Here are some of the comments made by Steve Bruce after today’s loss against Arsenal.
BBC Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck has tweeted out the following statements from Steve Bruce.
“What disappointed me was we gave it away too cheaply at times & had one or two warnings in the first half but got back and cleared it. We were inches away in first half – hitting the post, Joelinton header flashed just wide. My goalkeeper’s not had a shot to save.”
“I didn’t think we used Joelinton as well as we could have. We can work on that and get the service into him a bit quicker and get more balls into the box. I couldn’t fault their workrate, endeavour and attitude.”
We agree with Steve Bruce’s assessment in the preceding comments. Joelinton needs to lead the line a bit more and they have to finish some of these chances. We also thought they gave the ball away for too easily and just lacked discipline when in possession.
Lee Ryder tweeted the following comments that Bruce had about how Newcastle were punished but that there was nothing in the game between the two teams.
“It was disappointing to lose the way we did. A mistake and we were punished.”
“I can’t remember Arsenal having a chance over than the goal. There was nothing in the game full stop.”
We disagree somewhat with Bruce here as they were punished but it was coming. The decision to replace Shelvey with Jetro Willems was the turning point for us. Willems went straight into the midfield when he was supposed to go to left wing-back.
This led to confusion and the squad lost focus and cohesion. It was just after Willems went to left-back that he was beaten by Maitland-Niles whose cross Aubameyang clinically put past Dubravka.
This is perfectly explained by Craig Hope in the following article who we feel is spot on with everything he writes.
The buck stops with Steve Bruce after clumsy introduction of Jetro Willems (who did not know where he was playing) disrupts NUFC rhythm before ragged final half hour https://t.co/vs1zHUuJ4q
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) August 11, 2019
You cannot have these types of mishaps against top Premier League sides. While they were punished by a mistake it was due to a lack of communication from Bruce to the players on the pitch.
Bruce explains the mix-up between Ritchie and Willems but again does not see how it was a problem.
I think it was just a lack of communication. We wanted to play Matt Ritchie inside. He only played there two minutes. It was quickly sorted out, not a problem.
Mark Douglas has a report in the Chronicle in which some of the following comments have been published. These comments also explain why Bruce had no options but to bring Willems on and push Ritchie into the midfield.
Lascelles not feeling too great. Warning over Dummett so I felt it important to have two centre-backs on the bench. Lascelles wasn’t very well this morning
Jonjo was injured. We don’t think it’s too serious but he was restricted in his movement. Ki wasn’t injured, just not part of it.
The failure to have a natural replacement for Shelvey has been proven to be detrimental for the team. Bruce continues on talking about the formation but once the midfield was compromised, it was hard for the lads to mount a suitable comeback.
Formation? We’ve played it and it’s something which suited us. You only change it when we went a goal down.
“We were a little bit open in last 20 minutes but if you look at it and analyse it against a really good Arsenal side, we only conceded one big mistake. I understand there will always be criticism here- that’s part and parcel of it.
“We had a go in the last 20 minutes and we were stretched.
This team played very well at times and especially in the first 20 minutes. There is a lot to build on and we hope they can put this slight disappointment behind them. But Bruce will have to learn from the tactical errors made in this match. Arsenal were there for the taking and Newcastle have failed to take advantage of that.
59 comments so far
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:18 PM
Comment #1Proverb of the Day
One defeat doesn’t make a catastrophe!!
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Comment #2Are we sure we signed Jetro and not Jethro?
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:21 PM
Comment #3Similar points total to previous two season and actually making some progress and having a go in both domestic cups. That’s my prediction.
Get the Toon Army to Wembley and even the most ardent of your critics will dissolve into love bombing you, Brucey.
IrishRob
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:23 PM
Comment #4If he didn’t say sorry I’m not interested!!
JDdubai
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #5It wasnt a really good Arsenal side though, probably the worst starting 11 for them in living memory.
Before kickoff would you rather have Schar/Lascelles/dummett or sokratis and Chambers?
Hayden, Shelvy and Longstaff or guendouzi and xhaka?
Only aubameyang I would have had ahead of Joelinton.
Need to go as Rafa did and go 343, more options up front and moves our CMs into a 2 where they all are more comfortbale.
Longstaff and Schar were v poor today. Willems needs to get match fit before we judge.
Didnt see any change in approach since rafa last season, not more attacking than the second half of last season when almiron first came in – bit disappointing given arsenal were down about 6 of their first 11.
