Steve Brute

[KaKa]

Most managers are really open to allowing others to come in and observe their sessions and learn from them too, and so most of these guys could easily spend their time out of work doing this and getting so much better.

 

Alternatively, they could diversify their staff and look to include specialist tacticians from other countries as one of their assistants, which is something Fergie always did a great job of as the game increasingly became more tactical.

 

But no! Instead just fart around all day and then go on the radio/TV sticking up for some other gimp that has no idea what he's doing. Ridiculous stuff.

[steve_69]

I'd be really interested to know what Bruce is telling the players to do. Even some s*** managers have a structure, style of play and loose plan that they adhere to, and after a few weeks it usually shows through, even if it isn't effective - lumping the ball long, get it to the wingers and swing crosses in, press high, hit it up to the big man to flick on to the little man, one touch passing, 11 men behind the ball etc.

Bruce has been managing for long enough that he must have some repeatable ideas, plans and behaviours that he instills at every club?  He can't just go into every job planning on winging it?!  I think i've watched all of our games so far and I can't see any sign of a plan, pattern of play or structure, nothing! What exactly is he trying to get the team to do FFS?! 

 

What were the teams he got promoted known for? Anyone?

He says formost he has always prided himself on an honest hard working team

 

Sounds technical!

[Paully]

From 365;

 

Losers

 

Early loser Steve Bruce

 

Let’s start with a statistic, if only to give you something before it all gets a bit ranty. Rafael Benitez managed Newcastle United for 146 matches, and in that time they conceded more than three goals in a match on two occasions. The first of those was a 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford in November 2017, when Newcastle took the lead but eventually succumbed to United’s pressure in the second half. The second was in December 2018, when Liverpool scored two goals in the final 12 minutes at Anfield to beat Newcastle 4-0.

 

That is important, because it partly explains Benitez’s reason for often playing defensive football in away matches that Newcastle were favourites to lose. He figured that the chance of winning away at Big Six clubs was far smaller than the chance of getting a thumping, and a thumping can cause lasting psychological damage on the squad.

 

Even at the start of last season, when Newcastle were wretched, Benitez will argue that he was working on defensive organisation that would benefit the team later in the season. Only with that organisation in place could Newcastle look to attack. Over the last 16 league games of last season, only four teams scored more goals than Newcastle. They were transformed because they had a platform from which to attack.

 

Then there was a process. Now there is nothing. It isn’t just that Newcastle conceded five for the first time since the month before Benitez arrived. It isn’t just that this was a team that has had all the useful elements that Benitez forged unpicked and dismantled. It isn’t just that Steve Bruce is consistently picking players out of position, and then saying after the match that tactics are “nonsense” and it’s all about playing with pride despite Newcastle showing none of that either. It isn’t just that Bruce has a £40m centre forward that Benitez warned the club would be worse than Salomon Rondon and already looks vindicated on that point.

 

It’s that this was so utterly predictable from the moment it started. Bruce is not the disease, merely a symptom thereof. Newcastle allowed Benitez, the most capable manager they have had in 20 years, to walk because they couldn’t muster enough competence to convince him to stay. Benitez didn’t want vast transfer budgets. He didn’t even want the club to be jolted forward, merely pointed in the right direction. And in his place they appointed a Championship-level manager because he was likely to say yes and come cheap. This disarray is the result of that strategy.

 

Newcastle’s players have got worse since last season. The defence is far more open without Benitez’s defensive coordination (they have already conceded almost 30% of last season’s goal total). Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Isaac Hayden have all suffered a drop in form that coincides with the new manager’s arrival. Newcastle offer little as a counter-attacking threat. They are making individual and collective mistakes that Premier League teams are too good not to punish.

 

Finally, spare me the ‘poor Steve Bruce’ angle that I’ve seen in some places. He backed himself to do this job, and he deserves to be judged on what happens on the pitch as Benitez was. And what took place on Sunday was a total abdication of responsibility. The “tactics nonsense” quotes speak of a manager out of his depth and out of step with the modern Premier League.

 

This wasn’t a Leicester victory through excellence, because they did not need to be excellent. It was a victory through surrender. Leicester exploited the obvious flaws and Newcastle were lucky that they stopped pushing on at 4-0. The worst a struggling team should be is hard to break down. And goodness me, Bruce should know that more than most managers.

 

This might get a little better. Newcastle will not be drubbed every week and they may claw a few more unexpected points over this tricky run of fixtures. But make no mistake, they are now battling for survival and no well-timed takeover rumours will appease the wrath of supporters if the worst befalls them. Newcastle have been sleep-walking for half a decade. Maybe Benitez was the only thing stopping them slipping into a coma.

