Right to resist change, insists Toon boss

SQUAD WAS ‘NOT READY’

STEVE Bruce admits he was right to avoid making too many tactical changes during the early part of his Newcastle United managerial career.

The Toon boss initially wanted to play on the front foot but quickly pulled back from such a cavalier approach when noting the Magpies were well drilled with the game plan of playing with five defenders and playing on the counter-attack.

Bruce did try to alter his stance slightly when switching to a back four in the game with Leicester City – but the decision backfired as Newcastle were thrashed 5-0 at the King Power Stadium.

Looking back on the season that was, Bruce said: “I did not think I could implement change any quicker.

“We had the conversation many times.

“I did think the players were used to playing in a certain way, to defend deep and play on the counter-attack.”

Newcastle players developed a reputation for parking the bus after they

won promotion back in 2017 under Rafa Benitez.

Bruce has suggested it was difficult to coax them back into being more adventurous.

He added: “Basically that is the way the club had been for the last two or three years.

“I learned very quickly they were not ready for the change.”

Newcastle will sign off for the season against Liverpool today and it remains to be seen how Bruce approaches Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” tactics.

Liverpool are devastating on

the break and press high up the field with 82 goals coming from their 37 matches so far.

Bruce’s change from a back five to a back four resulted in wins over Southampton, Sheffield United and AFC Bournemouth.

However, in recent times Newcastle’s form has slumped and they have picked up just two points from 15 games.

Looking forward to next season and how he will approach things tactically, Bruce said: “Our job is now to improve and keep on improving. “Since we have changed I think we have been better in terms of holding on to the ball and being more of a goal threat. So we have to try to improve on that.

“There has been nothing radical.

“I have not done what Graham Potter has done with Brighton, for example.

“I did not think we were ready. We will be and we will try to improve the squad and make us better.

“That is what we will try to achieve this summer.”

However, Newcastle will finish the season in their worst shape offensively since the 1997/98 season when they yielded just 35 goals.

So far they have netted 37 goals from 37 games and will attempt to better the 2006/07 season (38 goals) and the 2017/18 campaign (39 goals) as far as their final tally is concerned.

The much-maligned Magpies have picked up 44 points so far and can finish no higher than 13th place in the Premier League table.

If Newcastle lose to Liverpool and Crystal Palace beat Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park this evening they will slip to 14th spot and miss out on a big slice of merit money.

a

little

change,

I learned very quickly they were not ready for the change

Steve Bruce