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Bruce On Blues
Topic Started: Mar 22 2010, 09:37 AM (1,067 Views)
Willie
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Willie
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Says we should be capable of finishing higher than his team did in 2004


http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-26081372/
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willvbcfc
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Gil Merrick
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Steve Bruce is a top man. I didn't always agree with his signings or tactics, but he's always loved Birmingham City Football Club and I respect him greatly for his humbling words.

If anyone cites some of his words following his departure to Wigan, I think you'll find that they were mostly aimed at the previous owners and not toward the heart of our club.
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lowdham bluenose
Joe Bradford
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He is a top man who has a place in his heart for Birmingham City.

We have very few friends of the club out there, so why do some folk slag him off so much. Ridiculous and juvenile.

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MR_CRABTREE
David Langan
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Spot on Willy. I think his one sentence tells us everything.
Quote:
 
I had eight-and-a-half years at the club. I want the club to do very well now ... you know what I mean by that! :whistle: :whistle:
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Des
Malcom Page
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a top bloke, he got the arseache over the way he left the club, but thats life! I was gutted when he left but Alex is a star and its worked out great for everyone!
Its great that he has affection for the club and so he should it was at the Blues that he gained managerial credability!

KRO
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Blacksmith
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Jeff Hall
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Both Francis and Bruce were dealt a poor deal by the previous board. Dribs and drabs in transfer fees meant restricting their choice of targets.

Both did very well for us, all things considered. Francis was so close to promotion on several occasions. Bruce got us there after 16 barren years in the wilderness and had several good seasons, including our highest position since Goodwin of 10th place. But with both managers, when they needed to push on that bit more they were let down by the board.

Now McLeish is at the helm and doing an excellent job, and it's typical of Bruce to say he would like Alex's team to do better than his did. He still wantsa us to do well.

I, too, hope that McLeish can get us higher than Bruce did. I think he will, but I hope the current board did not make the same mistake as the previous one when they did not back him sufficiently in the January window. I worry what will happen if we start to pick up injuries between now and the end of the season, because the squad lacks depth.

Anyway, back to the original comments by Bruce, top man! **thumbup
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pooley
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Blacksmith
Mar 22 2010, 10:44 AM
Both Francis and Bruce were dealt a poor deal by the previous board. Dribs and drabs in transfer fees meant restricting their choice of targets.

Both did very well for us, all things considered. Francis was so close to promotion on several occasions. Bruce got us there after 16 barren years in the wilderness and had several good seasons, including our highest position since Goodwin of 10th place. But with both managers, when they needed to push on that bit more they were let down by the board.

Now McLeish is at the helm and doing an excellent job, and it's typical of Bruce to say he would like Alex's team to do better than his did. He still wantsa us to do well.

I, too, hope that McLeish can get us higher than Bruce did. I think he will, but I hope the current board did not make the same mistake as the previous one when they did not back him sufficiently in the January window. I worry what will happen if we start to pick up injuries between now and the end of the season, because the squad lacks depth.

Anyway, back to the original comments by Bruce, top man! **thumbup

I still think tf should have been given one more season
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Blacksmith
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Jeff Hall
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I don't think there was a chance of him staying on. He had been to critical of his employers. I wonder why. :whistle:

I think. also, that was one of the reasons some people did not like Steve Bruce. The board had got rid of the fans favourite, so Bruce was on a loser with some people from the start.

I think, with better backing, and less opening his mouth by Sullivan, TF would eventually have got us up. But Sullivan only supported his managers to a certain point and undermined them too much.
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PartisanBCFC
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Jack Wiseman
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lowdham bluenose
Mar 22 2010, 05:56 AM
He is a top man who has a place in his heart for Birmingham City.

We have very few friends of the club out there, so why do some folk slag him off so much. Ridiculous and juvenile.

:LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO:

Is that a kettle full of soup or a pot of stew I see on the stove top ???





-----------------------------
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Lewis
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Paul Tait
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How do we win more friends. Trouble is, when so many people, influential some of them, are against or not for you, everything you do is an uphill battle. How do we change that.

