Steve Bruce has changed the way Newcastle play this season, and we are now a more attacking side than we were under Rafa Benitez.
We always knew Bruce was very sensible in his approach to coaching, and this season he wanted to change Newcastle’s play, so we attacked more.
He had played 5 at the back at the beginning of the season, and he changed it to a backline of four on 29th September at Leicester City, but we were taken apart 5-0.
That was one of two 5-0 defeats we have had in the league this season.
Not good for our goal difference.
So Steve bided his time last year, so we could at least pick up some points while playing in the style the players were used to.
And then this year he gradually changed to four at the back and started to play a more attacking style of football, which was pleasant on the eye.
You can do that when you have players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron upfront.
If Bruce is still in charge next season, we are likely to see a continuation of Newcastle’s play to a more attacking team under the 59-year-old Geordie manager.
Burce (shown above) was asked in the Shields Gazette today if we would see a difference in the football from Newcastle next season:
“I didn’t think I could implement change any quicker.”
“I didn’t think the players, who were used to playing in a certain way, which was defend deep, and play on the counter-attack.”
“The club had been like that for the last two or three years, and I learned very quickly they weren’t ready for the change.”
“My job’s to improve it, and since we changed the system we have been better, certainly in terms of possession of the ball.”
“And we’ve been more of a goal threat – we’ve had a little bit of a change, nothing radical.”
“I’ve not done what Graham Potter has done at Brighton, for example, because I didn’t think we were ready.”
“But we’ll try to change, we’ll try to improve the squad.”
“We have done OK (this season). There have been ups and downs, as there always is.”
“The football hasn’t been great at times, let’s be brutally honest, but that’s where we are.”
“We’ve got to try and improve.”
Bruce has done a commendable job at Newcastle this season.
If the takeover is successful, we will see if the Amanda Staveley consortium are willing to give Steve a chance in the coming season to stay onboard.
If that’s the case, he could get the opportunity to coach some much better players next season.
Of course, much more will then be expected of him.
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 10:58 AM
Comment #1JIB
Trying to put a positive spin on Bruce’s remarks
Whats the weather like in Florida ?
Jib
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Comment #2I try and put a positive spin on most things in life
fairscup
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:01 AM
Comment #3I don’t know how glass half empty people get through the day.
Anglo Saxon
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:03 AM
Comment #4https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB17cD3g?m=en-gb&referrerID=InAppShare
hibbit
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:03 AM
Comment #5even the thought of it sends shivers down my spine, another season of Bruce is unthinkable,
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:04 AM
Comment #6JIB
I try and put a positive spin on most things in life
But you always put a positive spin on what the turd does or the horrible mess hes got our club in
All the way from the sunshine state
Jib
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:04 AM
Comment #7We won’t get as lucky against LPool as Rafa did against Chelsea
They had an FA cup final vs Man U 6 days later and Conte picked a weakened side
Chelsea still qualified for CL AND won the Fa cup 1 – 0
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:04 AM
Comment #8JIB
Hiya KBA
Must do better
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:06 AM
Comment #9JIB
Im sure we will be treated to a classic cabbage heed tactical master class
That Klopp bloke is going to see some genius in action today
fairscup
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:08 AM
Comment #10Hope he keeps his mouth shut so his teeth don’t dazzle the cameras.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:08 AM
Comment #11Bruce trying to blame the players for his inability to coach a new system. He really is just a walking pile of excuses.
Jib
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:08 AM
Comment #12toon22
I wish you’d make your mind up
Am I
1) An employee of Keith Bishop
2) Keith Bishop himself
3)Justin Barnes
4)Lee Charnley
5)Lee Marshall
6)Some guy in Florida
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:10 AM
Comment #13A top centre forward will definitely help this side a lot. It won’t transform us, but it will improve us more than any other position, because we have added the extra man in attack, when we play the back 4, exposing the defence, but we’ve lacked the quality to turn the extra possession we’ve gained into more meaningful attacks that really stretch defences and also failed to score the extra goals needed to take more points.
We need a target up top, who also finishes effectively and also contributes for us in possession outside the box.
Basically we need a top centre forward, to make us more effective in attack, and that will also take a lot of pressure of our weakened defence.
The only game where our attack really functioned well was Bournemouth away, and it’s no coincidence our defence was solid in that one too.
Asi Fish
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:12 AM
Comment #14Announce the takeover pre-match and tell SB and the team they are playing for their jobs. That should liven the game up 🙂
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:12 AM
Comment #15I agree though the situation has been made worse by losing Rafa. Bruce doesn’t prepare us as well, as you’d expect.
Moonraker15
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:13 AM
Comment #16Ed
From the previous thread.
“If it’s taking this long, turn it down and let the club move on”.
Not that simple because Ashley is running the club into the ground and won’t “move it on”!
geordietom
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:17 AM
Comment #17nearly every single person on here wants the takeover to happen , then along comes Mr Spanner in the works , to try and dampen peoples spirits not gonna work with me i’m afraid …
geordietom
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:18 AM
Comment #18the clubs been at a stand still for years with that twat who owns our club …
JAMSHA
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:20 AM
Comment #19i see a 1-0 win today, would be great to end the ASHLEY ERA in style
geordietom
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:21 AM
Comment #20dont want Bruce next season simple as that …
think jib could be right Bruce is trying to convince the consortium that he’s the best man for the job …
Olivers Toon
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:21 AM
Comment #21Just my take on things. I think Bruce has done ok. When I watch the games there is no doubt for me that we are playing more attacking football and generally look better. Some may say that it is because he had 60 odd million to spend but then again we did sell Perez and Rondon and Joelinton has not set the world alight. He started the season setting the team out the same as Rafa did and later he moved to change it, which has led to a very mixed bag of results. I didn’t mind Rafa’s style as it kept us up and we were very organised but it was pretty boring at times. I wouldn’t mind Bruce being given longer to change our style and see how he does. We are a mid table quality team and overall I do think we should have finished a little higher, about 10th, so he could have done better. However, if the takeover goes through then I really wouldn’t be surprised if a more current manager came in like Poch and whilst I would feel bad for Bruce I must admit I would be excited to have someone like Poch.
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:28 AM
Comment #22I’m not sure JIB
Take yer pick
Fact is your paid to post here and you have an email addy registered at an American contractors site
toon22
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:29 AM
Comment #23Maybe lee marshal has done stuff on that webby linked to your email
Pat On The Heed
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:30 AM
Comment #24Bruce has done a commendable job with a ragtag squad. Bigger, shinier names have struggled before him in similar or even slightly better circumstances under Ashley.
I like his comments here. Say what you like, the guys a football man.
Jib
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:32 AM
Comment #25Olivers Toon
I’m like you , when I think back there was some undoubted ‘mares
but by our 5th game when we beat Man U at home , in the main
I’ve enjoyed watching us.
The handling of our fitness in the lockdown could have been better
but it was uncharted territory for all clubs.
Munster Mag
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:40 AM
Comment #26Moonraker, I don’t think we’re been run into the ground. Getting guys like miggy maxi, 40m on Joel, Willems etc and lower mid table is not ‘running the club into the ground’. It’s just not maximising us and its taking risks that don’t need to be taken. Steve Bruce was a risk, relegation can be a risk. He doesn’t invest, or have a vision, but I don’t think we’re being run into the ground. If anything we’re just drifting, hoping to avoid the rocks.
captainmarvel
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:40 AM
Comment #27I am a glass half empty guy but there is no way this takeover is going to tank…
I also could not care if it takes months to get rid of Ashley I can wait, as it will be well worth waiting for…
Chill…
Olivers Toon
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:42 AM
Comment #28Jib
Agreed. The break for Covid affected all teams. Who knows how we would have done if it hadn’t happened. Maybe better, maybe worse.
Also, on the Longstaff situation, I don’t think Bruce can do a lot more. Yes, he could play the lad but he said himself he felt everything going on has affected Matty, and maybe he hasn’t performed well in training? I guess there will always be times when the fans want different players to play than what the manager chooses. I was trying to think what I would do if I was Matty Longstaff. On the one hand playing for Newcastle United is my dream, but on the other I’m playing for a club owned by Ashley which is going nowhere until he leaves. I can see why he may feel he could go somewhere else, develop, earn some good money and then always come back one day. He would be welcomed back with open arms. So I don’t really think the situation is Bruce’s doing, it’s more likely Matty can see the ineptitude of Charley and Ashley. He may well be buying his time long enough to see outcome of takeover.
Jib
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:44 AM
Comment #29toon22
By your silly chidish logic
everyone on here is based all over the US
G-Mail HQ Mountain View, California, United States
Yahoo HQ Sunnyvale, California, United States
Hotmail HQ Redmond, Washington, United States
AOL HQ 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, New York, U.S
Munster Mag
Jul 26, 2020 at 11:45 AM
Comment #30Pat it’s more popular to bash Bruce. Getting the same points and position as Benitez wasn’t supposed to have happened and we would be higher with Rondon, who was always a useful player contrary to some opinions here. If I’m not wrong we got minced by Liverpool 3 or 4 níl a couple of years ago when Rafa parked the bus. I’ll bet he wasn’t criticised much though. Let’s see what happens on here if we lose in the same way….
The ledge
Jul 26, 2020 at 8:20 PM
Comment #31………….1