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:26 PM
Comment #6HWA – you are a breath of fresh air on this blog. Positivity at last in all this doom and gloom. Yeah If we had played this very weaken Arsenal team ,when the new lads had had chance to get bedded inlayer in the season, it may well have been a different story. Exciting pace potential in Max and Almiron. Passing can only get better.
Howay the Lads
c-dog
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #7Bruce Out!
Grumpy
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #8Hubble,Bubble Toil and Trouble
bill
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #9I cannot see us scoring a goal. Too many delusional optimists on here if they think anything but relegation beckons.
I don’t usually get so worried, but that was when Rafa was manager. Looking at the “tactics” today, l think we in the deep smelly stuff.
check the toastie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #10I agree, Arsenal were only Arsenal in name, poor quality first eleven but well
Drilled and knee there jobs. Maitland Niles and Guenduzi were excellent and showed what proper footballers need to be nowadays.
We were poor but folk should be used to it, we have been since SBR. ?
danishmag
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #11The fact that some on here tak about us not beeing able to compete against top 6 contenders says it all really…
BEFORE Ashlie WE WERE top 6 contenders.
What a joke that people enjoy this shite, time and time again.
c-dog
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #12“Exciting pace potential in max”
Dreadful end product
West lancs you are a muppet
check the toastie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #13Im have been optimistic bit maybe it was the summer sun.
We are in deep shit and reckon a bet on us going down is beckoning. Bruce gone before xmas.
toon22
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #14The PR tries to paint a positive picture of the dross we watched today
You can sugar coat the brown stuff all you like
check the toastie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:33 PM
Comment #15That made no sense?
Nufc-83
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:33 PM
Comment #16Lol JD you must not have watched any games last year to say we played 343. We played a 3421
bill
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:33 PM
Comment #17Bruce out, Rafa in.
I doubt if Rafa could do much with this collection of misfits.
DaveD1000
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:35 PM
Comment #18put more water in it Check
Nufc-83
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:36 PM
Comment #19Danish yes before Ashley About 13 bloody years ago. We are no longer a big team and need to realise comfortable consolidation in the league should be the target. If a rich shiek buys us then so be it maybe we can get back to competing for top 4 but until then we certainly won’t get near. This is the same for most teams in the league!
RUNAWAY777
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:36 PM
Comment #20To everbody that stayed away today i think we showed our intent that we will not stand for our club being run in to the ground by ashley,
To them sheep that turned up in there thousands to watch bruce in the his first game where he got the hole gameplan wrong taken 2 midfielders off is just unbelievable but belive me this is just the start of the season.
, and for certain bloggers on here who think they can call other blogger for there options grow up and shut your mouths.
Mindshaft
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:36 PM
Comment #21Not much in the game today although once Shelvey went off we seemed to lose our shape and the players didn’t seem to know formation they were playing – Game was there for the taking as thats the poorest arsenal I’ve seen in a few years, however they have a proven goalscorer and a bunch of schoolboy errors from Dummett / Jetro and Lascelles culminating in him scoring with a well taken finish.
No idea where our goals are going to come from this season – Linton had a few half chances but didn’t do much with them.
Longstaff / Scharr / Manquillo had very poor games – Jetro looks very unfit, Saint looks like he could be an exciting addition although he lost the ball a few times
Bruce admitting that Jetro didn’t know where to play – that’s just poor communication from Bruce
Hayden and Miggy our best players by far – we need something from the Norwich game for sure or it’s going to be a dogfight yet again
Thought the boycott went well with around 5,000 boycotting which is amazing for a first home game of the season against a supposed top six team – Sky covered it well and showed lots of empty seats numerous times and mentioned the unrest was with Ashleys stewardship of the club a few times – was also very visible during the match.
Atmosphere from fans who attended was very por and they were mostly outsung from the Arsenal fans – poor show if I’m honest – if you’re going to go , at least support the team
JDdubai
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #223421 is 343, just with the 2 wide attackers playing slightly deeper.
Almiron and Perez either side of rondon…
duh..
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:41 PM
Comment #23Think Willock and Maitland-Niles were the picks for them today. Bags of pace between them. Willock left our CM behind on a couple of occasions, just ran straight past Longstaff and Shelvey on a couple of occasions.
West Lanc
I don’t think I’m particularly positive, just realistic and balanced. Try to take everything into account.
Hope Bruce learns from not having Ki available today. Fernandez, Clark and Krafth was more than enough defensive cover and in trying to cover his worst case scenario of 2CBs being injured he failed to consider a CM getting a knock and another not being on it.
