AUFC 2015/16 Pre Season

[Futbol_Crazy21]

I don't know if coaches actually use this terminology or its just a FM thing, but the role Bruce played was more akin to a defensive forward.

[Reds]

Bruce is a good target man. I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish when the chance arises and lack of runs besides sitting in behind defenders in the box. Overall he just doesn't tick enough boxes to be a great forward. Average at best.

[Old Gregg]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

[MartinAUFC]

Bruce is done in my opinion.

So much so that I I think we need to sign a backup striker to support Babalj because Bruce can't even do that role!

Harsh but

Wow, harsh isn’t the word. I’m glad you’re not my boss !

So you’re really saying that you’re ready to hand the starting spot over to a guy who has been basically MIA in Europe for the last couple of seasons ??

Bruce has his weaknesses, there’s no doubting that – his inability to get on the end of chances in the box being the most glaring. But his hold up play and bustling off the ball work when we press high is crucial to the way the team plays and the lack of cohesion in the final third when he is absent is just as glaring.

If the new guy can do all that and be a “fox in the box” then hand him the spot by all means. But to make that call after 2 pre-season games ? Just a tad premature surely ?

[Reds]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

Ha. Yeah bruce needs some more Finnish in him maybe if he went to Helsinki for a while. Me English good.

[ganas]

i respect Bruce as a player and think he brings a lot to the team. i dont think babalj will be as great as bruce in his defensive duties. i don't really think anybody beats bruce in the pressure he puts on defenders.
the only thing lacking from bruce is the simple goals he seems to always fluff. standing on the 6 yard line, its as if the goal is only 5 inches wide and high. he has become a master of missing the easy goals.

lets not forget though, at the beginning of last season bruce was on fire, it was not until he got injured that his form dipped. lets hope with an undisturbed preseason, he will be on top of his game come round 1 and he can find that consistency again.

[blahblah]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

Ha. Yeah bruce needs some more Finnish in him maybe if he went to Helsinki for a while. Me English good.

Let's not Russian to any assumptions here

[Futbol_Crazy21]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

Ha. Yeah bruce needs some more Finnish in him maybe if he went to Helsinki for a while. Me English good.

Let's not Russian to any assumptions here

oh man.....oh that was bad. Good one tho

[salmonfc]

Just realised that last night was Jordan Elsey's first game back from his ACL/double broken wrist combo injury

Good for him

Also, regarding Bruce and Babalj, I'm not saying that Eli should be given the starting role outright, but Bruce now has to prove that he actually deserves to start.

[Reds]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

Ha. Yeah bruce needs some more Finnish in him maybe if he went to Helsinki for a while. Me English good.

Let's not Russian to any assumptions here

Oman Jamaican me crazy with country puns.

Ok I'm out.

[Futbol_Crazy21]

I think what people are getting sick of is his lack of ability to Finnish

You saying we should have signed Juho Makela once he left Sydney?

Ha. Yeah bruce needs some more Finnish in him maybe if he went to Helsinki for a while. Me English good.

Let's not Russian to any assumptions here

Oman Jamaican me crazy with country puns.

Ok I'm out.

Two in one , gold!

Just realised that last night was Jordan Elsey's first game back from his ACL/double broken wrist combo injury

Good for him

Also, regarding Bruce and Babalj, I'm not saying that Eli should be given the starting role outright, but Bruce now has to prove that he actually deserves to start.

Unintentional country pun! Still counts. Yay for Salmon.

[salmonfc]

Uganda be kidding me with these puns.

[mcjules]

I have no Guams with either the debate or the country puns continuing.

[MartinAUFC]

i respect Bruce as a player and think he brings a lot to the team. i dont think babalj will be as great as bruce in his defensive duties. i don't really think anybody beats bruce in the pressure he puts on defenders.
the only thing lacking from bruce is the simple goals he seems to always fluff. standing on the 6 yard line, its as if the goal is only 5 inches wide and high. he has become a master of missing the easy goals.

The thing is I can’t recall him actually missing that many chances. I think his biggest problem is actually getting on the end of them and just being in the right place at the right time in the way that a good goal scorer would.

Whether this is down to the way we play with Bruce contributing so much to the development of the play in a deeper position and hence not having the time or pace to get there at the pointy end or it’s just a simple case of him not having that striker’s instinct I’m not sure.

It could be a result of AU’s lack of any good strikers in the coaching roles. Mickey V is hardly going to be able to teach someone how to stick the ball in the net. I think Carl Veart was on the coaching books at one stage but then he wasn’t that kind of striker anyway.

What’s Romario doing these days ?

[red wombat]

Nothing I'm about to say varies from what's been said above by different people.

My take on the big man is that he's a tremendously hard worker. He brings a lot to our game in his ability to draw defenders, thus creating space for others to exploit. His primary role is NOT to bang in goal after goal. However, being able to score IS part of his job and in the latter half of last season, that fell away and he did start missing shots or failing to take them. He needs to correct that or someone who IS scoring will take his place.

Everyone has form slumps and as you get older, you need to reinvent yourself. A great coach will support a player through a slump and enable the reinvention. Time for Amor to step up?

Brucie remains a favourite. I'd like him to retire or leave the club as a favourite, not fade out in disgrace (he doesn't deserve that).