Thinking about this it might need it's own thread......if anyone is interested that is.
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Raters
Bob Latchford
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lowdham bluenose
Mar 22 2010, 09:56 AM
so why do some folk slag him off so much. Ridiculous and juvenile.

Sorry mate but that by far the best post of the year so far, nearly wet me self
:LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO:

the irony eh?


BTW Back to topic, did anybodey hear what brucie said on local wigwam radio about us getting relegated the other year?
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mwbirm44
Jose Dominguez
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no ,what did he say?
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Raters
Bob Latchford
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mwbirm44
Mar 22 2010, 05:17 PM
no ,what did he say?

He laughed, and said its a shame.

I got this from a wigwam fan, who was also peed at him laughing at us. :banghead:
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1LoveridgeC
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Malcom Page
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lowdham bluenose
Mar 22 2010, 10:56 AM
He is a top man who has a place in his heart for Birmingham City.

We have very few friends of the club out there, so why do some folk slag him off so much. Ridiculous and juvenile.

Please tell me you're joking.
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Blue Raphealite
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Paul Tait
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lowdham bluenose
Mar 22 2010, 09:56 AM
He is a top man who has a place in his heart for Birmingham City.

We have very few friends of the club out there, so why do some folk slag him off so much. Ridiculous and juvenile.

Too true lowdham.

Before you know it people will start slagging off McLeish ! Then they'll slag off Aitken. Then they'll slag off players, one by one...

As you say, ridiculous and juvenile

:LMAO:
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jj22
Kenny Burns
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I dont understand why some fans were slagging him off on Saturday......What has he done wrong?

The board must of been rubbing the hands when Dave Whelan gave them £3million, they obvioulsy didnt want Bruce but didnt fancy paying up his contract, instead they tried to force him into a resignation resulting in no pay out. Just like they tried with McLeish last season. But they both stuck in there.

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Blue Raphealite
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Paul Tait
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Blacksmith
Mar 22 2010, 12:09 PM
I don't think there was a chance of him staying on. He had been to critical of his employers. I wonder why. :whistle:

I think. also, that was one of the reasons some people did not like Steve Bruce. The board had got rid of the fans favourite, so Bruce was on a loser with some people from the start.

I think, with better backing, and less opening his mouth by Sullivan, TF would eventually have got us up. But Sullivan only supported his managers to a certain point and undermined them too much.

I don't think I've ever disagreed with any of your posts.

**thumbup

The old board were disgusting to Francis and eventually almost as bad to Bruce.

Mainly by starving them of funds, reducing funds window by window.

It was the way they behaved over Francis that upset many bluenoses. Whether they though TF a 'God' or not. To get your team to the League Cup final and then read in the papers the week before it that even if you won it, it may not be enough to keep your job. David Gold in February just before the Final.
Then Karren Brady having a lunch date with Steve Bruce and begging him not to go to Palace because there may be something happening at blues.

All this stuff off the manager's grapevine must have hurt Francis as much as the actual dismissal.

And then the rubbish about Yeung not allowing Steve's contract to be upgraded.
Strange that. If Yeung who was not on the board blocked Bruce's new contract, how come he couldn't block the two David's half million consultancy fees?

Despicable board.

But going back to the topic, I don't think Steve is a Top class manager, anymore than Trevor was. But both of them hold Blues close to to their heart.

**thumbup
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jj22
Kenny Burns
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Blue Raphealite
Mar 22 2010, 07:07 PM
Blacksmith
Mar 22 2010, 12:09 PM
I don't think there was a chance of him staying on. He had been to critical of his employers. I wonder why.  :whistle:

I think. also, that was one of the reasons some people did not like Steve Bruce. The board had got rid of the fans favourite, so Bruce was on a loser with some people from the start.

I think, with better backing, and less opening his mouth by Sullivan, TF would eventually have got us up. But Sullivan only supported his managers to a certain point and undermined them too much.

I don't think I've ever disagreed with any of your posts.

**thumbup

The old board were disgusting to Francis and eventually almost as bad to Bruce.

Mainly by starving them of funds, reducing funds window by window.

