The players have been fully behind Steve Bruce since he joined. Which is why the performance at Norwich was so disappointing. They had no such letdown on Sunday as they played their hearts out for Steve and the fans against Tottenham.
The team put in the work this week as Steve Bruce implemented a new system. The plan worked out perfectly as it stifled Spurs but allowed for Newcastle to get some chances on the counter. Bruce was also a little coy in his press conference when he specifically said it was too early to radically change the formation.
One player who will benefit from the change of formation is Christian Atsu. He made his season debut in the 15th minute coming on for the injured Allan Saint-Maximin.
Christian has just recently returned to training since his suffering an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in July. Christian would not have been involved much with the 3-5-2 system that Bruce had been using since his arrival. Steve Bruce said after the Spurs game that he’s only just seen the 27-year-old this week.
Christian Atsu – bursting down the wing
The formation Bruce implemented at Tottenham really suits Atsu with him being an out and out winger. There was no ideal place for him in Bruce’s original formation as it utilized wing-backs for width down the flanks.
While Atsu has only recently come back into the fold, he has had some positive things to say, similarly to his teammates, about the new coach. He also seems very willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.
Here are some of Christian’s comments after the game as published in the Shields Gazette.
“The formation worked. We defended well. We’re a very good team. This is going to change a lot of things for the players and the fans.
“The season is a long season, so we just need to carry on. Any formation that he wants to play, we are behind him. We’re going to give everything.
“The atmosphere’s very good. Even when we lost the two games, he was very confident. I can say, gradually, we’re really understanding his gameplan. We’re very organised and always behind him. This is going to change the atmosphere.”
There has definitely been a lift since yesterday’s unanticipated victory. The atmosphere will be much lighter for sure. However, the lads need to continue to work hard and we think they will do just that. Steve Bruce is very experienced so he will hopefully know which buttons to push to keep the group focused for the two games this week.
100 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:48 PM
Comment #1Hail Ronaldo!
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:52 PM
Comment #2The only thing is now, with ASM out for however long, we only have almiron and Atsu who can play the wide roles in the formation. May have to dip in to the u23s.
Obviously we had Murphy and aarons but Murphy was always going out on loan and aarons lost out when Carroll came back.
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:56 PM
Comment #3Then they came for the people without gravatars and I did nothing because I had a gravatar…
bettyswallocks
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:59 PM
Comment #4https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.V3_ynXOS26Q89VGGbKApDQHaHa&pid=Api&P=0&w=300&h=300
Bill……….. From previous . Don’t believe him this is his garage.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:59 PM
Comment #5NUFC
Don’t forget that ed took a break with the blog and I was posting then under a different name before he did.
Can’t remember who was posting then but I’ll try to fire up the memory cells and lever the names forward.
I went with Workytickets blog for some time before returning to eds blog.
Last time I looked at his there was only him and someone else on it.
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:00 PM
Comment #6Easy way to check the longest posters, google an article from the early days. I seem to remember the blog coming around the start of 2007 season Google Nufcblog 2007
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:01 PM
Comment #7Betty
I believe both of you! 🙂
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:04 PM
Comment #8The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 8:56 PM
Comment #3
Then they came for the people without gravatars and I did nothing because I had a gravatar…
Lets ignore JIB and his shenanigans ?
Its going to work the same way ignoring Jabbas is
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:05 PM
Comment #9https://www.nufcblog.com/2007/05/31/newcastle-board-hold-useful-and-constructive-meeting-with-mike-ashley/#comments
First article I think. Jeff is there who may or may not have become Jeff from Benwell then Jib.
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:06 PM
Comment #10He has been proven to use alts
Yes it wont stop him but the inconvenience is worth it lol
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:07 PM
Comment #11ross
May 31, 2007 at 3:35 PM
Comment #1
Great news. I cant beleive its months before the new season starts. Even more exited than usual now
Happy, happy days:-)))
Couldnt have been more wrong if he had tried
Oh how those years have punished us
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Comment #12I don’t think calling jib an alt is going to make him go away. Dozens (maybe over 100) of people have been calling him allsorts for over a decade and he doesn’t seem to give a sh*t. I think you’ve wasted the best part of last year on your crusade against jib.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Comment #13I was certainly posting when Freddie and SJH was the club owner and getting all excited when I heard that a billionaire with sporting connections was buying us.
I also remember that some very top players were being put forward for this benefactor to buy with his billions, and the sacking of Big Sam shortly after the clubs saviour began his reign.
Just wondering if much has changed since that auspicious time?
