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.”
293 comments so far
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 10:22 PM
Comment #121WB / Nicky,
I know schar was a bit reckless with that tackle, but I thought a straight red was a bit harsh (admittedly, I’m biased)
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 10:25 PM
Comment #122NY
Both feet at breakneck speed way after the ball had gone. If it had happened against one of ours we’d have a lynch squad after the offender!
Good evening by the way, how are you. 🙂
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 10:32 PM
Comment #123WB,
Evening, I did say I was biased 🙂
I’m doing good thanks, disappointed with the result and performance.
That’s kinda been the pattern for a while, few decent results followed by an absolute shocker.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 10:48 PM
Comment #124I think the players like Bruce as he’s clearly done what he can to get some of them new contracts etc, but I think they also realise he can’t be trusted to set them up and prepare them properly to maximise their effectiveness against the next opposition. Way too many games this season where we haven’t just been beaten, we haven’t even turned up. Players will talk about it, so I think Bruce will be gone in the summer. It’s just a question of who Ashley can persuade to come in.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 10:52 PM
Comment #125i think the players will know they didn’t play well as a team. i’m sure they will pick themselves up and try and do better next time.
Jail for Ashley
May 2, 2021 at 10:53 PM
Comment #126Just got back, how much has the performance got to do with Bruce and how much is due to the players starting to not give a foot about him or the shirt. That huddle last week seemed to contradict what we think is going on.
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 10:56 PM
Comment #127Jane,
No doubt you’re right, but Leicester are a bit of a bogey team for us.
They’ll also want to ensure they get CL qualification….it’s gonna be tough
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 10:57 PM
Comment #128jane
You missed out dust themselves down and roll up their sleeves!
🙂
jane
May 2, 2021 at 10:58 PM
Comment #129you’re right NY Mag we often do well or bad against the same teams, i wish we could play West Ham every week.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 11:00 PM
Comment #130Jane
I’m sure they will try harder next match but they need to be asking why this happens so often. The defeat is not the problem. It’s how inept the whole performance was. One feeble shot on target. If SJP had been full they wouldn’t have accepted it. Are we saying without home fans we can’t get any consistency. Is it a lack of motivation, poor ability or just what Bruce fills their heads with the week leading up to the match? This season has been shocking.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:00 PM
Comment #131“You missed out dust themselves down and roll up their sleeves!”
we could write Bruce’s post match interview scripts between us.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:02 PM
Comment #132i don’t know it’s hard to know why we have these poor matches.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 11:04 PM
Comment #133Please just let us have a manager with some football intelligence who can bring young players on and coach multiple formations, and who can read the game and quickly make decisions during games that have a positive impact. Being a nice guy who gets a player a new contract only goes so far.
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 11:04 PM
Comment #134Not with your punctuation!
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 11:07 PM
Comment #135Jane
I think their heads are full of warnings about what the opposition will do to us. Some of that is fine, but the bigger message should be on how we can damage the opposition. Players need to feel confident and positive. That’s how SBR and KK were largely successful. Not being passive from first minute.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:07 PM
Comment #136true but i could write the jokes.
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 11:07 PM
Comment #137Jail,
That’s a very good question and I don’t know the answer 🙁
Jail for Ashley
May 2, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Comment #138It just shoes how arrogant these pundits have become and because of the money they have anyway, don’t feel like they have to be on top of their game. Jeans just called Martenelli, Gabriellee, clueless.
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Comment #139NY
Just watched MotD replays of Schar incident, I take it back, think you are closer to the truth!
Jail for Ashley
May 2, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Comment #140NY Mag,
Despite what certain posters say about my intelligence, I do understand the game of football.
Jail for Ashley
May 2, 2021 at 11:16 PM
Comment #141*Jenas
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:17 PM
Comment #142Just watched the scenes at Old Trafford, how on earth did they get into the ground in the first place.
It was far from a peaceful protest, things getting thrown at stewards and fans climbing onto goal posts etc.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:18 PM
Comment #143i disagree Jail i think the players do care.
Wor B
May 2, 2021 at 11:20 PM
Comment #144jane
A mate of mine already thinks you are a joke poster.
😉
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 11:22 PM
Comment #145Jail,
LOL, I’ve never questioned that
(Jib is probably still reading this)
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:22 PM
Comment #146I think there are quite a few players who do care, trouble is they are told to play a certain way by the boss man, he is the boss , you do as you are told.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:22 PM
Comment #147Wor B if it’s Tsunki he’s just bitter.
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 11:24 PM
Comment #148WL,
I watched some videos on you tube about the protest at old trafford.
It seems they broke the glass on some security doors to get in
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #149NY Mag
I was listening to Talksport tonight and a Manure fan was saying that was just the start of it.
Mister Tuff
May 2, 2021 at 11:33 PM
Comment #150Just watching Match of the Day – at the offset they had a bloke on – reporter/and boss of some Man u fanzine or whatever. He was complaining about all the bad years of the Glazers. Bad owners etc etc. The Beeb promoted this on their football show.
Complaints are really a parallel to us and the bad owner we’ve had for many a year.
Not many folk will be slagging off Man u fans for their dislike of their owners but if it is Toon fans doing the same -abuse follows.
Mind breaking the law is not acceptable under any circumstances.
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:34 PM
Comment #151I thought clubs get heavily penalised for cancelling games but saying as it`s the darlings of football i won`t hold my breath to see action taken
jane
May 2, 2021 at 11:38 PM
Comment #152is it that they are penalised if they cancel games without getting permission?
NY Mag
May 2, 2021 at 11:39 PM
Comment #153WL,
If you read the PL statement, the decision to call the game off was a joint decision by the PL, man utd, Liverpool,Manchester police and the local council.
Pretty much a unanimous decision by all stakeholders….no comeback from that
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:41 PM
Comment #154A Man U fan on 5 live did mention Ashley in the same breath as the Glazers, basically saying he was doing the same at our club but on a smaller scale.
The difference is the Glazers borrowed the money to buy the club, htf did they pass the O&D test.
Apparently they haven`t paid a penny of it back.
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:43 PM
Comment #155NY Mag,
it`s gonna get hot in the kitchen
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 11:48 PM
Comment #156Football stinks to high heaven doesn`t it. what a mess.
Im not sure we can get the game back as we know it, ever.
And for what, frekin copious amounts of greed, that`s what.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 2, 2021 at 11:52 PM
Comment #157I don’t expect this to happen, but genuinely going after Willock and Abraham is exactly what Ashley should sanction. They are two players of the right age and quality in the right positions, and we can just let the ending of Gayle’s, Carroll’s, Atsu’s and Saivet’s deals, and also move on one of the centre backs and Muto if at all possible, to contribute to the cost of it. That would make us a comfortable mid table side with the squad to play decent attacking football, which is essentially the minimum required for a club our size. They wouldn’t be easy deals to get done, and Ashley not inclined to bother I suppose, but for sure we should be trying.
The Prince's Mate
May 2, 2021 at 11:52 PM
Comment #158We made the gooners look like definite Europa winners, ,no guts, no fight, no idea.. …no way
carltoon
May 3, 2021 at 12:02 AM
Comment #159Why then do they punish other clubs, who can’t control their fans, i want these clubs sanctioned, for bringing football into disrespect. The six should have some punishment, nothing being done its an absolute shambles.
Optimistic prime
May 3, 2021 at 12:02 AM
Comment #160Entertainers show was canny.
Might watch it again tomorrow.