Lee Ryder has been speaking on the latest edition of The Chronicle’s Everything is Black & White podcast about the Toon’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
This result made it just two wins since the 12th of December for Newcastle, and it seemed as if some of the players thought that Steve Bruce would be sacked.
However, Mike Ashley didn’t see it that way, and he is still backing Bruce as the Toon slip closer to relegation.
Ryder, though, thinks that enough is enough and it is time for Bruce to go.
He said: (1:34) “We’ve already reached the point of no return a couple of times this season, and they could have changed manager possibly after they got knocked out the [Carabao] Cup against Brentford just because of the body language of the team that night. It wasn’t right. They weren’t up for it on that occasion.
“Then you had Sheffield United, and then there’s probably been one or two times even after that, and certainly tonight [Saturday], the team just looked so flat, didn’t start the game well at all Brighton totally dominated and ran out very easy winners.
“They were made to look like Barcelona, and you’ve got to give them credit, but this is a Brighton team that have won just once here, they were frail in confidence, and it was just so easy for them to do exactly what they wanted to Newcastle.
“The body language of the players trooping out the ground didn’t look good. It’s very worrying.
“If I [were an] owner of a football club, then I would certainly be looking to make a change in the dugout because I can’t see any other choice.”
Do you agree with Ryder?
Yes, we can still stay up if he goes
No, Bruce can still keep this club up
TIF Thoughts on Ryder’s comments…
This podcast was released before the Toon decided to stand by Bruce, but it is clear that Ryder has had enough of Bruce.
The results speak for themselves, really, and despite Ashley claiming recently that he wanted what’s best for the club and the fans, he has decided to stand by the manager who looks to be sending Newcastle to the Championship.
The Toon’s remaining fixtures are tough, and it is hard to see how they get out of this one with Bruce as their manager.