After 22 games...

[Geordie_Jacko]

And Bruce has Almiron, the saint, and Willems...

The Saint has been plagued by injury and Willems isn't a Striker

[Geordie_Jacko]

Looking at the stats of us this season the only thing I can't believe is how many points we have mugged playing total dross . Just shows other managers either underestimate our 10 man defence or Cant cope with 80% possession .
We are using our luck up at a rapid rate .. It's unsustainable to keep boring teams into a mistake week in week out and to score with our only shot of the game .

Your talking as if we used to completley dominate teams under Rafa. The football was more often than not shocking and sh1t to watch. A bit like this season under Bruce. The only difference people like yourself can't seem to see or admit this, it's ridiculous.

[TheBigSausage]

Your talking as if we used to completley dominate teams under Rafa. The football was more often than not shocking and sh1t to watch. A bit like this season under Bruce. The only difference people like yourself can't seem to see or admit this, it's ridiculous.

I never mentioned Benitez , I was talking exclusively about this season.
And I regularly criticised the Benitez method of handing possession to the opposition , even at home v Shiite . I was no big Rafa fan at all.
Bruce with a 32% win rate , and using up huge wedges of luck to achieve even that .

[usedtobeshearer]

The Saint has been plagued by injury and Willems isn't a Striker

So only strikers effect how the team performs?😂

Rondon was injured most of the start of the season too!

If you look at the groups of players last season and this..then they pretty much match imo...as do the points!

We are however less attacking whilst letting in more goals!

These stats were used to back Bruce against Rafa...only fair we continue to use them!

[Geordie1974]

Not a fair comparison though,Rafa had Rondon and Perez up front.

No he never had Rondon.

[toptoon]

I think this Bruce v Rafa debate's hilarious.

What's next? Eddie Howe v Guardiola?

[usedtobeshearer]

I think this Bruce v Rafa debate's hilarious.

What's next? Eddie Howe v Guardiola?

😂

[usedtobeshearer]

If people want to compare players..then to be fair you have to compare squads.

Last year we had..

Rondon, Perez, Joselu, Kenedy and Diame.

This year..

Joelinton, Big Andy, Almiron, the Saint, Willems and Krafth.

On balance I would say we have a better squad this season. It's very close though because of the difference in class between Rondon and Joelinton.

[toonlegend]

Your talking as if we used to completley dominate teams under Rafa. The football was more often than not shocking and sh1t to watch. A bit like this season under Bruce. The only difference people like yourself can't seem to see or admit this, it's ridiculous.

to be honest I've found the games this season far more boring than last season... absolutely dire in fact

was it last season that rondon only played 2nd half ? wasn't he injured until xmas or something?

[Geordie1974]

Sky have analysed last season v this season...

"Bruce doing better than Rafa can certainly be put to bed now...


Bruce Rafa

Won 7 7

Drawn 5 6

Lost 10 9

Points 26 27

Goals 21 27

Against 34 26

Poss 33.6% 44.1%

C/s 5 6

Shots
Faced/pg 15.5 12


I can only see the comparisons widening before the end of the season...

This comparison,I have just seen it was the 1st 22 Premier League games they both managed here.So in effect Rafa had 10 games that were left in the relegation season after the McClaren disaster.