In our predicted line-up yesterday, we had Allan Saint-Maximin coming in for Miguel Almiron on the right side of a front three. While Allan has only featured on the left under Bruce, the 22-year-old played on the right often at Nice.
We think that Bruce will want to get the Frenchman into his team on Sunday. However, we just can’t see Christian Atsu being dropped as he has been one of the few bright spots in a dreary season.
Saint-Maximin has only played 57 minutes of football this season due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the week leading to the Norwich match. He had felt some tightness during training and was held back from the trip to Carrow Road.
However, he received his first start the following week at Tottenham. Early in that match, his hamstring went after a full-on sprint to the byline. Christian Atsu was brought on to make his season debut and has remained in the side ever since.
Allan made his return against Brighton, and we saw exactly what he could offer. Allan brings an urgency in his play. He is always looking to make something happen. Against Brighton, Allan breathed new life into the struggling team.
Saint-Maximin was not brought on last week as the game was truly lost early in the second half. Bruce opted to give DeAndre Yedlin a run out on the right-wing instead.
Yesterday, Bruce commented on the Saint-Maximin’s fitness and his decision to not bring him on against Leicester:
“He gives us something we haven’t got. He’s got a bit of pace and he’s got a bit of power, and we’ve seen that. He’ll definitely give us something which will add to us going forward.
“Last week, when it went to 3-0, I decided to bring on Yedlin rather than him, because it’s been still grumbling with him. I decided to give him an extra week’s training, which he’s had. That has dispelled everything now, and he’s 100% fit.”
It looks like Bruce is now fully comfortable with Allan’s fitness level. He appeared to have some lingering doubt, but this past week has laid that to rest.
58 comments so far
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:48 PM
Comment #1So he is saying he has had the guy going a full week of sprinting ?
LOL
Trent1211
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Comment #2Worth repeating: According to this: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/newcastle-united/transfers/verein/762 we’ve spent £62.37m net in the last 3 years. Bournemouth, ground capacity 11,329 (which also speaks to their commercial reach) have reportedly spent £112.64m net in same period.
They’re also doing this: https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/10/04/bournemouth-start-hunt-for-20m-training-ground-builders/
Commercial revenue in 2018 of £8m.
Their wage bill is £101m. How are we being outspent by them?
Books are on the up and up though!
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Comment #3isn’t thats what his game is all about running at people with PACE ? …
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:51 PM
Comment #4brighton 1 -spurs 0
Trent1211
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #5On the pitch this is frightening from 2011 (eleven!) https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/nov/30/steve-bruce-sunderland-sacked
Trent1211
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:58 PM
Comment #6…”players such as David Meyler were rushed back from serious injuries only to suffer further complications.”
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 12:58 PM
Comment #7Trent1211
The guys been a nightmare at every single club he has been the manager of, a relegation specialist
Somehow hes the best we can get
As for the finances the PR tries to say the book are legit, im sure they are.
Wheres the money gone is a bit of a rhetorical question
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:00 PM
Comment #8Things are panning out exactly as expected
Cant keep him as he will relegate us
Cant replace him due to Jabbas running of our club
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:02 PM
Comment #9If theres trouble at the Manu game the club should be made to face the music
They are ignoring FA rules , again
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:04 PM
Comment #10bha 2 – spurs 0
AncientC
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:25 PM
Comment #11Brighton were 41/10 against Spurs. I was taking those odds all day long. I am just surprised it has taken this long for Tottenham to unravel. Daniel Levy has been getting away with undervaluing his players for longer than expected.
If Benitez was still with us, I would have fancied our chances to start competing with Spurs here on out.
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:25 PM
Comment #12Just received a letter
From my local MP , Kevin Jones MP, regarding Jabba
I had asked him to bring Jabbas involvement with ourselves and other clubs up in parliament
The response came from Nigel Adams MP, Minister of State
It boils down to the governments concern of his interactions with multiple clubs, and his conflict of interests and him creating a way to Bypass ” fit and proper rules”
In short it proves its worth every single toon fan to email their local MP , those who live in the UK, and ask their MP to act
We now have more than one MP on Jabbas case, they are right now actively looking at his dealing in football
SEND YOUR EMAIL
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:30 PM
Comment #13Watching the Fulham/Charlton match there was a foul similar to Haydens committed with no cards given, ref’s against the Toon cartel?
lochinvar
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Comment #14So Charmless has sanctioned selling tickets to away fans in all parts of the ground ?
What, not even a neutral zone ?
Hope he’s paying extra for the Police presence as there are some real idiots who support Manchester B.
Or is he counting on the Chinese students in the city turning up to support the beloved reds – at least it’s filling the auditorium as is his want. Getting closer to Cheer Leaders and popcorn sellers.
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #15Oh goody, we’ve got Mike Dean as the ref this Sunday, lucky us!!