It was the way they behaved over Francis that upset many bluenoses. Whether they though TF a 'God' or not. To get your team to the League Cup final and then read in the papers the week before it that even if you won it, it may not be enough to keep your job. David Gold in February just before the Final.
Then Karren Brady having a lunch date with Steve Bruce and begging him not to go to Palace because there may be something happening at blues.

All this stuff off the manager's grapevine must have hurt Francis as much as the actual dismissal.

And then the rubbish about Yeung not allowing Steve's contract to be upgraded.
Strange that. If Yeung who was not on the board blocked Bruce's new contract, how come he couldn't block the two David's half million consultancy fees?

Despicable board.

But going back to the topic, I don't think Steve is a Top class manager, anymore than Trevor was. But both of them hold Blues close to to their heart.

**thumbup

Great piece......i agree all 3 were treated terribly by the board.

I think if it wasnt down to TF being forced into signing confidentiality papers we would of herd a lot more about the way the board acted.

Even after they sacked him they tried to trick him into signing paperwork saying he was being sacked under grounds of gross misconduct so they did not have to pay him off!!





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Blue Raphealite
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Paul Tait
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jj22
Mar 22 2010, 07:25 PM


I think if it wasnt down to TF being forced into signing confidentiality papers we would of herd a lot more about the way the board acted.

Even after they sacked him they tried to trick him into signing paperwork saying he was being sacked under grounds of gross misconduct so they did not have to pay him off!!

Cheers jj.

I'm not sure if they "tricked" TF. But they did do the confidentiality cluase.

What truly astonished me, and later when I thought about it, disgusted me, was Trevor's last Press Conference.

We knew he was going, sacked, pushed or mutual, that was the problem.

SKY did it live which is unheard of. Which other sacked manager's last PC have they EVER covereed live?

And what did we see?

Trevor on best behaviour, not slagging but only praising blues, and the fans. The fans he grew up with as he said numerous times.

And sitting alongside him and never being asked one question throughout was David Gold. At many points he crossed his arms against his chest in cliche body language of defence. But he was not asked one question, all the journos were after Trevor Francis to open up and weren't bothered about David Gold's prepared spin.

The strangest Press Conference that I've ever seen.

I just hope TF's confidentialty clause runs out soon :D

"And who knows, our paths may cross again soon"



**thumbup
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PartisanBCFC
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Jack Wiseman
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Blacksmith
Mar 22 2010, 06:44 AM
Both Francis and Bruce were dealt a poor deal by the previous board. Dribs and drabs in transfer fees meant restricting their choice of targets.


Would hardly say Bruce was given dribs and drabs, Blacksmith

The old owners, as much as I despise them now, gave him plenty of dosh during his first three years

Out of 40 odd players SB bought in over that time (including loans) only about a quarter of them were successes........Savage, Upson, Maik Taylor , Dugarry, Jonty, The Forse plus a handful of others

Why do you think the Sunderland owners are now getting twitchy fingers ??

McLeish is way ahead of Bruce these days in both status and man management ability



KRO
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Blue Raphealite
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Paul Tait
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PartisanBCFC
Mar 22 2010, 08:40 PM
Blacksmith
Mar 22 2010, 06:44 AM
Both Francis and Bruce were dealt a poor deal by the previous board. Dribs and drabs in transfer fees meant restricting their choice of targets.


Would hardly say Bruce was given dribs and drabs, Blacksmith

The old owners, as much as I despise them now, gave him plenty of dosh during his first three years

Out of 40 odd players SB bought in over that time (including loans) only about a quarter of them were successes........Savage, Upson, Maik Taylor , Dugarry, Jonty, The Forse plus a handful of others

Why do you think the Sunderland owners are now getting twitchy fingers ??

McLeish is way ahead of Bruce these days in both status and man management ability



KRO

Come on Parti. This isn't a drubbing Bruce thread. **thumbup

OK, he had more money than Francis ever had, but we were in the Premier then. If TF had got us there----then, perhaps he may have had a slightly bigger transfer budget. We really do not know. It's speculation.

The fact that Karren was over-impressed by Steve may have a lot to do with the size of his funding. She was the one responsible for creating revenue after all.
She was the one who created his image-rights deal to keep him from poverty street after relegation-- :D

Willie's post is just reminding us that Steve as much as Trev holds blues seriously close to themselves. I have no problem with that.

