INNS AND OUTS
Bruce: Fans love arguing about teams in the pub, that’s the beauty of the game
STEVE BRUCE says Newcastle fans can carry on complaining – as arguments over his performance are the “beauty of football”.
The Toon manager reckons “every fan is a manager” and says criticism about his team selection and tactics are “magnified” by supporters being locked out of the ground and social media fury.
Newcastle travel to Wolves tomorrow on the back of a late collapse to Manchester United when they conceded three goals after the 86th minute in a 4-1 defeat, intensifying the scrutiny of Bruce and his players.
But he backs himself to get more decisions correct than wrong or he would be out of a job.
Bruce said: “Back in the day we all went to the pub and looked at the team sheet and thought, ‘ Why did you pick him?’ We’d sit around, have a beer on it and say, ‘Should’ve played him, and him’.
“That is now magnified and everyone has a platform. Everyone has a different look on what team I pick. That is the beauty of football.
“My job is out there to be scrutinised: ‘ What has he done this for!?’ That’s the e part you enjoy in the pub. Now, with the platform fans have, everyone is a manager these days – and d everyone knows best.
“I hope in my job I get the majority OK, or I won’t last very long. It is magnified though and the thing about not being at the ground – not seeing their team live – it is different from watching it on TV.
“I am under no illusion that if you manage Newcastle the criticism flows. Sometimes you feel it is unjust but it is part of what we deal with.”
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow is an injury doubt with third choice
Mark Gillespie on standby. Miguel Almiron is pushing for a recall after being used off the bench in recent weeks.
Reflecting on throwing away a point late against Manchester United, Bruce said: “It was awful, the last five minutes.
“At that point you need the help of supporters. It is the biggest miss of all against the big teams. There is no home advantage. We were in the game.”
On Almiron ( left), w who many Toon fans wan want to see back in the side, Bruce said: “He didn’t play last week because he’d been halfway around the world and got back on the Friday.
“I know Almiron, a top, top player, and he has a big part to play and he is in our thoughts for the weekend.”
Paul Dummett, Ciaran Clark and Matty Longstaff have benefited from a run-out in the Under-23 side this week and Sean Longstaff is back after “a horrible bout of tonsillitis”.