Steve Bruce Leaves Newcastle United!
Wednesday saw the news finally arrive that the vast majority of Newcastle United supporters had been waiting for. Steve Bruce had left the club by mutual consent.
Even though Ashley departed two weeks earlier, the club couldn’t properly move on until Bruce was removed as well. For so long, viewed as a puppet of Ashley, his presence was instantly unwelcome in the brave new era of hope.
It felt like a mistake on behalf of the new owners that he wasn’t immediately jettisoned the day after they took charge of the keys to St James’ Park. Allowing him to manage the match against Tottenham, with predictable outcomes, took the shine off what was a very joyous occasion. Maybe the team would have lost regardless but the story once again became about Bruce following the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Spurs.
However, it’s worth remembering that Staveley made it very clear during her very first interviews that rash, quick decisions were not the way the new owners will operate. In time, supporters will surely be thankful for this approach. Newcastle United is desperate for owners who run the club professionally…and well!
But such was the desperation to cut all ties with the Ashley era, it was understandable that Bruce clinging on made a lot of fans feel uneasy. Impatient even.
Bruce finally lost his grip on the job on Wednesday and immediately went on the attack against the supporters, something which he’d done on numerous occasions throughout his tenure. Rather than leave with ‘dignity’ as he kept saying he was trying to do, he ran straight into the arms of Telegraph journalist, and friend, Luke Edwards to give an exclusive interview.
During the interview Bruce made bold claims about abuse at the hands of the Newcastle support. And unfortunately the narrative has been picked up and amplified by the media.
Firstly, from my point of view any abuse that was directed at Bruce on social media, (and there was some of that I’ll admit) is totally unacceptable and shouldn’t be tolerated. I do feel that this is a wider societal issue though and sadly, can be expected within any fan base. That doesn’t make it right of course and for that Bruce does get my sympathy.
This is a very small minority though and because of his pity party, Bruce has managed to control the narrative surrounding his exit. Deflecting is something Bruce is a master of, a champion if you will. And not allowing people to focus on the failure of his methods and his woeful results means that he walks away with his reputation in tact as people sympathise with him.
“Those awful Geordies have hounded him out of a job.”
What Bruce and the media are failing to distinguish is the difference between abuse and criticism. They are not the same thing.
When your record is as bad as his, fans don’t need to resort to abuse, they can simply point out the facts based on job performance.
0 wins all season
A defensive record getting worse each year, on course to concede 90 goals this season.
Lack of cohesion and tactics
Baffling substitutions
Playing players out of position.
Yes, supporters, who were allowed back this season, have chanted “Bruce Out!” a few times and booed him. Managers get this treatment the land over when fans are unhappy. Obviously, that’s not a nice experience to go through however it’s been no worse or hostile than wherever else it has happened.
Nobody has thrown a cabbage at him, as a Villa fan did a few years back, and he hasn’t needed a police escort home or had coins thrown at him like he did when the Sunderland fans wanted him out of their club.
The good news is though that despite all this noise, he has gone and this will be largely forgotten about soon as Newcastle appoint the successor to Steve Bruce.
Exciting times are coming.
Newcastle United’s Next Fixture
This weekend sees us travel to South London on Saturday to take on Patrick Viera’s Crystal Palace side at 3pm . Newcastle go into the match without a single victory this season but we also go without Steve Bruce which instantly increases our chances of a result.
However, it is not going to be easy, the squad is low on confidence and there’s only so much caretaker manager, Graeme Jones, will be able to affect before Saturday with the limited time he has had to work with the squad. The priority will be to protect our defence a more by ensuring the midfield works more as a unit.
Newcastle United have the 10th best attack in the league at this point which is certainly promising. Perhaps the best form of defence for the team on Saturday will be to get on the ball more moving forwards and attack.
Palace have had a reasonable start to the season under Patrick Viera and were unlucky last time out not to beat Arsenal, a late goal costing them 2 points. Like Newcastle they have some issues defensively so there is potential to exploit this.
Due to the managerial situation at the club there’s no pre-match pros conference until Friday, so I can’t report the latest in terms of injuries but as far as I’m aware it’s very much the same picture as last week against Spurs. Wilson will lead the line and Willock will start too. If those two and St Maximin perform then we have a chance.
I’m feeling hopeful rather than expectant.
My Prediction - Crystal Palace 2-2 Newcastle United
Newcastle are seeking their first win in what will be their ninth Premier League fixture of the season. So far, under the guidance of ex-manager Steve Bruce, the team have drawn 3 and lost 5, conceding 19 goals in the process.
In the Premier League era, Newcastle have only started a season as slowly as this on two occasions.
Under the guidance of Steve McLaren in 2015, the team managed to secure their maiden victory of the season in their 9th game, a 6-1 hammering against Norwich City at St James’. Newcastle were relegated at the end of the season.
Three years later, in 2018, it took Rafa Benitez’s team a mind blowing 11 games to register their first win! It came in the form of a 1-0 home win over Watford. Incredibly, Newcastle survived this season and actually finished in quite a comfortable 13th place.
Newcastle United have competed in 27 of the Premier League’s 30 seasons so far (including this season.) For the past two seasons Callum Wilson has scored our first goal of each campaign against West Ham United.
There are only two other players who have scored the first goal of a Premier League season for Newcastle on more than one occasion. Can you name them?
Last weeks answer:
Question -‘Who was the very first signing of the Mike Ashley era?’
Answer - Mark Viduka on a free transfer on 7th June 2007.
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