Swapping Rafa Benitez, a former Champions League winner, for Steve Bruce, a man who is yet to win a trophy as a manager, was never going to go down well with the Newcastle United fans. At the time, it seemed the equivalent of swapping Luis Suarez for Rickie Lambert; it looked like the final nail in the coffin for Newcastle’s Premier League survival, and the season was yet to even begin.
Steve Bruce was set up for certain failure without even stepping foot inside the St James’ Park technical area.
The Underrated Job That Steve Bruce Has Done
Unforeseen Success
Fast forward several months, however, and he has stepped inside that technical area time and again to lead Newcastle all the way to 13th. A relegation battle was expected, but Steve Bruce and his side have done the complete opposite. Instead of the usual threat of Championship football, Newcastle have guided themselves towards the comfort of mid-table relaxation. Yet, still, despite his unforeseen achievement, Bruce’s job has been put into question amid takeover talks.
The takeover talks have ignited the imagination of Newcastle fans. Instead of dreaming of a £40 million signing, they are dreaming of a £100 million signing. They are dreaming of replacing their Ford Focus with a Ferrari. With the upgrade, however, many have stated the need for a new, perhaps more flashy, driver. Managers such as Mauricio Pochettino have already been linked with the job; many believe the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is the guy to finally take the Magpies back to the top. The real question is, though, do Newcastle need a new manager?
Steve Bruce: The Man New Owners Must Trust
Bruce has turned a team of survival hopefuls into potential top-half finishers in the space of one season with just over £50 million spent. His side has been solid on the defensive front many times this season, and slowly but surely, their attacking issues are beginning to fade. Allan Saint-Maximin is becoming that star man that every team needs to drive them forward. Meanwhile, Joelinton finally found his goalscoring touch against Sheffield United. Miguel Almiron, too, has converted his pace and desire into useful assets for Bruce’s side.
It seems to all be coming together for Bruce after hard work and excellent management; two things nobody expected the former Aston Villa man to do at Newcastle. Whilst many desire a manager with a European pedigree to match the riches of the potential takeover, Steve Bruce and the job he has done does not warrant dismissal, but the complete opposite.
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