A few days after the Norwich debacle, Michael Chopra made some inflammatory comments to talkSport about Steve Bruce and the Newcastle squad. This is what the former Newcastle striker had to say at the time:
“I’ve spoken to some senior players at the club, I won’t mention their names, and under Benitez, everything was drilled into them on the training pitch: the team shape, how they were going to play, everyday.
“Bruce has come in, and some of the players don’t know their jobs. They are not really working on their shape.
“At Newcastle for two or three years those players have overachieved under Benitez, but I don’t think some of the players are good enough for the Premier League. So they need coaching.
“They need coaching. They are not good enough.”
In his press conference prior to the win at Tottenham, Steve Bruce responded to Chopra’s comments calling them fabrications and lies. Bruce may have overdone it a little in his response, but Chopra’s comments were very disrespectful to not only Bruce but also the players at the club.
The players promptly put any assertion that they are not good enough for the Premier League to rest in their past three performances. We mentioned at the time that while the squad may be unbalanced, this core group of players are certainly good enough for this league.
This public spat between an ex-Newcastle player and current Head Coach has come up in the press again this morning. Michael Chopra has doubled down on his claims that senior players don’t know their jobs under Bruce. This is what he said in the Shields Gazette.
“Obviously, what I said was the truth. But he’s got to back his tactics, what he does with the team. He’s got to back his players.
“So, in a way, I wasn’t surprised (by Bruce’s reaction). He’s got to come out and say something. He’s got to come out and say it’s lies because I’ve said something against his team and his tactics.
“I stand by it because that’s what I got told. As a fan, I want what’s best for the club. When I get asked questions about the club, I’m honest. I won’t hold back.”
Steve Bruce doesn’t need to respond to Michael Chopra again, and we hope that he refrains from doing so. Since Chopra’s original comment, Bruce has this squad looking much better in part due to a tactical change he made that week after Norwich.
However, in a bit of a coincidence, Jonjo Shelvey has spoken about Michael Chopra’s original comments today. This is what Jonjo has said in the Chronicle:
“We had a chat in the dressing room. It was like: ‘Does anybody even know him?’ I know he played here, but he didn’t score loads of goals.
“It’s just people being busy to get their name in the paper. It’s just people who are bored. If they saw you, or Steve Bruce, in the street they’d come up to you and try to talk.
“It’s just embarrassing. People can talk, but we need to stick together and keep it all in house. We have to do our media duties and that, but you can see in recent performances that we are together.”
We tend to agree with Jonjo Shelvey’s response here. It seems to us unlikely that this squad would have said some of the things that Chopra has claimed.
This squad is starting to gel, and they just need to continue what they are doing. Steve Bruce has done a fair job under trying circumstances.
Whether he can continue the steady improvement of the last few weeks going forward, remains to be seen. But he seems to have this squad in the right place at the moment.
66 comments so far
TheJimBelow
Sep 9, 2019 at 12:53 PM
Comment #1Whoops, there goes my imagination again, how do ya like that?!
Spellcheck
Sep 9, 2019 at 12:56 PM
Comment #2Chopra, why why why open your mouth. Total non entity.
martoon
Sep 9, 2019 at 12:58 PM
Comment #3When you think about it probably the only person in the current setup who would know Chopra is Shola and he’s hardly likely to blab now he’s part of the establishment – so Shelvey has a point!
Bambams
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:04 PM
Comment #4Chopra and Shola are good mates.
Shola still has his links to Walker Central football, as does Chops.
I cant see Chopra making all this up. Just my opinion.
Mindshaft
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Comment #5I’d imagine Chopra was told something in good faith, embellished it and put it out to the media, not sure whoever told him the original story is too happy about it… anyway, old news now – just need a win against Liverpool and we’re up and running
Bambams
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:13 PM
Comment #6Mindshaft
My thoughts exactly. No doubt he will be told the next time….Not for social media
MagpieRanger
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:14 PM
Comment #7IrishRob I’ve never posted anything about any transfers, I think you’re getting your wires crossed.
G
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:17 PM
Comment #8One of the squad possibly just made a flippant comment, and of course now it’s been in the press, it’s been read as revolt. Who knows. I agree Chopra has nothing to gain making it up, but then again, unless you were in the conversation who knows what context it was offered?
raj of hailsley
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #9Jail for Ashley
If after nine years of this carry on farce, the lies, deceit and secrecy along with the dross football unprecedented losses to the mackems and unwanted PL records, you think it is for the greater good of the club as we’re now turning a profit, you’re overlooking one thing pal, our saviour and kindly benefactor Mike Ashley will now want his money back, and what better excuse for the next six years to hide behind is that ‘Mikey has put so much in to this club, it’s time for him to take it back’ not that the fusker hasn’t had enough already.
raj of hailsley
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Comment #10Jail
You’re anything but a woke. Don’t let the criticism about you knowing nowt about football get to you. Not everyone thinks you’re as thick as mince. And what if you are Jeremy Corbyn is as thick as mince and he got to be labour leader well anyway you see what I mean.
Catchya later big boy!
IrishRob
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Comment #11Its definitely a bit suspicious that all these accounts that were so vocal during the window and the fakeover are just not on here much if at all anymore.
