Steve Bruce is out of ideas and out of time at Newcastle United

Steve Bruce, again, was asked if he was up to the job after Newcastle United’s latest defeat.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

And, again, Bruce insisted that he wouldn’t “shy away” from the task in hand as his players filed on to the club’s two team coaches at the Emirates Stadium last night.

“When you’re in the bottom half of the table, the reason why you’re there is some part of the season you’re going to have a difficult spell,” said Bruce. “It’s how you deal with it. I’m not going to shy away from it, so yes, 100%.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bruce, 18 months into the job, had pledged to do it “his way” ahead of the club’s Premier League game against Arsenal following a shocking defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane six days earlier.

Bruce’s preferred “way” is a back four and two up front – and that’s what we saw at the Emirates Stadium.

United were resilient enough for 45 minutes, but they didn’t trouble Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side knew not to panic. They were patient, and they picked off Newcastle after the break, exposing the visitors’ vulnerabilities to quick breaks.

In the end, they won 3-0, and Bruce’s side, set up in a 4-4-2 formation, only had one shot on target.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, in trying to play on the front foot, United, not unexpectedly, became less effective on the front foot.

Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.
Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.

Miguel Almiron, at least, tried to give the team width, but too many players went missing. Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton, in particular, did nothing with or without the ball to justify their selection.

So which way now?

Bruce, it’s clear, won’t resign. And why would he? The 60-year-old’s under contract at the club until next year.

Newcastle’s head coach may have lost the fanbase, but, up to now, he has retained the backing of owner Mike Ashley, who hopes to resurrect a proposed £300million takeover through arbitration.

Joelinton at the final whistle.Joelinton at the final whistle.
Joelinton at the final whistle.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The club, of course, won’t be worth that much money if it is relegated.

Ashley left it too late to sack Steve McClaren in 2016. Rafa Benitez came in too late – he was appointed in March following a home defeat to Bournenouth – and fans fear that history will repeat itself.

Week by week, the team, without a win in nine games, is getting sucked closer and closer to the relegation zone. The club is 15th in the table, and seven points clear of the relegation zone, though 18th-placed Fulham have a game in hand.

That’s too close to comfort for a team which looked equipped to challenge for a top-10 place at the start of the campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Right now, it looks ill-equipped to win a game, and that responsibility for that lies with Bruce, who is now the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next top-flight manager to be sacked. Yes, this is a “difficult spell”, but fans don’t see things getting any easier.

Taking action will be costly, but inaction could prove far costlier.

The overwhelming majority of supporters, clearly, want a managerial change, though they recognise the difficulties in finding a credible candidate able to take over for the rest of the season.

Bruce, however, has seemingly lost what credibility he had following last season’s 13th-placed finish, and the arguments for a change are more compelling than those for giving Bruce more time.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Newcastle United coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of NUFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor