Newcastle failed a big test this evening at Bramall Lane. This match, against the league’s basement dwellers, was an opportunity to show Newcastle were at least better than the clubs below us.
While this is the Premier League where anyone can beat anyone, the manner of defeat tonight made it perfectly clear that it’s just not working for Steve Bruce. He did well enough last year to keep the club safe under very trying circumstances, but the remit this season is to improve over the last one.
Bruce’s capability of moving this club beyond abject insignificance grows increasingly unrealistic with each tiresome performance. The transfer window should have been enough to take this club forward at least somewhat. But it has regressed.
While three of our signings did arrive from relegated clubs, Bruce is just not getting the best out of this squad. The performances swing like a pendulum from decent to dreadful then back again. They rarely ever reach a level where this team is gratifying to watch.
This lack of consistency falls on the shoulders of the head coach. Bruce now has a fight on his hands to keep this team out of trouble. After failing to win in our last six league matches, Newcastle are no longer comfortably ahead of the bottom three.
It’s highly unlikely tonight’s result will spur Ashley into making a decision on Bruce’s future. But this can’t continue for too much longer. The Chronicle has asked Bruce about his future after tonight’s defeat and this was his response:
“You are asking the wrong one. I will never ever walk away from the challenge. I think I have been in it long enough to have that respect.
“I understand that in the first half we weren’t good enough. At the end of the day, I take responsibility for that because I pick the team.
“In hindsight, we have been trying something different in the last few weeks in going forward.
“I wanted to see us higher up the field and offering a goal threat and that didn’t happen.”
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223 comments so far
John Tudor
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:18 PM
Comment #1Nob
jane
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:19 PM
Comment #2there’s always the next match 😐
kilcline
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:19 PM
Comment #3Get out of our club, no strategy and no reputation to give you time either.
Even Gateshead wouldn’t touch you Bruce.
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:20 PM
Comment #4We were supposed to be higher up and offering a goal threat? With that formation? With that team selection? Every single interview he sounds more and more delusional and clueless. Also if that was him setting us up to be attacking and higher up the pitch, it shows how incompetent and unable to do it he really is. Tonight was Steve Bruce’s attempt at offering an attacking team higher up the pitch. Just let that sink in.
jane
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:20 PM
Comment #5which is Arsenal away next Monday at 8pm fyi.
lochinvar
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:21 PM
Comment #6Bruce won’t walk away?
How about going faster
https://youtu.be/qEPx9bkpkh8
lochinvar
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:24 PM
Comment #7Bruce
“I wanted to see us higher up the field and offering a goal threat and that didn’t happen”
Oh please, spare us this guff
naptoon
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:24 PM
Comment #8Neil isn’t pulling his punches is he lol particularly like the 3rd paragraph.
“
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:27 PM
Comment #9What’s the betting we go more attacking against Arsenal?
Funnily enough we got a nil nil against them other day in 90 mins…..
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:27 PM
Comment #10Charlie, WL, commiserations etc, booze needed. I’m scared we’re watching the start of a Leeds or Forest unfolding before our eyes. A combo of useless ownership and useless manager, made worse only by the chance of the Saudis being interested in owning us, but leaving us before we get their money and ambition. It’s puke inducing.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:28 PM
Comment #11If Sheffield United had Wilson up front they would be knocking on the door for top 10 they create loads of chances but have donkeys up front
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:29 PM
Comment #12I wonder will that shitheap of an effort satisfy those two pricks on Talksport that its fair for us to be livid. Or are we just still deluded?!!
Uncertain Toon/World
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 PM
Comment #13Must have been managers everywhere in Britain and further afield looking at our starting team and wondering what Bruce is doing.
Bruce suffers undoubtedly from the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Classic test case for a Psychology student.
Mister Tuff
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:32 PM
Comment #14When you compare Brucie with the likes of Poch, Pep and Klopp you realise even more he’s another old fashioned knacker.
9
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:34 PM
Comment #15Just pointing out…. don’t the statistics of the last two seasons very, very strongly suggest we’re a one-man-team?
chancel be a fine thing
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:36 PM
Comment #16I will start by saying we obviously didn’t deserve to win, but most games are decided by fine margins. If Wilson had scored that header, if VAR had been used correctly and the foul on Fernandez for shirt pulling had been given, as it was in the build up to the handball, and if we had desperately held on with Carlow making worldly saves; we could have come out with another lucky Brucey win.
This is my best hope for survival, that we get some more lucky results, but we desperately need ASM back as he can create something out of nothing and he creates space for others as he drags at least 3 players to him every time he has the ball.
Our matches really need a mental warning for our fans.
Bruce Out
lochinvar
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:36 PM
Comment #17Pity that Steve Gerrard will stay at Rangers to the end of the season to take the accolades of ending nine years of Celtic dominance.
Don’t think we can wait until then.
More chance of Neil Lennon.
GeordieTwo
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:38 PM
Comment #18I would even accept John Lennon or the Lennon sisters. Everyone apply. The field is wide open!!!
Moonraker15
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:38 PM
Comment #19“Wanted to see us higher up the pitch but it didn’t happen”
With 5 at the back and 1 up front!
This bloke can’t even offer an explanation for his team selection! How come we gave Arsenal a game but not a team that’s virtually relegated already!
This league should be more skilful than this; it’s Sunday league football!
