A disappointed Steve Bruce has spoken to NUFC TV after today’s 2-0 defeat at home against Arsenal.
It was a self-destructive start as the Magpies were stagnant out of the box. Arsenal immediately pounced on the passive Magpies and found their breakthrough very early in the match.
Bruce wanted to take advantage of Arsenal’s congested schedule with them competing in Europe mid-week. However, the lads failed to show up and were soon down 1-0 in the opening minutes.
This was Bruce’s take on today’s proceedings:
“Sometimes you have to hold your hands up as Arsenal were better than us on the day. We knew to beat Arsenal we had to play well. We had to match where we’ve been and unfortunately we weren’t.
“The goal after four minutes set us back because the one thing we wanted to do was to start aggressively, be on the front foot against them because let’s be fair, they’ve been all over Europe this week.”
Newcastle showed very little in the first half as they struggled to fashion any chances. However, it wasn’t a complete collapse like we’ve seen on occasion this season. Newcastle were basically outplayed and outcoached and had no answers to turn the game around.
The second half was marginally better but Arsenal keeper Mathew Ryan was rarely ever tested. When the Gunners bagged their second goal, the sails went completely limp for the Magpies until very late in the match when they pushed forward with four strikers on the pitch.
Bruce said the following about our lack of a threat in the final third:
“Just after halftime, I thought we had our best spell of the game. But unfortunately, they went up the other end of the pitch and scored.
“We huffed and puffed all afternoon. We didn’t really have that penetration going forward like we have had of late.
“I thought Allan (Saint-Maximin) did all his best work too deeply. He went searching for the ball in deeper areas which is something we can work on and keep him higher up the pitch.”
Finally, Bruce bemoaned the lost opportunity today. A win would have seen Newcastle up to 13th in the table and 12 points clear of Fulham. However, the performance was nowhere near good enough for a result.
Bruce said the following when asked about getting as many points as possible to close the season:
“Of course, we have to. The disappointing thing for me is we could have been 13th today.
“We knew we had to play well. We didn’t. We didn’t play well enough to beat a very good Arsenal team on the day.”
Loading ...
293 comments so far
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:15 PM
Comment #1Don’t vote for any player today. Not worth it. Bruce has zero impact on performances. Pot luck what team turns up and reliant on a bit of genius from one or two to get any points. At what point does he reflect on how often this happens.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:16 PM
Comment #2First number 1.
Time to hang me boots up!
John Tudor
May 2, 2021 at 6:16 PM
Comment #3Fork off Bruce
lochinvar
May 2, 2021 at 6:16 PM
Comment #4Bruce just give up, please go away.
Pretty please.
I’ve heard this all before.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:16 PM
Comment #5Everyone’s gone for a lie down to recover. Don’t blame them.
lochinvar
May 2, 2021 at 6:17 PM
Comment #6Listening to Premier League day broadcast on 693am
Man U Fans apparently incenced by 16 years of suspect ownership.
Many accusing Man U of illegal practices in Influencing the EPL and UEFA amongst other.
Not only do they nerd to be investigated in their role of stopping the NUFC takeover they need the Fraud Squad in there, Sky and the like will now need to sue the dot damages caused by non fulfilling their fixtures. As will the FA need to deduct points and fine them and relegate them as they have failed to enable the fixture to take place.
Fulham have good right now to demand to retail their status in the Premiership.
God forbid what might have happened or will happen when they can have 25,000 fans back in the stadium for end of season games.
If other clubs are subsequently denied fans in grounds and that affects the league positions what then.?
10, 000 inside SJP for the Sheffield game is going to be interesting.
Protests against Ashley.
Campaigning for Bruce out.
Accusations of corruption against the EPL.
The slimy six have caused mayhem
They need to be made accountable
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:17 PM
Comment #7Playing golf with a gooner tomorrow. Could be a long round!
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 6:18 PM
Comment #8Lol who voted for schar ?
He was only on the pitch about 10 minutes !!
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:20 PM
Comment #9TPM
If you just want children you can have my four.
🙂
Toon67
May 2, 2021 at 6:20 PM
Comment #10So who did you put on to change the game Steve Cabbage, bleedin Schär and Joe bleedin Linton! Anderson played well in that game at Arsenal yet he hasn’t had a look in since!
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:21 PM
Comment #11Onmeedsun
Seems like a good time to develop gout.
😉
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:25 PM
Comment #12WorB
Tempting. We don’t like playing in rain so may be reprieve yet, but I’m one of those golfers that needs to play twice a week just to be vaguely competent on the course. Never quite know what player’s going to turn up.
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 6:26 PM
Comment #13lochinvar,
Did the Man U fans actually mention our takeover on 693 and the interference from the greedy 6 to stop it ?
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:27 PM
Comment #14Rom
To be fair can you think of any other noteworthy moment in the match down to us other than Schar’s sending off? 🙂
RToon
May 2, 2021 at 6:29 PM
Comment #15Typical standard Bruce performance.
We could all see 3 at the back was pointless up against 1 striker. Ment that we were out-numbered elsewhere on the pitch.
Bruce was clueless to change it till the last 10 mins.
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 6:29 PM
Comment #16Wor
Aye true mate 🙂
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Comment #17Just voted.
Schar it is then.
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 6:31 PM
Comment #18I voted view results
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 6:33 PM
Comment #19So part of the PL O&D test is to stop owners putting the future of clubs in jeopardy by excessive borrowing and having excessive amount of debt, to not survive beyond their means.
