OPINION
Steve Bruce is under fire again from Newcastle fans over the incident that saw Jetro Willems come onto the pitch and play for two minutes in central midfield, until the manager got a message to him about where he wanted him to play.
Shortly after moving onto the left, with Ritchie moving infield, Willems made a mistake that let Arsenal score the only goal of the game.
Talking after the game last week Bruce made a full explanation that made it pretty clear what had happened.
“It was just a lack of communication with him,” Bruce said. “We wanted to put Matt Ritchie inside and play him in his position, and he only played there for two minutes until we got the information down to him about where we wanted him to play. It was quickly sorted out, not a problem.”
Newcastle fans weren’t happy with this and they’re not impressed today after Bruce told a different version of events in his pre-match press conference.
As quoted by Shields Gazette journalist Miles Sarforth, Bruce said that he had in fact put Willems on in midfield “where he played last season”. However, he quickly realised his mistake and said it was “unfair” on the player to play him there. He said they quickly switched him with Ritchie.
Steve Bruce said he put Jetro Willems on in midfield, where he played last season. Realised that was "unfair on him", and "switched him very quickly" to his preferred position on the left. #nufc
— Miles Starforth (@milesstarforth) August 16, 2019
If Bruce was looking to win the Newcastle fans around quickly, this incident won’t have helped.
And coming out with two different stories just compounds things.
The following two tweets are typical of the opinions of Newcastle fans who are still pining for Rafa Benitez.
https://twitter.com/nexusreject/status/1162269228231090176
No matter how Steve Bruce wants to bend the truth to get out of this one, it was chaos and not well organised. The coaches are ultimately at fault and I genuinely feel sorry for Willems. How can you be 100% focused when you thrown around the pitch for two minutes.
Idiots… https://t.co/QHCri3OaYu
— Erik Bjerke (@nordicgeordie) August 16, 2019
However, it’s not hard to feel some sympathy for Bruce. He knows that his every move is under scrutiny, way more than most other managers.
The Willems incident is unfortunate and hints at some poor planning and decision-making. And the two stories suggest that he was put on the spot and wasn’t sure what to say the first time he was asked to explain.
That’s not good but Newcastle fans need to try and get behind Bruce as, like him or loathe him, he is the Newcastle manager. The fans have to try and separate him from Mike Ashley and the departure of Rafa Benitez, neither of whom Bruce is responsible for.
His side actually looked good for long periods of the game against Arsenal and Newcastle have a much easier game against Norwich on Saturday.
Another defeat will really put the pressure on Bruce and a bad start to the season is the last thing anyone connected with Newcastle wants.
That’s what Bruce said in another unfortunate quote when he said it would be good to “nick a result” against Norwich, a team newly-promoted to the Premier League who lost their first game 4-1.
?? Steve Bruce has been speaking to the media this morning and is targeting a positive result against @NorwichCityFC ahead of Newcastle United's @premierleague clash at Carrow Road tomorrow afternoon.
Read more: https://t.co/434DGWBwue #NUFC pic.twitter.com/HIpPIEfTJQ
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 16, 2019
The fans can help and must rally round their side and Bruce on Saturday – if he fails the club fails – but Bruce must start thinking before he speaks if he wants things to change.