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Steve Bruce has had enough of bowing down to his players.
“I let them be comfortable,” the Newcastle manager said last week after the abject 1-0 loss to Sheffield United. “The gloves are off now, and we’ll do it my way.”
But after another Premier League defeat in Monday night football, the pressure increases.
Bruce insists he is “100 per cent” sure he is the right man to turn the club’s fortunes, but a group of Newcastle supporters called for his removal as manager immediately after the latest setback. The 1,000 members of ‘Toon for Change’ have stated that they are now “actively campaigning” for the 60-year-old to be fired.
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FREE TO SEE: Highlights from Arsenal’s win against Newcastle
The Magpies boss under fire will have a chance to address the myriad issues in the coming weeks, starting against Aston Villa on Saturday, live. Sky sportsBut Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville spoke extensively about the current situation of the club before and after the 3-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates …
‘Fans served horrible nonsense for a decade’
Nine games without a win, currently no hiding place for Newcastle
Jamie Carragher: “There has to be a big change. Steve Bruce mentioned how poor the performance was against Sheffield United, and everything is fine. The results were against them at the weekend, when you think of West Brom returning to the scene and Brighton winning. .
“Against Sheffield United it was one of the worst performances I have seen all season, you have to consider who they faced, a team that had not won in the Premier League this season.
“With the fans, they get a lot of criticism in terms of what they should expect. Most of the fans just want a little hope, but Newcastle fans don’t like the owner, they don’t like the coach and they don’t like the team.
Jamaal Lascelles shows his frustration during Newcastle’s 3-0 loss
“There’s nothing they can buy right now. It was like the players at Bramall Lane didn’t understand that they were in a relegation fight. They got hit by a team that hadn’t won a game all season. When they are building from the Back I can’t see what they’re trying to do … who really wants the ball?
“I don’t see progress. They are a poor team. A club like Newcastle with such a team will always be a case of being ‘in progress’. I was a bit worried after the game against Sheffield United when Bruce said ‘now is my way’ I think he will probably regret not doing that 18 months earlier. “
Pressure on Bruce increases with Newcastle winless in nine
Gary Neville: “I get demoralized when I go up to Newcastle when I should be inspired. Newcastle have a cultural problem where the football expectation up there is offensive, passionate and exciting football for fans who are passionate about the club but have received service. terrible calluses for the last 10 years.
“You go to the Northeast and for most of the last decade, and that part of the world has been decimated in terms of Premier League football. The investment is not going to those football clubs.”
“It has come to the North West clubs and the London clubs. We need to somehow change ownership in the North East clubs so that they can start to have the football and players they deserve. They have a massive fan base and they have excellent clubs and grounds. “
Were things much better with Rafa?
Newcastle finished tenth with Rafa Benítez during the 2017/18 season
Carragher: “We have been critical of Rafa Benitez’s approach when he was Newcastle’s coach in the games against Liverpool and Manchester City when they had less than 30 percent possession. We were saying, ‘Can’t you attack more? This is Newcastle, can you? may?’ Aren’t they more adventurous? were critical.
“If you compare the two seasons of Rafa Benítez and Steve Bruce, the goals and xG were better with Benítez. The shots are also a big difference. This is a team that we criticize for having a lack of adventure and being better than the team we are. watching right now.
“The shots on target and all the metrics from an attacking perspective are a little better than with Rafa than now.
“It’s understandable for a team like Newcastle to have low possession, but having less than 50 percent possession in 48 of 56 games since the start of last season is a lot. The even bigger concern is that 13 of those games were underperforming. 30 per cent. That’s too much for Newcastle and not good enough for the fans.
“When you see these numbers, this is what the fans are complaining about. We know that they are not great attackers, but we are seeing that they are not much better defensively even though they are attacking less. It is a big problem for them and I feel like they are. certainly in a relegation battle.
“They now have a better center forward than Rafa did. I think Callum Wilson is a huge improvement over Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle. These are worrying statistics for Newcastle fans and so there is a lot of frustration there.”
“The biggest problem is ownership. When I look at Burnley and West Brom, they play for 38 points every season and I don’t think their fans are very unhappy because they are delighted to be in the Premier League. Sean Dyche has done an incredible job. At Burnley, Sam Allardyce would do incredibly well to keep West Brom up.