The fact that our ex-board treated them the same by starving them of transfer money is the key. Will they sack Zola?

They claim to be a manager-supporting board, but after only one year they stopped supporting Francis, after two years Bruce.

After 6 months McLeish.

Ain't it a coincidence that the extra upfront money for Michel that Gijon wanted (£350k) wasn't agreed and we lost 6 months of Michel acclimatising and adapting, but they got £450k for consultancy fees up until May 2010- because surprise surpise the money was in the current accounts.

As Brian Clough said, Trevor would be a serious danger down a pit.
Meaning he is too polite and too honest.

Steve is a salesman with front and nous, but also too trusting and naive.


If there is a common thread amongst these 3 mangers I would say it was honesty and trust.
And naivety.

Steve imo is as honourable and straightforward as Trevor and Alex.

In terms of ability I would place Alex (IMO) way- way above both Steve and Trev. And out of the 3 ....(I worship Trevor Francis by the way)..Alex is the man. Thank Christ we lost the old board before he was starved out even allowing for the lowest transfer spend since Terry Cooper :o

Don't let us deny or simplify Steve Bruce's contribution to blues Parti.

He did the job and then, like Trev, his tools and resources, were taken from him.

Alex had his tools taken from him within 6 months, his resources within 12 months.

Let the others praise our ex board - I won't.












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Aussiebrum
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Mikael Forssell
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I'd quite like McLeish to guide us to a 9 places higher finish than SB's best finish in the Premiership.

:banner:
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Blooboy
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i did that premiership predicter on the BBC site, had us down to finish 9th, Hull, Burnley and Pompey to go, west ham survived by a point (hope not though, lol) hd United to win it on goal difference from Arsenal, Chelsea third,lol doubt it though
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Blacksmith
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Jeff Hall
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Quote:
 
I'd quite like McLeish to guide us to a 9 places higher finish than SB's best finish in the Premiership.


Oh, if only. **thumbup

I still think McLeish will give us our best ever finish since Arthur Turner in 1956, just as Bruce earlier gave us our best ever finish since Freddie Goodwin. And that has to be counted as a huge success for the man.

To be honest, I've liked all our managers since Terry Cooper.

Cooper worked so hard for the club. I believe he and his wife even manned the phones sometimes, but he knew it was time to move on.

Fry brought the fun back to the club and started to get fans interested in BCFC again. Things were never dull under Bazza. He may not have been the greatest manager, but he laid the basis for TF.

Francis brought professionalism to the club, and was desperately unlucky not to get us promoted, We also had that League Cup Final against Liverpool when I thought we were denied a definite penalty.

Bruce brought us back to the top in his first season, after we had spent 16 years out of the top flight. Then he had three successful seasons where we finished 13th, 10th (and never outside the top 10) and 12th. Then we had the season where the board would not sanction an extra £500,000 for either Scharner or Davies, and their backing in January was non existant, whereas Portsmouth bought themselves out of trouble, resulting in our relegation. This was followed by promotion in second place, at the first time of asking.

No funding for transfers in the Summer for Bruce and in the January for McLeish ensured that yet again we would be relegated. McLeish, at first time of asking, emulated Bruce by getting us promoted. Now he is trying to do better than Bruce's 10th position and he should be given the support of both fans and board in trying to achieve that.

So I say, thank you, to all those managers mentioned for playing your part in bringing us to this exciting time for the club.

Come on you Blues. :banner:
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tony123
Alex Govan
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I didnt always like the way Bruce's sides played and his tactics. As I person however he is a man of his word and a stand up trustworthy chap.

This is why he was able to attract so many players here. There was no bs. He didnt stand in anyone's way he gave respect and expected it.

I believe he does have regard for BCFC and there is usually mutual respect amoungst professionals.

How different it is between how Bruce reacts to BCFC and the fans react to him and the way the previous board and the fans are. They were here 16 years and there is no respect from either side.

Very sad to see imo. Mind you one thing Sully, Gold and Brady failed to understand.

You can't buy respect you earn it - FACT!!
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