IrishRob
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #12Was just curious magpie as I never see him on here anymore either. Just thought with your optimism that if may have been.
martoon
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:42 PM
Comment #13raj of hailsley – Interesting your use of one Jail’s ex handles that’s an anagram to have a pop at him – I wonder who you could possibly be? 😉
RobLeenio
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:48 PM
Comment #14“Not everyone thinks you’re as thick as mince”
lol – talk about a backhanded compliment!
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #15I was wondering how jibs holiday was going. Wonder if he’ll bring us anything back. Aside from a communicable disease of course.
RobLeenio
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:57 PM
Comment #16IrishRob, I think the Sheikhover brought a lot of readers out of the woodwork to join in with the general optimism which was flooding the blog at the time. It seemed like every day someone would say ‘long time reader, first time poster’. There were a fair few returning posters who started back up then too. All good, in my book.
The blog has lost that optimism, it’s quite a miserable place to hang out at times and they’ve drifted off. I doubt there’s any more to it than that.
I’m sure many of them are still reading and will comment again when they have something positive to comment about. I hope so, anyway.
The one guy you’re talking about was Captain Amerimag, who I always assumed was a spoof account. I did actually wonder if it was Tsunki taking the p!ss out of the more positive / gullible / easily led posters (like me). No offence meant.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #17Martoon I wasn’t crowing more reflecting on a sad chapter in blog life. Maybe it’s because of my IT background and having to forestall scam mail before the operatives opened everything up to the network ha ha I grow instantly wary of the stories that purport to be genuine inside info tailored for the audience.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:01 PM
Comment #18Rob I keep my vows, I experimented with Pojat when the multiple thing first became an issue and it proved anyone could do it, then i promised never to do it again (except when it was funny ha ha but no…) So no not my spoofery old boy. Don’t know what happened to the bright cheery Cap’n. Probably shot himself and fell into a barrel of carefully prepared battery acid. Poor chap. (Removes cap and clutches to chest with head bowed to the sound of a distant “Last Post”).
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:02 PM
Comment #19That would be Pokat. Autocorrect won’t even let me keep my alias 🙁
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #20So if Britain’s richest man thinks Ashley is asking too much for the club, what chance have we got of getting rid of him?
JohnJ
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Comment #21Captain Amerimag – Where are you?
🙂
Belfast
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:18 PM
Comment #22He’s probably down the pub with Jon having a pre sale celebratory pint or two.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Comment #23Nah, I wouldn’t try to talk to Bruce.
Why would I talk to someone who’s never had a good word for the club.
The blokes never shown any affection to Nufc ever, hes here for the money and a job in the premier league not because he’s a Nufc fan.
Mindshaft
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:25 PM
Comment #24jon and his pre sale celebratory pints …whatever happened to him…….. although he’s probably in some alley somewhere happy as larry, still celebrating the sheikover and ready to celebrate the EPL title winning season we’ve just embarked on 🙂
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #25Bruce us here for his last shot at the big time and I think he will prove its what it was in quick time .
hibbit
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #26Ashley’s on the takeover trail again !!!!!
https://www.cityam.com/sports-directs-mike-ashley-makes-move-for-links-of-london/
IrishRob
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:36 PM
Comment #27No I really dont think there is anymore to it than that. It’s just odd how some of them have literally just stopped talking altogether.
Oldgit1
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #28Appears Ashley is looking to buyout struggling Jewellery company ‘Links’
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #29Links of London? Not the sort of bracelets Toon22 was hoping Mike would get into unfortunately 😀
Oldgit1
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Comment #30Oops sorry Hibbet. Didn’t mean to steal your thunder mate.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Comment #31It’s probably the only way he’ll get any silverware ha ha he’s come up with some gems before try “not leaving until we win something” ha ha ha ha ok I’ll just pack my Mac into this carrier bag…Taxi!!!!
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #32I wonder when this fruitcake finally does get around to serial killing, how many he’ll manage before getting caught, five minutes after his first is my guess.
raj of hailsley
Sep 9, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Catchya later big boy!
Comment #10
Ian Toon
Sep 24, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Comment #20
Belfast – Geezer, your not a usual suspect. It’s tough at the top.
Catchya later!
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:46 PM
Comment #33I’m not sure if he deliberately leaves his finger prints at the scene or whether this pseudo intellectual is actually as thick as…… mince!!!
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #34Little c leaves a hacky big set of dabs though he’s hardly subtle.
toon22
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:02 PM
Comment #35raj of hailsley
Hiya JIB
I think nobody will ever be able to buy the club from Jabba, he will always want more than they are willing to pay
Thats why i bleet on about parliament
Its never Jabbas fault
Belfast
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:03 PM
Comment #36Bring back Ian Toon and all who sail in her!
toon22
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:03 PM
Comment #37The Mansours and now Rattcliffe dont have that cash to buy us
You couldnt make it up
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:07 PM
Comment #38Belfast how do you reckon Ian Toon ever went away?
toon22
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:07 PM
Comment #39Loads of money missing from the toon
Jabba suddenly has the cash to buy every shop on the high street
Funny how people were trying to say the accounts were mint the other day
😉
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2019 at 3:33 PM
Comment #40The Wife,
Please could you look in to the account details of the poster calling himself raj of hailsley, he is going under the names of Jack Root, Rebecca, Pushy Pardew, Ian Toon, carl, Carl and gawd knows how many more. I am constantly facing attacks on here from this unhinged individual and I don’t think it is cricket, I have my fair share of detractors on here as it is without creeps like him making up false accounts to have a dig at me. Thank you.