Steve Bruce spoke a bit about the team’s recent form over the past few weeks in which Newcastle have managed to get draws but played very poorly.
That is especially the case in the last two matches, both at home, against League One’s Oxford United and Norwich City, who are 20th in the Premier League.
Bruce was asked about how he can get his team to play more on the front foot, and if that was something he would consider.
“I’ve said from day one I’d love to play two up top. I just don’t think we’re ready just yet with what we’ve got.
“I won’t just change just for the sake of it. We’ve got to make sure that, in time, we will evolve.
“I’ve said all along maybe I won’t get the time, but that’s my aim. That’s what we’ll try and do.
“It was this time last year that the team went to a back five because before that, let’s be fair, they couldn’t win a corner.
“That’s where we’re at, at the moment, so we’ll stay with it.”
Bruce has experimented with having two players up top this season. He, of course, started the season playing that way but abandoned the system after the 3-1 Norwich defeat in the second week.
He again tried it against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, but in that match went with a flat back four. The result was disastrous as we had our heaviest defeat of the campaign losing 5-0, though Isaac Hayden was sent off late in the first half.
Andy Carroll and Joelinton also started the Crystal Palace match as a front two before Joelinton was moved to the right wing.
Unfortunately, Bruce is probably reluctant to transition from five at the back even against Oxford tomorrow. That is despite agreeing that they are a team Newcastle should dominate.
“It’s been difficult to dominate, and we are not in that situation where we can dominate anyone.
“I hope we can go to Oxford, like when we went to Rochdale, and totally dominate them, but in this league, where we are at the moment, it hasn’t been possible.”
Bruce was also asked about the transfer market once again. Newcastle did bring in three quality signings in Nabil Bentaleb, Valentino Lazaro, and Danny Rose but failed to bring in another striker despite our current crop having just one league goal between them.
This is how Bruce responded when asked about the striker market during the winter window.
“I think I’ve answered it so many times now. Ok, we didn’t score again. It’s been a problem we’ve had all season.
“However, I’ll stick with what I’ve said all the time. If there’s somebody better, then we would try and act.
“The cynics will say ‘Well, somebody’s got to be better than what you’re showing at the minute.’ I think we’ve still got some decent players to come in.
“I’ve got no regrets. There was nobody out there who we could realistically get, who would make us better.”
The keyword that Bruce used is ‘realistically’ becasue we saw some top strikers move in January. However, they may not have wanted to come to Newcastle.
We should have Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle, and Yoshinori Muto back for Arsenal in two weeks. Unfortunately, both Valentino Lazaro and Danny Rose are not eligible for the Oxford match. Though they will be against West Brom in the fifth round if we can get past Oxford tomorrow.
What Will Be The Result Against Oxford In The FA Cup Replay?
- Win (57%, 1,620 )
- Loss (43%, 1,202 )
Total Voters: 2,822
How Did You Rate Newcastle's January Transfer Window?
- Average (48%, 1,708 )
- Poor (33%, 1,176 )
- Good (18%, 647 )
Total Voters: 3,531
58 comments so far
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:19 PM
Comment #41Jib – I’ve pretty much given up on any takeover rubbish posted either here or journos plodding out rumours as fact – believe it when it happens
RobLeenio
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Comment #42Jib, nowt’s changed, as far as I’m concerned – there are talks that have happened and a process which is ongoing. Just because nothing happened within a week of the WSJ leak doesn’t invalidate it, though it doesn’t mean that we’ll definitely be sold in the end either.
I don’t know if that Dubai lawyer is in possession of any more information than that, honestly.
We just need to be patient – it’s been 13 years of nonsense from Ashley, I can hold on another few months, if that’s what it takes.
hibbit
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Comment #43RobLeenio none of those 3 would let us down, and all 3 are worth a try,
RobLeenio
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:22 PM
Comment #44hibbit, very true. Tom Allan impressed me vs Dale, very direct, very fast. Victor Fernandez was an expensive youth acquisition with an excellent reputation but has had an unlucky time with injuries, Francillette I know very little about at all.
