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| Sullivan On Bruce; why he stayed | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 12 2006, 10:46 AM (384 Views) | |
| Joe | Nov 12 2006, 10:46 AM Post #1 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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Interesting Sullivan: Why we stood by Steve Nov 11 2006 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail DAVID Sullivan today revealed why Blues' board decided to stick by Steve Bruce when calls for him to be sacked reached fever pitch. And the co-owner claimed they were right to do so and that he couldn't understand why there was a 'perpetual desire for change' in football. Bruce came under fire after five winless league games, the last of which was an insipid performance in a 1-0 defeat by Norwich City. Even Bruce thought he was going to be given the boot after that match but the board granted him more time to turn things around. That's what he did as a gritty 1-0 win at Derby County followed to trigger a four-game Championship winning streak that has lifted Blues firmly back into the promotion frame. Sullivan, speaking for the first time since the 'crisis' mushroomed a month ago, said: "Our turnaround has been down to the manager. "He had a good hard look at things after that Norwich game, realised we had a serious problem and reacted to it. I wouldn't say we were on the verge of sacking him, no. We said that things had to improve, they couldn't carry on as they were forever, but he was fully aware of that anyway. "He made changes, our style of play was altered and perhaps the whole team were shook out of a comfort zone. "I don't understand this perpetual desire for change. If we don't get promotion this season then, in the summer, we will sit down look at the team and the manager and decide what to do. "Even then, in that scenario, it might be best to let Steve have another go. As it stands now we are right back in contention and I am sure we are good enough to get up. It's too easy to get rid of the manager when things aren't going right and you have a dip. "Supporters, if they had their way, would want you to change every three months. Morally, it's not correct. If you believe you have the right manager, then you have a responsibility to give him every chance. "Steve took us up to the Premiership four years ago and it was a very unfortunate relegation, a combination of injuries and Portsmouth's incredible form and luck, which was our downfall. "As a board, we have only appointed three managers in coming up to 14 years. And I think we all agree that perhaps we sacked Barry Fry too soon, but back then we were a lot less mature. "To change your manager part of the way through a season is not very clever. In most cases it doesn't work and, speaking hypothetically, I would say to the supporters 'OK, then, who would you have instead?'" That is a moot point as aside from the faith the board have in Bruce, the field of prospective replacements was, and still is not, exactly enticing. Knowing that some fans clamoured for Alan Curbishley, Sullivan retorted: "He would not come to Birmingham City. I can't read his mind but, knowing people in the trade, they would tell you that he wants to join a Premier League club. "Even if we were a Premier League club, would he come? I don't think so. "And if you look at his record, it is not an awful lot better than Steve's. He has never had a top-half Premier League finish with Charlton Athletic. Yes, we went down, but it was a marginal relegation. Charlton were also relegated under Alan. "He got them back up, and we believe Steve can win promotion for us again. So if you take him out of the equation, who exactly is there?" Before the season started, Sullivan promised goals and excitement. Even he has had to accept that, in the Championship, results are the bottom line. "I wouldn't say we are playing pretty football. We have gone back to being hard to beat, and Sunderland won this league like that. "Let's be honest, we're in the results business and most people would prefer a 1-0 win over Coventry to a 3-2 defeat at Luton. We are grinding out results, and that's what we did in the Premier League when we finished 10th. "I always say that from Christmas in that first season to Christmas in that second season, we averaged not far shy of two points a game. "Had that been the case over a whole season, we would probably have finished third or fourth. "We did have Christophe Dugarry and then Mikael Forssell's goals but, nonetheless, Steve would have been considered a great manager, better than Sam Allardyce. That's how thin the line is." |
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| thetoot | Nov 12 2006, 11:00 AM Post #2 |
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Frank Worthington
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Blimey! "Supporters, if they had their way, would want you to change every three months. Morally, it's not correct. If you believe you have the right manager, then you have a responsibility to give him every chance." I think that that first sentence is really unfair as regards Blues fans. I'm not sure what every one else on here thinks, but I think that Blues fans are a very loyal bunch - especially to Steve for the last 2 and a half years. The current dissatisfaction I think should be taken more seriously precisely because there has been such loyalty in the past. "Steve took us up to the Premiership four years ago and it was a very unfortunate relegation, a combination of injuries and Portsmouth's incredible form and luck, which was our downfall." Well...I can't believe that Sullivan honestly thinks this. If he does, I'm worried. How on earth did he become so successful in business? I smell a rat. Regardless of what goes on on the pitch (And I for one am delighted that we are starting to grind out results again) I think that the club needs to rebuild its relationship with the fans. These comments won't help. |
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| Left handed screwdriver | Nov 12 2006, 11:23 AM Post #3 |
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Frank Worthington
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How on earth did he become so successful in business? well it's not hard to sell nuddy pictures of women to men is it. ;) |
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| jthirlb | Nov 12 2006, 11:40 AM Post #4 |
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Martin Grainger
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I was one of those who wanted bruce out after the Norwich game. Considering that west brom had gone into some good form after Robson went. Then we beat them and the whole picture changes again. Were on a roll and the baggies can't win. Its all a very thin line in this division, I'm glad to be proved wrong. The proof is in the results that Sullivan was right to keep Bruce on. Why complain were winning matches again. |
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| Blues4eva | Nov 12 2006, 11:51 AM Post #5 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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One thing he is right about is that the board need to work hard at rebuiliding it's relationship with the fans, the same goes for Bruce as well imo, over the last few weeks there has been mud thrown on both sides, now imo, the fans are improving by showing faith in Bruce again( for the most part), even if they are not going to the games in their numbers. but the board need to start showing some respect to the fans and not treating us like ****. |
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| Willie | Nov 12 2006, 11:51 AM Post #6 |
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Willie
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May i dare suggest that these comments are no worse than those made by fans. respect is a two way thing. |