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:42 PM
Comment #24C Dog. Comment 12 -Oh very constructive!.There is no room nor indeed cause on the blog for comments like that. What have I ever said about you? Anyhow contrary to what you may think I have never appeared with Miss Piggy nor indeed Kermit the Frog
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:45 PM
Comment #25HWA realistic & balanced will do for me. Much better than the majority of negativity on here of late.
Mund
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #26Oh my word my point proven 12 years ago we were not top 6 contenders but it wasn’t long before that that we were but it’s 12 years later we are no we’re near the top 6 time has moved on.
Let go of the past because there will be no future if you don’t. This is how we are and one of my fav sayings is “it is what it is”
My question is do you really want to go forward and every time you think of this great club or see the legendary badge think total disappointment, anger, emotions everywhere, picturing what fun ways you can kill Ashley. Just total doom and gloom.
Is this how you will see Newcastle United for the rest of Ashley’s ownership?
I can’t carry on like that I’ve said before it was effecting my marriage my relationships with my kids. About that my daughter even moved out stayed at her nanas for 2 weeks because I was an arsehole to them all. For me now you can’t change anything and I won’t even consider just being done with the club they have been a part of my life for to long and that was before Ashley it will live long after him.
check the toastie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:47 PM
Comment #27The true reality of losing Rafa will hit hime shortly. He should have been backed. For all his idiosyncrasies this was the chance to turn club round.
It hit me today and i apologise for being convinced we maybe ok by some half decent signings. Joelinton and ASM would be decent in a team with a credible management team.
dougie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:51 PM
Comment #28A totally pathetic performance by the team today,Arsenal are shite and still managed to win.Im glad we got beat and I hope that we don’t win a game all season.I want the parasite gone and that will only happen when we’re in league one.Shame on the sheep that line the fat mans pockets.@sheep out
RUNAWAY777
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:53 PM
Comment #29Bruce my goalkeeper has not had s shot to stop correct me lads if i wromg but didn’t our keeper save a point blank save in the first half which was push round the post me think bruce was npt watching the match or meeds to get himself along to specsavers me thinks
Ron Knee
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:54 PM
Comment #30Manure 2.
My cup runneth over.
* Sarcasm alert
West Lancs Geordie
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:55 PM
Comment #31Not much of this left sadly Sir Bobby.
Will these days ever come back – who knows.
It is what it is, we are what we are. RIP SIR Bobby Robson
FOOTBALL CLUB
It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.
Sir Bobby Robson
Ron Knee
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:56 PM
Comment #323-0 Even better.
c-dog
Aug 11, 2019 at 5:58 PM
Comment #33West Lancs
Looks like mackem wum pro Ashley propaganda. SBR would never asked us to support Ashley’s business model.
Mund
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Comment #34SBR would a 100% tell us to still go and back the team he would of said something in the lines of Newcastle United is bigger than any owner, manager or player the club belongs to the fans
calvinho
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Comment #35Didn’t think it was a bad performance, but it was like watching Pardew’s Newcastle in the 2nd half. No structure, no real idea, players out of position. Agree that we needed more up top. Certain ASM & Almiron would provide that for Joelinton. Hayden was good. Longstaff looked a little overrun at times (think I prefer him deeper like last season).
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Comment #36It’s funny looking back through last year’s opening match thread and the post-match threads.
People in agreement saying Rafa got it wrong by taking Ritchie off who many considered MOTM, but none of the hysterical language like today.
#boycott Arsenal
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:06 PM
Comment #37I never seen the game as I’m at work but regardless I won’t be complaining about Brewce or his tactics. He’s a clown, we knew he was a clown as his record speaks for itself, why not direct the ire at the bigger clown that hired him, waited until the last couple of weeks of the transfer window to assemble a team of bric a brac while chasing away a manager who would have given us genuine hope going in to the season rather than this fake optimism by those who were glad to see the back of our former guy in charge.
Tony Baloney
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:06 PM
Comment #38There is a silver lining – West Ham are bottom.
9
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:06 PM
Comment #39Very disappointing. Arsenal reserves were poor, clueless, lacked all ambition and were clearly superior to our first team. “We never laid a glove on them” is entirely accurate. To lose to that shower says it all. Long season again?
Tony Baloney
Aug 11, 2019 at 6:10 PM
Comment #40Man U 4 Chelsea nil. There will be a w@nk fest in The Daily Mail. They will have them winning the Champions League even though they are not even in it.