Former Newcastle United man makes surprise Steve Bruce prediction

John Barnes believes the Newcastle United will avoid being drawn into the Premier League relegation battle – and the former Magpies forward thinks manager Steve Bruce is getting the balance right at St James’s Park.
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Barnes, speaking with BonusCodeBets.co.uk, thinks Bruce is doing a ‘decent job’ on Tyneside with United currently sitting in 15th place in the Premier League table.

“I have sympathy for all managers because it is a difficult job and the Premier League is very competitive,” said Barnes.

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"I think Steve Bruce will keep Newcastle up, but there’s also a balancing act between playing attractive football that Newcastle fans may want and staying up.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: John Barnes is seen during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on June 21, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: John Barnes is seen during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on June 21, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: John Barnes is seen during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on June 21, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)

"I think Steve Bruce is doing a decent job, things may not always go well but they’ve had some decent results and I think the harmony of the club, support belief and togetherness is the most important thing. They’ve got some good players and they just need belief and support from the fans and everybody connected. I’m sure Steve Bruce will be fine.”Substance over style is what really matters, according to Barnes.“What Newcastle want is to win matches,” he said.

"If Newcastle won matches by playing the way they play and Leeds, for example, slipped down to the bottom half by playing their football, the Newcastle fans will point to the fact they’re winning matches. If Leeds play good football but always lose matches the fans won’t be happy. If they lose 5-4 every week but play nice football and are bottom of the league, things would change.”

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