Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Lee Ryder discusses Steve Bruce’s media strategy

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Image for Newcastle United: Lee Ryder discusses Steve Bruce’s media strategy

Lee Ryder has been speaking on the latest edition of the Everything is Black & White podcast about all things relating to Newcastle United.

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One of the topics that he spent some time on was Steve Bruce’s media strategy after his comments about Matt Ritchie led to a bust-up in training between Bruce and Ritchie.

After the Toon’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bruce blamed Ritchie for not passing on instructions which led to Wolves’ goal.

At the same time, he also aimed at Martin Dubravka for his involvement in the goal and claimed that Joelinton should have scored when Romain Saiss blocked his effort on the line.

So with Bruce not exactly protecting his players, Ryder believes that the manager has changed his media strategy in recent weeks.

He said: “I think he’s switched strategy in his press conferences in the last few weeks. At the start of the season, he was being very nice and complimentary about the players, and talking about other things like bad luck and injuries and [the pandemic].

“Now he’s actually naming and shaming players if they get something wrong, and maybe it’s a different method from him.”

Do you think Bruce's media strategy works?

No, he takes none of the blame

No, he takes none of the blame

Yes, it isn't his fault

Yes, it isn't his fault

TIF Thoughts on Bruce’s new media strategy…

Considering the Toon have won just two of their last 14 league games, and both of those happened since Graeme Jones’s arrival, maybe Bruce should take more responsibility rather than throwing his players under the bus.

Clearly, this new plan hasn’t worked, as that comment about Ritchie led to a huge argument and Craig Hope being banned by the club for releasing the story.

Newcastle are embroiled in a relegation battle, and they need to find a way to get points to pull away from Fulham; and we are not sure that publicly blaming players is going to help, especially when it leads to this sort of situation.

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