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Newcastle boss Steve Bruce admits his team is going through a difficult period and his players lack confidence
“I love the fact that there are different styles in the Premier League, but Newcastle cannot be happy to remain in the division. They must be present.
“I see Newcastle how I would view West Ham, and how I see Everton, where they should be a challenge for Europe and the top eight. They may never win anything, but what those clubs should have is hope.”
“Right now, Everton are hopeful thanks to Carlo Ancelotti. What Rafa gave Newcastle supporters was hope. If there had been an acquisition, they had a Champions League-winning coach who could carry them forward. Newcastle will not expect to compete for the top four with Steve Bruce, Steve McClaren or Rafa Benitez. They just want hope. “
Neville: “The unhappiness towards this coach is embedded in the story, rather than who he is or the job he’s doing. If I were a Newcastle fan I’d be unhappy now. I’d be unhappy with Rafa Benitez. Unhappy with Steve McClaren and the three of them. previous managers before that. It’s been terrible for the last 10 or 12 years.
“I think looking for differences between Benítez and Steve Bruce … I don’t see any difference because the key for me in football is points. Benítez is considered one of the best coaches in the world in the last 10-15 He had 6 million pounds when he was at Newcastle and had 44 and 45 points in his two seasons.
“Last season, Bruce scored 44 points. He has equaled it on points, and at this stage of the season for the last four seasons, Bruce has gotten more in each of his two seasons compared to Rafa’s. For all of them. Those good stats that Jamie has shown us, Bruce has a better record.
“What Rafa has is a fantastic public relations company and he had a great relationship with the fans because he stayed with the club and took them out of the Championship. He showed loyalty.
“I thought football was terrible with Rafa, and this is something that is culturally established at Newcastle United. It’s not Steve Bruce’s problem. I haven’t talked to Steve in 12 years even though I played with him. This is not a Bruce’s defense piece.
“It has nothing to do with the last four years. The ownership and CEO of that club have not delivered the football they want for years and years. It has nothing to do with Bruce or Benitez.”
So will Newcastle stay awake?
Jonjo Shelvey played with Bruce and Rafa Benítez in Newcastle
Neville: “I felt like Newcastle was going to be beaten [against Arsenal]regardless of the eight changes. I would expect Newcastle to be beaten at Arsenal most seasons, and they haven’t raised my expectations to a level where I feel like they can win there.
“Bruce shouldn’t be judged alone tonight. Newcastle is 15th in the league, which is where I would expect them to be. Newcastle fans won’t enjoy him saying that, but at the start of last season they were expected to drop and it did not.
“This season, you would expect them to be between 11-15-15. That’s where they are, but it’s just disappointing. Failure and misery seem to be embedded there for a long period of time, and it’s unlikely to change regardless of the coach. that is brought.
“Obviously they need a new owner. The owner is willing to sell and a takeover bid was not approved. That is the only thing that is going to drastically change that club. It should happen as quickly as possible.”
Callum Wilson provides Newcastle with a better focal point than under Benitez
Carragher: “They’re a poor team and Bruce has poor players. He came into this game and he was on the front foot. You can see it in the goals when Newcastle did the counter. They didn’t have much possession. There are ways to lose.
“That’s a better way to lose than the one I saw against Sheffield United. They looked a little more aggressive to get to the ball and played a little higher. Most importantly with a coach, whether you’re up or down. it is a balance between attack and defense.
“Tonight, they were more offensive, but they never seemed to score. But there is such poor quality all over the field and I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s going to be addressed in January in terms of bringing in players. We mustn’t forget. They did two or three. summer signings that thrilled fans. So far, they just came out on top. “
What’s next for Newcastle?
Saturday, January 23, 7:30 p.m.
Start 8:00 pm
Aston Villa vs Newcastle will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main event from 7.30 pm on Saturday; start at 8:00 p.m.
Sky sports Customers can view clips of the game on the Live Match Blog at the Sky sports website and app. Free highlights will also be posted on the Sky sports digital platforms and Soccer Sky Sports YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
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