 

[Happinesstan]

I'd be really interested to know what Bruce is telling the players to do. Even some s*** managers have a structure, style of play and loose plan that they adhere to, and after a few weeks it usually shows through, even if it isn't effective - lumping the ball long, get it to the wingers and swing crosses in, press high, hit it up to the big man to flick on to the little man, one touch passing, 11 men behind the ball etc.

Bruce has been managing for long enough that he must have some repeatable ideas, plans and behaviours that he instills at every club?  He can't just go into every job planning on winging it?!  I think i've watched all of our games so far and I can't see any sign of a plan, pattern of play or structure, nothing! What exactly is he trying to get the team to do FFS?! 

 

What were the teams he got promoted known for? Anyone?

He says formost he has always prided himself on an honest hard working team

 

Sounds technical!

 

This is it.

 

We know Rafa got angry with poor performances, but you know he would be very specific with his criticism. This dickhead would have just questioned their commitment, which they've likely been questioning themselves since Rafa's departure

[TRon]

I'd be really interested to know what Bruce is telling the players to do. Even some shit managers have a structure, style of play and loose plan that they adhere to, and after a few weeks it usually shows through, even if it isn't effective - lumping the ball long, get it to the wingers and swing crosses in, press high, hit it up to the big man to flick on to the little man, one touch passing, 11 men behind the ball etc.

Bruce has been managing for long enough that he must have some repeatable ideas, plans and behaviours that he instills at every club?  He can't just go into every job planning on winging it?!  I think i've watched all of our games so far and I can't see any sign of a plan, pattern of play or structure, nothing! What exactly is he trying to get the team to do FFS?! 

 

What were the teams he got promoted known for? Anyone?

 

I never understood his appeal as a manager beyond that initial spell he had with Norwich when he was fresh out of the blocks. Shepherd wanted him here then because he was a Geordie, and not for any other reason other than he had started his managerial career well.

 

Since then, I keep wondering what he has produced in the game in that 20 year career as a manager to make people keep giving him jobs. He's English I suppose and has had a couple of decent spells in the championship.

 

For us though it has come full circle, and we have brought him back here because he is a Geordie. Suits Mike to provide some extra buffer room, and also suits Charnley who is a thick loser.

[TBG]

I'd be really interested to know what Bruce is telling the players to do. Even some shit managers have a structure, style of play and loose plan that they adhere to, and after a few weeks it usually shows through, even if it isn't effective - lumping the ball long, get it to the wingers and swing crosses in, press high, hit it up to the big man to flick on to the little man, one touch passing, 11 men behind the ball etc.

Bruce has been managing for long enough that he must have some repeatable ideas, plans and behaviours that he instills at every club?  He can't just go into every job planning on winging it?!  I think i've watched all of our games so far and I can't see any sign of a plan, pattern of play or structure, nothing! What exactly is he trying to get the team to do FFS?! 

 

What were the teams he got promoted known for? Anyone?

 

I never understood his appeal as a manager beyond that initial spell he had with Norwich when he was fresh out of the blocks. Shepherd wanted him here then because he was a Geordie, and not for any other reason other than he had started his managerial career well.

 

Since then, I keep wondering what he has produced in the game in that 20 year career as a manager to make people keep giving him jobs. He's English I suppose and has had a couple of decent spells in the championship.

 

For us though it has come full circle, and we have brought him back here because he is a Geordie. Suits Mike to provide some extra buffer room, and also suits Charnley who is a thick loser.

 

Errmmm aren't you forgetting getting to the FA Cup final and winning one match with Hull in the Europa League.

[KaKa]

Pining for Mo Diame in the papers today

 

Says he would have tried to keep him if he had come into the club earlier

[Yorkie]

Everything's gone against him.

[Gallowgate End]

Pining for Mo Diame in the papers today

 

Says he would have tried to keep him if he had come into the club earlier

 

Would the club have let him though

 

It seemed a club policy to not keep him apparently Rafa Benitez could only veto incomings not outgoings.

[Shearergol]

Pining for Mo Diame in the papers today

 

Says he would have tried to keep him if he had come into the club earlier

 

Rafa forced him, Perez, Rondon and Ronaldo out of the club. Also turned down signing Maguire and TAA. Also told the club to increase ticket prices to piss the fans off. Bruce was against all of this.

[Interpolic]

Always forget about Bruce's glorious managerial spell at Norwich.

[Happinesstan]

Rafa has so much to answer for. He made big waves with his reckless desire to move the club forward, and in those waves, the beached whale is finding it tough to tread water.

[joeyt]

He's already been told he didn't manage Norwich too

[gbandit]

Pining for Mo Diame in the papers today

 

Says he would have tried to keep him if he had come into the club earlier

 

Rafa forced him, Perez, Rondon and Ronaldo out of the club. Also turned down signing Maguire and TAA. Also told the club to increase ticket prices to piss the fans off. Bruce was against all of this.