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Comment #14Lol
briss
May 31, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Comment #2
Shepherd has done enough his time is up. he can’t even stay out of the hospital. Mike will bring new ideas and money to the club. the sooner the takeover is completed the better!
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:11 PM
Comment #15I wonder if we could ask Atsu to meet tarquin and shake the stupid bastard’s head so that he realises that if the players can sweat for Bruce, we can at least give him some patience? Oh, I forgot, the silly whinging precocious sod wont accept Bruce until he wins a pot. Tarquin, you have adorned the blog with your awful red and white Avatar. Who is the real traitor around here?
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:11 PM
Comment #16Yeah its tragic reading the optimism now. Wonder if anyone predicted dark times?
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:12 PM
Comment #17The benefit of hindsight lol. I’m not going to copy and paste each post or I’ll just end up with like 20/30 reposts.
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:14 PM
Comment #18AndyT – we’ll need to make you our takeover lawyer expert – you seem to know quite a bit about this stuff”
He He Ed I hope so I’m a consultant in regulatory compliance software to the assest management industry in the City. Oh and I’m a Director of the consultancy – So i need to know all this guff on both counts!
https://www.nufcblog.com/2007/05/31/newcastle-board-hold-useful-and-constructive-meeting-with-mike-ashley/#comments
Smells a bit like Justin Barnes, dont it
😉
Nufc-83
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:15 PM
Comment #19Thanks the next mike Williamson! I remember a poster called Sav who was one of the regulars when I first joined. Will have a look through some old articles. Can anyone tell I’m bored tonight!!
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:15 PM
Comment #20Our old friend seems to have been about on this blog for a very, very long time
Maybe we should go back and take a look at the “good old days”
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:16 PM
Comment #21Lol poster in next thread asking why we aren’t in for lahm as he could be on his way to villa.
Yes. The Philipp Lahm.
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:16 PM
Comment #22Bit of thinking to do for Leicester, with loads of knackered players after that big performance in the heat, and a few knocks.
Muto, Fernandez, Shelvey, Clark, Ki, Manquillo, Darlow and Willems might all get starts. Might see Ritchie back in a more advanced role for that one.
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:17 PM
Comment #23Just In Barnes
Hiya
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:20 PM
Comment #24People saying what about Lahm etc, I wish I could go back in time and say what about Shefi Kuqi
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:22 PM
Comment #25Jeff
May 23, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Comment #1
Newcastle need to get in there now and get the players they need in sorted before it gets too late and other teams end up seeing we are desparate and the prices go up as per usual…He needs defenders in after letting 4 go so far….saying that those four had to go..Big Sam will have it sorted we just need to get behind him and give him a chance.
Now thats familiar aint it
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:25 PM
Comment #26If there were no comments on article one I was going to go back and add “first”
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:26 PM
Comment #27Looking back thorough those old posts made me think one thing
JIB cant use a gravatar as it will change for all of those old posts to, wont it lol
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Use a gravatar or your Justin Barnes lol
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:26 PM
Comment #28Will keep looking its fun 🙂
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:30 PM
Comment #29T22 like T2 now going back in time to hunt shills haha. Terminator22. Change your name.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:31 PM
Comment #30OK I’ve just trawled through the 2007 threads and couldn’t see my old name in them.
Can someone confirm that Ed did have a break from doing the blog and was it pre that time or is senility finally getting to me?
Mag :P
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:32 PM
Comment #31I feel like I’ve been on this blog for ages although it’s only been about 6 years. Since around 2013.
Funny how you perceive time.
Although, to be fair, I started posting when i was 15. So that nearly a third of my life. 🙂
Nufc-83
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:32 PM
Comment #32Essex what was your old name?
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:36 PM
Comment #33Nufc-83
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:32 PM
Comment #32
Essex what was your old name?
Jeff from Benwell
Genjikai
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:38 PM
Comment #34Rolando
Was going to say it but expected a backlash.
Good crack mate.
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:38 PM
Comment #35Essex Geordie Bill
You would see your gravatar
😉
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #36Its why he cant use one
What a shame lol
Genjikai
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:40 PM
Comment #37Ronaldo*
Not rolando
Paully
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #38I’ve found toon22 back in 2007 posting as “TinFinger” (Or his gravitar is the biggest coincidence ever)
Interesting stuff.
Paully
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #39https://www.nufcblog.com/2007/05/26/michael-owen%e2%80%99s-recent-behavior-is-totally-bizarre/
Just a fan
Aug 26, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #40Betty swallowing
Funny
Predictable text
Sorry