Steve Bruce said after the Aston Villa defeat that he would persevere with his front three of Allan Saint-Maximin, Joelinton, and Miguel Almiron.
True to his word, he stuck with the three in yesterday’s draw against Manchester City. While there were again no goals from the trio, Miguel Almiron was able to get his first Newcastle assist on the excellent goal from Jetro Willems.
Bruce was again asked if he was going to continue with the three after the game yesterday. Sounding a little perturbed by the question, this was the head coach’s response:
“Look, I have to answer the question with you all the time. Allan and Almiron today were excellent in their work.
“I’m delighted for Miggy. He’s got an assist – great goal from Jetro.
“We’ve seen three quality goals and we’ve got two of them, so it was lovely to watch.”
Bruce still needs to get more out of his forwards if Newcastle are going to progress this season.
Joelinton– Newcastle need more from record signing
Former England international and BT Sport pundit Joe Cole seems to think that there is definite potential for Newcastle’s attackers. The Chronicle have published some of Cole’s comments from last night:
“With that run of fixtures there. I am looking at Saint-Maximin and Joelinton today.
“If you can get a hold of those strikers and say ‘listen, in these situations when we get the ball, just go and put the brakes on, and find a pass.’
“I think there is a lot of growth in this team. The defense is settled, so you have that base. The front three, I think with a little bit of work on the training pitch, I think there is improvements to be made in this team.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team finish comfortably in mid-table and then next season the excitement can grow for it again.
“I really like Newcastle.”
There is work to do for sure but Newcastle’s attackers do have quality. They just aren’t getting it done in terms of goals. Joelinton stills seems to be too isolated and is not getting into the box near enough as our lone striker.
We like the work-rate of Saint-Maximin and Almiron. Both are dangerous with the ball at their feet; however, it gets complicated for them when a final ball is needed.
Bruce, it appears, will stick with the front three for the time being. He made some tweaks earlier this season to get the wing-backs to carry more of a threat going forward.
He’s also gotten Newcastle to get some goals from set-pieces that were lacking early in the campaign. If he can get this front three to start scoring, then we could see Newcastle really on the incline.
85 comments so far
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 5:27 PM
Comment #1Hya Posada
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 5:29 PM
Comment #2or is it Hiya ?
geordietom
Dec 1, 2019 at 5:33 PM
Comment #3ayih
posada
Dec 1, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #4Don’t encourage the complete and utter Bull’s Knacker.
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:25 PM
Comment #5results gone our way this afternoon.
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:26 PM
Comment #6Leicester score the winner vs Everton in the 4th minute of extra time
geordietom
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:28 PM
Comment #7bulls knacker not heard that in a long time , but your right …
pure doylem …
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #8We stay at 14th
4 points off 5th place
What a weird season
geordietom
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Comment #9nearly as weird as TOOL22 …
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Comment #10I cannot see Man U persevering with OLG for much longer
Mindshaft
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:36 PM
Comment #11Yup, 4 points from 5th and 4 points from relegation in 14th!! weird season indeed
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #12This fixture congestion
(that Jane seems to find hard understanding)
is going to sort the men from the boys
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Comment #13which you thought was the reason we are playing on a Thursday this week hahahaha
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:46 PM
Comment #14So what do you think the reason is ?
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:46 PM
Comment #15This should be good
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #16i think it’ll be the Amazon Prime contract with the Premier league.
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #17matches spread over more days.
Assassins Inc
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:55 PM
Comment #18Man U wanted Pochettino, now with the possibility of another manager getting fired this week with Everton that could leave three open manager positions, I don’t think Man U will risk losing Pochettino again, sorry Ole but you may be seeing your Marching orders coming early this week.
Munster Mag
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:57 PM
Comment #19The brighton manager has got loads of plaudits in the media. Bruce has had a tonne of brickbats on here. Yet nufc above them. More points than Benitez despite a misfiring front line. Keep giving him time I say.
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 6:58 PM
Comment #20Oh like they are with BT you mean
Doh
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:00 PM
Comment #21no not like BT. it’s 20 matches in 1 calendar month. is that like BT? hmm no!
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #22Jib i’d give up you’re looking stupid 🙂
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:05 PM
Comment #23fair comment
but I still believe that Amazon for their £90M
were worked a flanker by the PL and FA cos
they knew there was going to be a log jam of
fixtures
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #24Sorry for looking stupid
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:08 PM
Comment #25I do try my best not to look stupid
but I would appear to have failed
beefman13
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:10 PM
Comment #26It’s not about giving Bruce more time, we are set up every game to scrap n scrape, point her and there heroic defending etc, for them it’s about staying in the prem, digging in the trenches game after game, another season were it will be are we staying up or going down with 5 matches left, it’s all about Bruce getting his bonus for keeping us up, watching us again withdraw to the 18 yard box ten behind the ball, and then the odd breakout to give us some relief and the fans a bit of cheer, we are clogged down again imo and that’s how it can only be, I cannot abide the way things are now at MY club, the fans clinging on to a slither of hope that things can get better, one forward one back, simple as.
Paully
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:14 PM
Comment #27Apart from the goal I thought Shelvey was garbage again yesterday, rarely puts a challenge in and slows play down.
And don’t get me started on Joelinton, I’ve heard all the isolated excuses, wrong system etc. Rafa was right the kid Is worth nothing like £40m, If we sold him now we’d be lucky to get £10m back.
Maxi however? That lad has magic feet, gets us all out of our seats and picks the crowd up, improves his end product and a big big team is coming in for him.
Pain in the Blog
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:15 PM
Comment #28Bl–dy hell Jib & Jane,
You must be working hard seeing as you’re the same person.
Jib
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #29Pain in the Blog
Aye
It’s difficult
Just a fan
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:26 PM
Comment #30Pain
I may be along shortly.
That will put you in a tiz
Where’s Mr tuff when you need him .
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:32 PM
Comment #31this has probably already been posted..
“Steve Bruce: Have we underestimated Newcastle manager?”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50615178
9
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:33 PM
Comment #32Is Joelinton any use?
carltoon
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:34 PM
Comment #33Jane playing twice in a week, it’s so they fit all the games before the end of the season. I may be wrong of course.
IrishRob
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:40 PM
Comment #34Lol have we under rated him? Lol are people seriously fooled by the result.As usual It had nothing to do with Bruce. They were still all clueless for most the match and we still looked like we have no answers. Hes also making decent players look rubbish by playing them in the wrong set up.
Bruce is not the reason we won yesterday. Smh!
welshgeordie9
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:40 PM
Comment #35In Bruce we trust.
IrishRob
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:40 PM
Comment #36Drew*
IrishRob
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Comment #379 is very clearly an alt of toon22, he repeats the same babble every time hes on, just like our froggy.
Munster Mag
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Comment #38Beefman rafa played the same football and worse and he was hailed a genius, hilariously.
The first time rafa played city, shelvey hit the ball at the keeper from kick off and we retreated rapidly in one of the weirdest and most embarrassing moments i’ve seen in st james’ or anywhere else.
jane
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Comment #39Carltoon but why Thursday was the question.
welshgeordie9
Dec 1, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Comment #40More goals coming from our defenders.
Thats just bonkers.