Mister Tuff
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:38 PM
Comment #20Well that’s me turning in. Busy day tomorrow. Got to be away to the Rutherford Cancer Centre at half seven. Takes an hour to get there. Getting a blood transfusion – it will take all day and back home when it is dark.
Wor B
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:38 PM
Comment #21Loch
More chance of John Lennon!
CJ
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:40 PM
Comment #22“I wanted to see us higher up the field and offering a goal threat and that didn’t happen.”
Dear Mr Bruce
So why did you pick that formation with a back 5?
So why did you play with 1 up front?
So why did you tell the players to let them have possession and try and catch them on the break?
Did you actually tell the players “I want to see us higher up the field and offering a goal threat”
Sorry you are JOKE.and should be ashamed of youself. Your insulting our intelligence and your insulting the name of Newcastle United
Newcastle supporter ….. No way… you have red and white in your blood. You played in Red and white, you managed the red and white down the road and we got stuffed by red and white tonight…I guess you thought you were managing Sheff utd ‘cos they “played higher up the pitch and offered a goal threat”
Please go away
GeordieTwo
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:41 PM
Comment #23Karl Hungas and Jackie Treehorn have also applied to be wor manager. So much better in the post game interviews…..
GeordieTwo
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:42 PM
Comment #24Good luck Mr. Tuff with whatever’s happening healthwise.
Uncertain Toon/World
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:45 PM
Comment #25Tuff,
Problem with Bruce is he feels he has the ability to walk among those managers!
Any serious occupation and he’d be removed for endangering life, unless he was a politician/Mayor or something of that ilk 😉
Not another deJong
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:45 PM
Comment #26Calls himself a Geordie
Claims to want the best for club
Continually contradicts himself
Uncertain Toon/World
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:46 PM
Comment #27All the very best Tuff.
WLtoon
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:50 PM
Comment #28Anyone living close to the training ground could leave a little message for Bruce,
You know, just while you are out for your daily exercise
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:50 PM
Comment #29Newcastle Fans TV
@NewcastleFansTV
STEVE BRUCE OUT.
RETWEET IF YOU AGREE.
https://mobile.twitter.com/NewcastleFansTV/status/1349082284352221185
Over 1K retweets so far
Mag52
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:51 PM
Comment #30Mr Tuff.
All the best for tomorrow.
Stay strong.
lochinvar
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:51 PM
Comment #31Uncertain Toon
Had to look this up but how apt
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. It is related to the cognitive bias of illusory superiority and comes from people’s inability to recognize their lack of ability.
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:52 PM
Comment #32Bruce has now gone eight games without a win and lost to rock bottom Sheff United but ChronicleLive understands that while Newcastle are out of the bottom three his position is not under immediate threat #NUFC
Wor B
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:53 PM
Comment #33Earlier this season, after being soundly thrashed by some random team I posted something like…
When you set up not to get humped and end up getting humped, the alarm bells should be ringing!
Bruce really needs to see a doctor about this tinnitus.
Not another deJong
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:55 PM
Comment #34He started every available central defender. So much so that there was no substitute for that position. Sure SheffU are battling for survival but we just got 0-0 results (90mins) against both Liverpool and Arsenal. Nothing needed to change other than fresh legs. Yet suddenly the players did not perform the way he expected. Who are you trying to kid?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:55 PM
Comment #35He’s a chancer, there is no obvious tactical reasons to justify his team selection, it was more of a, I wonder how these 11 might get on.
Now he’s thinking wonder why that didn’t work, if he reads the blog I’m sure he’ll get a plethora of answers.
Wor B
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:56 PM
Comment #36Too thick to know you’re thick.
Priceless
😀
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 10:58 PM
Comment #37Good luck tomorrow Mr Tuff, I’m sure you’re due a good result after watching that pile of pants.
Not another deJong
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:00 PM
Comment #38Can anyone do a letter template to SJP & SD HQ Shirebrook?
DjMickyg
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:02 PM
Comment #39I said it after the arsenal game he has an issue with gayle. Why wont he play him with wilson?? He drops almiron and leaves on sean longstaff and hendrick. Why not play matty longstaff who is fresh. The guy hasnt a clue. We will get relegated under this clown and i know fat sam is already looking at us as the weak link to stay up
wynsleap
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:08 PM
Comment #40Bruce has no excuse. He is just totally inept.
His teams have no plan, no confidence, no structure and no ability except for one or two performers on whom I’m sure most of us agree.
His team selection is abysmal and his negative tactics are boring the a**e off every Newcastle supporter.
How players like Dummett, Yedlin, Longstaffe (one of the worst performers I’ve ever seen in 60 odd years of watching this club), Fraser, Joelinton and Krafth get to wear a black and white strip is absolutely beyond me.
IF Ashley doesn’t get rid NOW he won’t have a club to sell shortly and let’s face it, if this possible takeover doesn’t go through this club could freefall through the leagues.
And if he even thinks that he’ll come back straight up like twice previously by throwing a few quid at it and hoping Bruce will do the trick he is severely mistaken.
Mr Licky Lips isn’t Rafa Benitez that’s for sure.
IO hope you’re reading this Mikey boy because if you don’t do something quickly you can forget about buying Debenhams. You’ll not have enough for the sale of the club to buy the local corner shop.