top half of the table. As supporters, all we can do is get behind the side and hope things change. But surely the powers above are beginning to question whether or not Bruce is the right man for the job. After all, Mark Hughes is available and I’m sure he won’t be out of a job for very long.

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