I heard that Rafa wanted to personally kill some of our academy products, especially the local lads. Rumour has it he tried to throw Longstaff’s brother off a cliff. Bruce had to step in to save him, Newcastle hero that man, bleeds black and white

[Mike]

Pining for Mo Diame in the papers today

 

Says he would have tried to keep him if he had come into the club earlier

 

Rafa forced him, Perez, Rondon and Ronaldo out of the club. Also turned down signing Maguire and TAA. Also told the club to increase ticket prices to p*ss the fans off. Bruce was against all of this.

 

Messi was outside the ground asking for 10k/week but Rafa told him to fuck off.

 

Proper 1984 stuff coming out of this shithouse club.

[TRon]

He's already been told he didn't manage Norwich too

 

My memory's not the best on the finer details of shite managers, I will admit. But at least I knew he was a shite manager which is more than most professional football pundits and Lee Charnley.

[Johneddy]

We need a death

[AyeDubbleYoo]

When the best propaganda you can think of is ‘I would’ve kept Mo Diame’, you’re in trouble.

[Guest chopey]

Has anyone analysed what Bruce has changed tactically since last season ? from my uneducated armchair eyes the work rate is a lot less and players are caught out of position a lot more than under Rafa. 

[TRon]

Has anyone analysed what Bruce has changed tactically since last season ? from my uneducated armchair eyes the work rate is a lot less and players are caught out of position a lot more than under Rafa. 

 

Looks to me that he has no real idea what a formation is about, he has openly said he doesn't believe in tactics. Since we struggled early on, he tried to copy Rafa's setup, but he doesn't know the finer details so players are probably a bit in the dark as to what it is he expects. Rafa was very precise on where players were supposed to be positioned, and what their role was. But then he has a big respect for tactics and precise details.

[Darth Crooks]

Some shite about front front - he was smirking and doing it before leicester too

[Guest]

Has anyone analysed what Bruce has changed tactically since last season ? from my uneducated armchair eyes the work rate is a lot less and players are caught out of position a lot more than under Rafa. 

 

Looks to me that he has no real idea what a formation is about, he has openly said he doesn't believe in tactics. Since we struggled early on, he tried to copy Rafa's setup, but he doesn't know the finer details so players are probably a bit in the dark as to what it is he expects. Rafa was very precise on where players were supposed to be positioned, and what their role was. But then he has a big respect for tactics and precise details.

 

His go-to formation seemed to be 3-5-2...he scrapped that after 2 games and copied Rafa's system. Went on a run of 1 loss in 4 (at Anfield) where you assume most of the players still know what they're doing from last season. Willems & Ritchie both out and he changes the whole lot again to a 4-4-1-1 and we get tanked. He has no philosophy, no clue. You'd surely just stick Manquillo LWB rather than unsettling the whole system?

[TBG]

Has anyone analysed what Bruce has changed tactically since last season ? from my uneducated armchair eyes the work rate is a lot less and players are caught out of position a lot more than under Rafa. 

 

Looks to me that he has no real idea what a formation is about, he has openly said he doesn't believe in tactics. Since we struggled early on, he tried to copy Rafa's setup, but he doesn't know the finer details so players are probably a bit in the dark as to what it is he expects. Rafa was very precise on where players were supposed to be positioned, and what their role was. But then he has a big respect for tactics and precise details.

 

Aye but that all comes at the expense of having fun in training.

[TRon]

Has anyone analysed what Bruce has changed tactically since last season ? from my uneducated armchair eyes the work rate is a lot less and players are caught out of position a lot more than under Rafa. 

 

Looks to me that he has no real idea what a formation is about, he has openly said he doesn't believe in tactics. Since we struggled early on, he tried to copy Rafa's setup, but he doesn't know the finer details so players are probably a bit in the dark as to what it is he expects. Rafa was very precise on where players were supposed to be positioned, and what their role was. But then he has a big respect for tactics and precise details.

 

His go-to formation seemed to be 3-5-2...he scrapped that after 2 games and copied Rafa's system. Went on a run of 1 loss in 4 (at Anfield) where you assume most of the players still know what they're doing from last season. Willems & Ritchie both out and he changes the whole lot again to a 4-4-1-1 and we get tanked. He has no philosophy, no clue. You'd surely just stick Manquillo LWB rather than unsettling the whole system?

 

I honestly don't think he even knows that much about his own go-to formation of 3-5-2. If he did then he should have no problem getting players to execute it. It's probably just a generally defensive set up where you hoof the ball to a big man up front so hardly rocket science.

 

I think the confusion comes because he has no idea how to transition to attack. Players are left to make it up as they go along.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

At the end of the day, this squad can’t compete unless they are incredibly well-drilled and have a manager who takes away most of their decision-making. We’ll concede so many goals that anything else is pretty much irrelevant.