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| kroblues | Nov 12 2006, 12:13 PM Post #7 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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this is the comment im not happy with, i thought that he had one last chance to get us up, how many chances does he/ will he get :angry: |
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| Left handed screwdriver | Nov 12 2006, 12:19 PM Post #8 |
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Frank Worthington
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probably becasue if we dont go up this season next will be the last so there is no point them changing the manager. both KB and ds have said we have to go up in the next 2 seasons or the club will go finantialy bust. DS did say in an interview with sky that they wont bail us out. so i think they will call it a day and put the club in administration. no point bringing in a new guy . |
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| Blooboy | Nov 12 2006, 12:37 PM Post #9 |
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Unregistered
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i was very interested in that part about dear old Bazza, wonder if he'll ever come back in some capacity, loved him here down the Blues, some called him a clown, but he brightened the whole place up and i believe players wanted to play for him. nice one to David for saying that **thumbup |
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| Wisel | Nov 12 2006, 01:43 PM Post #10 |
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I like Sullivan. He may not be the most diplomatic but he speaks his mind, and he speaks a lot of sense. His loyalty to a manager is the correct stance IMO. I did not rate Fry ot Francis as managers, but he was right to give them the time and support taht he did. I think he took a risk with Bruce, but hiis pedigree was pretty good, and he was the first of Sullivans appointments that I actually wanted as manager. Bobby Robson is probably the best example of what you can get from continued loyalty and support of a manager. And anyone who thinks that Bobby Robson, who is a great manager now, never had his down times, is living in cloud cockoo land. If everyone understood how he creates good businesses, probably they all would do the same, but it's not surprising that everyone doesn't have those skills, or the knowledge to understand the skills. I'm sure Sullivan doesn't understand how to be a postman or welder or teacher etc.. |
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| tevets | Nov 12 2006, 02:23 PM Post #11 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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I agree, the comments are no worse than some of the supporters comments, but they are more worrying. It is utter nonsense that Blues fans have called for a new manager every three months, on the whole we have been very loyal and understanding toward out managers, Bruce especially. The biggest worry though is does Sullivan really believe relegation was all down to luck? He also cites Portsmouth’s incredible form. This is by far the most worrying thing Sullivan has ever come out with. You make your own luck and Portsmouth did just that, they did everything we didn’t and succeeded because of it, if the board doesn’t realise their own inactivity and lack of decisive leadership largely contributed to relegation there is no hope. Seldom in this life is sitting back and hoping it all goes away the best approach. |
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| Wisel | Nov 12 2006, 02:31 PM Post #12 |
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Unregistered
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It is utter nonsense that Blues fans have called for a new manager every three months, on the whole we have been very loyal and understanding toward out managers, Bruce especially. tevets, maybe you suffer short memory or that you don't read this board, but people have been calling for Bruce's head for eighteen months now consistently. Look back at the massive numvber of posts and some even have Bruce Out logo's on them. |
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| Joe | Nov 12 2006, 03:39 PM Post #13 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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I think Sullivan wasn't actually claiming that supporters call for a manager's head every three months, he was talking in general terms to put a point across. As for Bruce being here next season if we don't go up, it makes sense if there are no obvious candidates to come in. That seems to be one reason why they didn't axe him. I agree that Sullivan and the board have to build relationships with the supporters again. They cannot keep slagging them off for not turning up when prices are out of reach of most people and we are in the championship. As for Bruce having a go at supporters, he has, but not to the degree some have had a pop at him. He's just as entitled to give his opinion as supporters are to slate him. Blues going bust and into administration if we don't go up in the next two seasons? Don't make me laugh. That's just scaremongering rubbish. The club makes a profit, we are totally solvent and raking it in. The owners are worth £ 1 billion. |
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| The_Rock | Nov 12 2006, 05:17 PM Post #14 |
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Geoff Horsfield
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I dont think that there is anything to controversial in that, and at least we know where we stand on the manager front instead of being kept in the dark. About the fans wanting a new manager every 3 months i think that DS was just talking in general terms and not particually saying it about Blues fans. |
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| nsingramns | Nov 13 2006, 10:40 AM Post #15 |
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Jose Dominguez
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I also would agree with DS on this one, the three month thing was just a general comment about football fans in general ans as far as im concerned its 100% correct, some people have even rang up Tom Ross and suggested that Mowbray has taken WBA as far as he can ffs, any manager that loses a couple of games on the trot is under pressure from some supporters these days. I was also pleased to read that DS is satanding by our manager and looking at the long term picture, top marks to him for that as far as im concerned. The thing that he and the board need to seriously look at is the pricing structure, weve got to get the crowds back into the ground, i was very disapointed to see that saturdays price reductions had made no difference to the attendance, but pleased to see that the next few games have also been reduced. Having said that, even with the reductions its still not cheap entertainment by any stretch of the imagination. |
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| bornblues64 | Nov 13 2006, 10:55 AM Post #16 |
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Mikael Forssell
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"A very unfortunate relegation" Says it all. |
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| djmmusic | Nov 13 2006, 03:21 PM Post #17 |
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Alex Govan
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Who are these delicate things who get offended at statements made by our board? I've not seen or heard anything remotely offensive uttered by them, and I'm not exactly thick-skinned myself. Who are these sensitive souls? They must live somewhere safe, where the most offensive thing you can experience is a statement from a Chairman of a club they support. I wish I lived there too.. |
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