Ron Knee
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:23 PM
Comment #45Newcastle United FC@NUFC
56′ – GOAL – Swansea City Under-23s 0 Newcastle United Under-23s 2 (Rosaire Longelo)
#NUFC double their lead as Yannick Touré embarks on a wonderful run from inside his own half before teeing up Longelo, who slots his first-time effort into the far corner!
hibbit
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:25 PM
Comment #46its time to step back and wait, if it happens great, if it doesn’t we have a good idea whats ahead of us,
The mighty wyn
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:30 PM
Comment #47What has been said by the Dubai lawyer. I must have missed it
Mag :P
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #48Team to face Oxford. (he’s most likely gonna stick with a back 5 so…)
……………………… Darlow
Lazaro… Schar… Lejeune….Francilette…Rose
…………………Sean……Matty
…..Almiron……..Joelinton…………ASM
Just wish Bruce would switch almiron and Allan, almiron has been so much better on the left hand side. He’s half the player on the right.
Anglo Saxon
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #49Nice article from Shearer
‘Lazy’: Alan Shearer left unimpressed by Newcastle United player’s attitude.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/02/03/do-lazy-alan-shearer-left-unimpressed-by-newcastle-united-player/
RobLeenio
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:34 PM
Comment #50The mighty Wyn, he’s a Dubai based British lawyer and seeming Toon fan, with connections to the UAE financial services sector who said the region’s finances go through there and his best contacts connected with Saudi Arabia say that the deal is still ongoing.
It’s one of those that should be taken with a pinch of salt, but actually doesn’t say anything new and nor does he pretend he knows anything about timelines.
Bit kinda ‘a mate of a mate said this’…..
cleveleysbob
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:35 PM
Comment #51The mighty Wyn, me too!
Jib, to answer your question I’m still more optimistic than not, problem is I don’t trust MA (who does?).
The mighty wyn
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:35 PM
Comment #52Mag p lazarro and rose can’t play as they were signed after the original tir
The mighty wyn
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:39 PM
Comment #53Cheers Rob must have missed that. I think there’s still something in it just cos nobody has come out and denied it. However withe fat one you never know how it will end
RobLeenio
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:41 PM
Comment #54@PeteGravesSky
Again as I said on Instagram. My information was that they initially looked at ManU but switched focus to #nufc a year ago. Of course if ManU has suddenly become available it would concern me, but not heard that.
– 2 hours ago.
https://twitter.com/PeteGravesSky/status/1224300455540535298
RobLeenio
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:43 PM
Comment #55the mighty Wyn, I’m b*ggered if I can find the thread now, though….
🙁
You’ll just have to take my word for it.
😉
cyprus
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:52 PM
Comment #56Those are good words from SB. He could easily have pointed to the table and said, when was NUFC joint tenth at this stage of the season. I’ve got results and that’s what it’s about.
He didn’t. He expresses the same kind of frustration as fans and asks for time to change the style.
Only a very cruel person wouldn’t grant him that.
BTW, not sure if it’s two CFs we need up front. It’s the MF we lose. Keep Almiron in the 8-10 position and stick another MF in, see what happens if we crowd the MF.
When we’re down by three, revert to the trusty back five 😉
Ron Knee
Feb 3, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Comment #57Newcastle United FC@NUFC
1m
90′ – There will be 3 minutes of stoppage time. 0-4. #NUFC
Tonyd3b54
Feb 3, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #58Typical Bruce, there doesn’t need to be a formation change. How about you go out there and actually coach instead of just hanging with the boys? There’s no goals because you sit back and invite pressure then depend on individual brilliance from Max/almiron or joelintons fighting of 3 people to hold up the ball just to get into the other teams half! Then once we’re in there half you’re so over joyed that you don’t have a plan for scoring the goals either! Go back to the championship brucie