There are 3 clubs at least right there that are doing just that, step forward the PL hierarchy and get it sorted.
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:36 PM
Comment #20Rom
View Results would be on the bench every time for me mate.
Wait til they tire then bosh, job done!
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:36 PM
Comment #21Has Rio come out yet to tell the Manure fans to empty their piggy banks if they want their club back. It’s exactly what he told us to do. Ignorant pr*ck.
lochinvar
May 2, 2021 at 6:37 PM
Comment #22Wltoon
Need you ask
Not a Dicky bird
Comment #13
loch
Did the Man U fans actually mention our takeover on 693 and the interference from the greedy 6 to stop it ?
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 6:38 PM
Comment #23Wor
View results always gets results mate
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 6:39 PM
Comment #24Typical Bruce – “we didn’t play well” – you think?
Good insight that most of us fans would have missed never having been in the Profesional game like you and your pundit mates
So what part did you play in mitigating yet another poor start – reshaping side /formation on the hoof, making effective and prompt subs, telling players not to drop deep and to press their backline, get ASM on ball more
– yeah all of that and more – not!!
Having said that (and not to excuse him or players but us fans’ forlorn hope) like most of the sides in regular European competition Arsenal have a big squad and if were honest how many of their “reserves ” would we like in our first team
Arsenal have been under achieving and as usual we provided the perfect tonic for any teams that
– haven’t won many
– Not being scoring many
– Conceding too many
– players needing first PL goal
– a player not having scored
etc etc
Hayden is a big miss and even a raw Matty in for his brother or Shelvey would have put some intent into our second rate centre midfield which is a gift that keeps on giving
Anway could see the defeat a few weeks ago ( as most did) but just unhappy with our lackadaisical performance and continued inability to retain ball, pass to each other and do damage in last 3rd
Wish the dose of reality that we are regularly subjected to made a difference to Manager coaches and players
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 6:40 PM
Comment #25Loch,
Cheers fella
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 6:41 PM
Comment #26OP
Did you get your forecast in yet
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 6:44 PM
Comment #27As to Anderson – looks promisng but don’t want him Bruced
lukes26
May 2, 2021 at 6:44 PM
Comment #28onmeedsun
rio was correct. it is ashleys club. you can say its the fans club..but that’s just not true. never has been.
what you want to be true and what is true are two vastly different things. I apologize that reality is reality.
ashley wants to sell & cannot get it offloaded. thats where things stand.
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:44 PM
Comment #29Last time I listen to Jail.
That’s a ten bob note I’ll never see again.
🙁
lochinvar
May 2, 2021 at 6:46 PM
Comment #30I’m driving but call 08085 909693 Radio 5 live
Man U have shown contempt for all clubs and fans in attempting to have their debts paid off by potentiall accepting £300m to join the ESL and appoint their own man as vice president.
They have by all accounts interfered in the takeover of Newcastle by Influencing the EpL
They have failed to put in place sufficient provision for today’s game to be played so are liable for that which is points deductions and fines.
Clubs like Fulhham have grounds for demanding Man U are ejected from the Premiership.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 6:47 PM
Comment #31The postponed game today just increases the chances of Fulham getting points against Manure at the end of the season. Manure will only be bothered by the Europa final then, never mind squeezing a game in against the bindippers. Lucky Fulham.
WWSBRD
May 2, 2021 at 6:48 PM
Comment #32As bad as we have been all season. On the beach already
That squad needs an overhaul and a lot better manager
lukes26
May 2, 2021 at 6:49 PM
Comment #33I just watched the game & really only one thing stood out.
No one wanted to pass the ball to Longstaff. Ive always liked both Longstaff brothers…But I do take that as a sign that hes possibly seen as a weak link by his peers.
I remember noticing the same thing with young adam Campbell whenever he got some time. No one would pass to him either.
Maybe a bit too slow in possession..not a good sign
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 6:55 PM
Comment #34SB…
“We knew we had to play well. We didn’t. We didn’t play well enough to beat a very good Arsenal team on the day.”
Don’t know if he actually believes this guff or he’s just trotting out the usual clichés.
A very good Arsenal team would have got near to double figures against us today.
Buffoon.
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 6:56 PM
Comment #35Luke ‘
Of late Longstaff is caught in possession, gives wrong pass or just gives it away
Confidence?
Playing alongside Shelvey ( which I don’t think any of us ever saw as an effective partnership)?
Just had a brief good spell like many young players who aren’t consistent?
Simply not yet good enough in a struggling side in a key role for us?
Would like him back to how he was under Rafa with Hayden alongside but gets less and less a possibility especialy if he has to play alongside his Captain
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 7:03 PM
Comment #36magscar
nail, head, the, hit, on.
coffee break clue.
😉
Moonraker15
May 2, 2021 at 7:06 PM
Comment #37It’s sometimes hard to get just how incompetent Bruce is!
How many times has he played 3 defenders with wing backs when the opposition had 1 striker?
Ffs Man City play 4 at the back and push 1 into midfield (Cancello)
We always get overrun in midfield!
How come the idiot doesn’t know how to change it?
Moonraker15
May 2, 2021 at 7:07 PM
Comment #38And Longstaff is pathetic!
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 7:07 PM
Comment #39Wor B
Gizza a clue then – I’m frazzled here
🙂
Moonraker15
May 2, 2021 at 7:09 PM
Comment #40I footin hate it when Bruce refers to “big clubs” like Arsenal! They were 11th in the table ffs what’s that got to do with their size?