Re Joelinton, he was never a centre forward. Rafa didn’t fancy him and Ashley apparently put up 20M for the deal to happen thinking we could turn him into a centre forward and make money on him.
Rafa left, we bought Joelinton and 12th choice candidate Bruce became manager. We didn’t have any real alternatives up front but Bruce played Big Jo up top week in week out in blind hope that he’d suddenly develop a goal scorer’s movement, instinct and ability to take a chance. It was patently obvious that would never happen and Big Jo’s confidence was completely destroyed and Bruce eventually benched him. Big Jo had played out on the left for Hoffenheim (sic), Bruce did try him there but the PL
is a lot more unforgiving for any deficiencies and Big Jo ain’t the quickest and struggled out wide (and we also had ASM who Bruce relied totally on to win him points).
Long story short, Ashley unwittingly bought us a very good midfield player and Bruce and his staff were unable to see this despite something like 2 years working with him.
That Norwich game showed Howe he could play there but I’m sure Howe would have got there anyway. I’d been discussing it for months with my mates; just look at him and what he brings to a game. Steve Bruce man, how many times were we told he was doing a great job with what he had available? Absolute fraud of a manager.
Rafa left, we bought Joelinton and 12th choice candidate Bruce became manager. We didn’t have any real alternatives up front but Bruce played Big Jo up top week in week out in blind hope that he’d suddenly develop a goal scorer’s movement, instinct and ability to take a chance. It was patently obvious that would never happen and Big Jo’s confidence was completely destroyed and Bruce eventually benched him. Big Jo had played out on the left for Hoffenheim (sic), Bruce did try him there but the PL
is a lot more unforgiving for any deficiencies and Big Jo ain’t the quickest and struggled out wide (and we also had ASM who Bruce relied totally on to win him points).
Long story short, Ashley unwittingly bought us a very good midfield player and Bruce and his staff were unable to see this despite something like 2 years working with him.
That Norwich game showed Howe he could play there but I’m sure Howe would have got there anyway. I’d been discussing it for months with my mates; just look at him and what he brings to a game. Steve Bruce man, how many times were we told he was doing a great job with what he had available? Absolute fraud of a manager.