Bobbybee
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Comment #16It’s pretty much universally agreed that Bruce is out of his depth. So, what have we got to lose?
I would accept that no experienced manager will ever work for Ashley after how Rafa was treated, so our only chance is a young manager with new ideas.
Lee Bowyer has done an incredible job at Charlton. Having brought them up from Division One on a shoestring budget, he’s now repeating it in the performance in the Championship.
He’s reportedly on the lowest budget in the Championship yet continues to perform minor miracles with Charlton. His team play attacking football built on a sound defensive system and surely can no no worse that Bruce? In fact, IMHO he would do a damn sight better.
He would have better players to work with – the players aren’t our problem – and he might jump at the chance of a return to SJP. I’m sure he’d be welcomed back by the fan base too.
It needs to be done now though, before he thinks it’s not worth the gamble. He might not have quite enough to get Charlton into the PL, but he could possibly turn it around here.
Bruce or Bowyer? No competition in my eyes.
Ron Knee
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #17“Poch has taken us as far as he can. Time to get a world class coach in whilst we still have the chance and before our stock plummets further.” (BBC)
How about a swap then?
Jib
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #18toon22
I presume you mean KevAn Jones
https://www.kevanjonesmp.org.uk/contact/
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Comment #19TOON22 …
is from north durham …
Jones was first elected as MP for North Durham in 2001 with a majority of 18,681. After becoming member of Parliament, Jones became a member of the influential Defence Select Committee, and also a member of the Labour Party’s Parliamentary Committee.
Bobbybee
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Comment #20Back to Brighton v Spurs.
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:40 PM
Comment #21jib …
thats who i recon he meant …
even the stevens
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:41 PM
Comment #22Anyone know how much Ashlie paid for his advertising at the ground last season? I Think I remember reading 2m, am I right?
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:42 PM
Comment #23Newcastle United Under-23s: Dan Langley, Lewis Cass, Oliver Walters, Jamie Sterry, Oisín McEntee, Ludwig Francillette (Victor Fernández 46), Tom Allan (Dylan Stephenson 72), Jack Young, Luke Charman, Joe White, Elliot Anderson.
Subs not used: Jake Turner, Lucas Gamblin.
A few unfamiliar names there but it’s good to see Fernandez getting match time, I reckon he’d be in the 1st team now but for his bad injury.
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Comment #24the same place as the Pink Panther…
durham durham durham durham . you know the theme tune …
i’ll get my coat …
😀
Jib
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Comment #25Kevan Jones constituency spans the north of County Durham in North East England. It includes the whole of the former Chester-le-Street district and the eastern part of the former Derwentside district. The main population centres are Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Sacriston. The constituency includes the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish.
Looks like the frog lives in Mackem territory
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Comment #26Bobby
Another young ex player young manager is Scott Parker, I’d like to see either of them given a chance with us but not with the present regime, they’d be idiots to take the job.
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Comment #27mackem …
😀
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #28bha 3 – spurs 0
Ron Knee
Oct 5, 2019 at 1:59 PM
Comment #29Nice goal.
cyprus
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:02 PM
Comment #30Just when you think no team can do worse, here comes one to concede 10 goals in two games!
Damage control, Spurs. Don’t concede any more 😉
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #31See the PR ?
Send that email
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Comment #32The more MPs that get involved the better
Send the email
Do something about Jabba
toon22
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:11 PM
Comment #33They said nowt would happen
Discouraged anyone bothering
We can do something about him
Nufc-83
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:11 PM
Comment #34Just shows what a manager can do with both Norwich and Brighton playing lovely confident football with what I would consider inferior squads (certainly Norwich). No excuses for Bruce. Would love to see a young progressive manager come in rather than the dinosaurs we seem to select.
Nufc-83
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:11 PM
Comment #35Ledsom on route toon?
geordietom
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Comment #36PR my arse …
ronaldo aarons
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Comment #37This connolly kid looks real good. Noticed him when he came off the bench v us, he’s the one who had the shot cleared off the line by Schar. Apparently has been doing well in the youth leagues. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
Mooy again showing how good he is. I got dismissed in the transfer window for suggesting him as someone we should be all over signing.
ronaldo aarons
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:19 PM
Comment #38While Bruce is here, we are going down.
Obviously he’s not the main issue at the club but he is the issue with the playing side of the club.
Hasn’t taken long to start throwing the players under the bus and publicly stating that these lot can’t do what he asks so is going back to the previous managers tactics. Just seems like a case of if that doesn’t work, don’t blame me, blame them.
The Wife
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Comment #39toon22
It’s encouraging to hear that your govt. rep. responded to your email. It seems like MA is on their radar, at the very least. The more that reach out, the less the govt. can dismiss it as a non-issue, in my opinion.
Reilly
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #40I see the Brighton manager has managed to get his players to play in a different way to the previous manager.