Steve Bruce clarifies 'my way' comments at Newcastle United

Steve Bruce has explained what he meant by playing “his way” at Newcastle United.
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United's head coach switched to a back four – and played two up front – at the Emirates Stadium, where his team suffered a 3-0 loss, and Bruce has explained his thinking ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

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“We’ve defended deep and played on the counter-attack since I’ve been at the club,” said Bruce. “We’ve changed (for) certain games, but we’ve still defended a bit deep.

"So what my way is is to try and get 20, 30 yards higher up the pitch. That’s what I meant by ‘my way’.

"We’ve used two systems, really, either a back four or a back three. I think that’s the way we will still going forward. We will back a back three, a back five, certain games, and play a back four in others. That’s the way I’ve always been.”

Asked if the players preferred a back five, Bruce said: “No, no. I think some of them prefer a back four.

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“I think it’s important that we have a couple of formations. My way is to still see if we can be higher up the pitch and defend in a low block, if you like, because that’s the way we’ve been.

Steve Bruce.Steve Bruce.
Steve Bruce.

"I was reluctant to change, because a lot of players were used to playing that way and that’s the way that they’ve been. I made that statement, and I’ll stick with it.”

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