There’s a good chance Christian Atsu will be handed just his ninth start this season. Steve Bruce spoke to BBC Newcastle ahead of the trip to Oxford about the 28-year-old winger.
Matthew Raisbeck tweeted the following section of Bruce’s interview this morning.
“Christian started the season very, very well.
“He has been a bit frustrated because of Saint-Maximin… but, it's an opportunity for him (at Oxford) – and let's hope he grasps it.”
Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce speaks to @bbcnewcastle about Christian Atsu #NUFC pic.twitter.com/HU8cTO3dGS
— Matthew Raisbeck (@raisbeck10) February 4, 2020
The part of his comments that are intriguing for tonight’s match is the following:
“He has been a bit frustrated because of Saint-Maximin. But it’s an opportunity for him (at Oxford), and let’s hope he grasps it.”
It appears as though Christian will come in for Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing. However, Atsu did play left wing-back at Rochdale in the third round, so it could be Matt Ritchie who he comes in for.
Either way, this is an opportunity that Atsu has to take. He refused a move to Blackburn on deadline day to fight for his Newcastle future. Well, tonight is his moment to do just that.
Atsu is a solid professional but has been very poor of late. He started the season well, as Bruce asserts, and was outstanding in the Tottenham win.
He has led the team in assists for some time now. As it stands, he is joint top with Andy Carroll, both on 4.
Atsu has always had a problem with consistency, and it’s been no different this season. If he does get a chance tonight, this is the moment he stayed at Newcastle for.
He needs to take it and help Newcastle get through the fifth round.
121 comments so far
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 4:43 PM
Comment #1We played some poor games under Rafa, fair point and totally accurate.
We’ve been shit every game this season, I don’t think I’ve watched a game and thought we deserved that, we were the better team.
Against Chelsea I was happy, thought we did well, in reality the last minute winner took my eyes of the actual performance and how toothless we were.
I agree with how Hope described us on Sunday, he nailed it, just by the responses he got quite a few fans agreed.
If you’re treading water in football you’re going backwards, we aren’t even treading water, we’re doing 80 in reverse.
We’ll do a Sunderland if this is allowed to continue for 3 years.
dexter53
Feb 4, 2020 at 4:46 PM
Comment #2He wont grasp it because hes just no good.
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 4:52 PM
Comment #3dexter53
He wont grasp it because hes just no good.
a verysimple view
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:04 PM
Comment #4We are fairly poor I agree. Still, we back the signings made. Lejeune this, Fernandez that. The money invested isn’t good enough and as a result neither are the managers or the players. If you support any players signed then support the manager. Both a result of the leadership. There’s no middle ground.
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:07 PM
Comment #5Bruce has confirmed Lejeune, Schar and both Longstaffs will play.
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Comment #6Miguel Almiron and new boy Nabil Bentaleb are set to play
so with Darlow that makes 7 of the eleven
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #74-4-1-1 hopefully
Matty in the hole
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #8It’s got nothing to with money spent etc.
THERES NO PLAN
NOTHING
NADA
Theres no direction, no one with any idea where the club is heading, no identity on the pitch, no leaders, no heroes.
No one with any power gives a f@#k about the club, other than what it can do for them
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:12 PM
Comment #9BoycottAshley
It’s got everything to do with money
Moonraker15
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:18 PM
Comment #10Doesn’t really matter who plays our problem is scoring a goal or 2 !
geordietom
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:18 PM
Comment #11Atsu to start …
geordietom
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:19 PM
Comment #12http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/02/04/bruce-frustrated-nufc-player-set-to-start-alongside-schar-lejeune-longstaffs-tonight/
Ron Knee
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:19 PM
Comment #13“With a debate about his mid-table side’s style – or lack of it – raging on Tyneside, Bruce is probably relieved to be travelling to Oxford for Tuesday night’s FA Cup fourth-round replay. Victory would offer Newcastle a trip to West Brom in the fifth round for the first time since 2006 but avoiding an embarrassment against League One opposition at the Kassam Stadium will surely necessitate the visitors summoning up some elusive creativity.” (Louise Taylor)
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:20 PM
Comment #14so there we have eight now
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:22 PM
Comment #15Ron
Have you and Louise Taylor got something going on ?
