OPINION
Steve Bruce is under fire. Since taking over as Newcastle manager following Rafa Benitez’s departure in the summer, Bruce has faced stinging criticism from fans.
He’s lost his first two Premier League games of the season – 1-0 against Arsenal and 3-1 against Norwich on Saturday.
He’s getting it in the neck from players too, now, with two senior stars hinting that things aren’t right behind the scenes.
Paul Dummett said in an interview with NUFC TV that “from the start in the warm-up [against Norwich], it wasn’t right”.
Yoshinori Muto was introduced as a sub in the 67th minute against Norwich but he said in an interview after the match that he felt “isolated”. [Chronicle]
Bruce out of his depth?
Now former player Michael Chopra has added his voice to the list of critics, saying players have told him they’re not working on their shape under Bruce.
Talking on talkSPORT he said, “I’ve spoken to some senior players at the club – I won’t mention their names – and under Benitez everything was drilled into them on the training pitch: the team shape, how they were going to play – every day.
“Bruce has come in, and some of the players don’t know their jobs – they are not really working on their shape.
“At Newcastle for two or three years those players have overachieved under Benitez, but I don’t think some of the players are good enough for the Premier League. So they need coaching.”
If Bruce was unaware before of how big the task was at St James’ Park he’ll be under no illusions now.
It’s hard not to have some sympathy for him but if the Newcastle players were over-achieving under Benitez – and a 13th-placed finish last season after they didn’t win any of their first 10 games suggests that was the case – then Bruce may well have bitten off more than he can chew.