Is there something we should be told ?
Ron Knee
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:29 PM
Comment #16Is it *that* obvious, Jib?
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:31 PM
Comment #17😛
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:34 PM
Comment #18I hope c-dog is right and young Matty is being pushed forward
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:36 PM
Comment #19Did Bruce really just name a bunch of teams that play three at the back and say that means they play the same as us. Shows what the cabbage knows about football. Burnley play the same as us.
And last article it said we possibly played ok against wolves. my wolves mate said it was the worst team theyve played since theyve been up and still talks about our keeper and the luck we had.
hibbit
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:37 PM
Comment #20well worth a read
https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/02/steve-bruce-is-doing-a-great-job-for-mike-ashley-newcastle-united/
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Comment #21Give the boring negativity a rest until post match please.
Just a suggestion
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:44 PM
Comment #22Continue with reality please.
OneAlanShearer
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:45 PM
Comment #23So
…darlow
TBC1? Lejeune schar TBC2?
Atsu S.longstaff bentaleb almiron
M.longstaff
TBC3?
hibbit
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:45 PM
Comment #24maybe Bruce could give the boring negativity during the match a rest.and afterwards in his press conferences , i wont make excuses BUT,
Just a suggestion
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Comment #25Jib
I suspect we’ll hit them for at least 3
Young Matty to get at least 1
Jail for Ashley
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Comment #26Has Bbb been sedated, I hope it’s a weeks dose. He was like a woman scorned when I asked him to go and get some kip 😮
GeordieTwo
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:49 PM
Comment #27Jib/Jane/Jeff your boring negative comments are so repeatedly boring and negative. Could you put a hold on those? Yeah,,, thanks. And please put a cover sheet on those TPS forms. And I’m going to have to ask you to come in on Saturday to work on that attitude problem.
Lindisfarne
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:50 PM
Comment #28For tonights match:
“We should be so lucky,
lucky, lucky, lucky.
We should be scoring for fun”
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:54 PM
Comment #29I can see the separatists forming their pre match collective. Ready to jump on any mistake.
Let’s hope young Matty gags them before they start
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Comment #30I’m still trying to get me head around how saying we’re lucky is a insult to the players but saying they’re not good enough to play in another system isn’t.
Jib
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:56 PM
Comment #31Again like with the Norwich game
Folk who don’t know too much , acting as if the opposition is a pushover
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:58 PM
Comment #32Jib
Oxford have the joint best defensive record in their league
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:58 PM
Comment #33I can handle mistakes.
Poor preparation, players looking lost with no idea what they’re meant to be doing, no tactics, no possession, no game plan are all things I can’t handle.
“Let’s hope we can dominate Oxford”
Such giddy heights to aim for, my faith in Bruce is now restored.
Anglo Saxon
Feb 4, 2020 at 5:59 PM
Comment #34Jib Shane Warne couldn’t put any positive spin on this team dimwit.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Comment #35C dog
Preparing the excuses already?
DaveD1000
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Comment #36OP
I find the excellent man manager saying “they’re not good enough” in any sentence to be bizarre
Uncertain Toon
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Comment #37Getting a bit concerned with Bruce’s interviews, saying stuff about his players technical abilities could turn them against him, or a bit of reverse psychology maybe prove the gaffer wrong.
Anyway 3-1 to the toon. Joe Linton 2 and a rapier missile from Schaar if he plays. And Lascelles scores for them!
Get decent odds on that like!!!
Reckon you’d get a nice holiday for £1 if that came in.
c-dog
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #38Oxford Have kept 10 clean sheets at home this season.
Our #9 has 2 goals in 28 matches across all competitions
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #39Dave
I thought it was just me being daft.
I’ve heard of building your players up but he’s cutting them off at the knees.
I’ll be surprised if many sign nes contracts, the players see what’s going on.
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 4, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #40Bruce saying he could play the way Norwich do easily and suggesting our players arent technically gifted enough… Then why has he always played crap football over approx 1000 games? this is more or less Bruces only style. even Farke said Bruces teams were like this in the championship. Thats both Villa and Sheff Wed who played nicer football when he left.