Less of the doom and gloom
UNITED HAVE STRUGGLED FOR YEARS AND THAT’S...
STEVE Bruce says the threat of relegation at Newcastle United was casting a shadow over St James’ Park long before he arrived.
The club went down in 2016, scraped to safety in 2013 and 2015 before gradually pulling away from danger in 2018 and 2019 with survival only confirmed in April.
He insists he has higher ambitions than to just stave off the drop every year after landing his dream job.
However, Bruce feels time and patience are required at United if he is to get more out of what he deems a young team.
Bruce feels whoever took over from Rafa Benitez would have been trying to stabilise the team in the first half of the campaign and as it happens that was the exact reason the former Real Madrid boss left the club as he was tired of firefighting on Tyneside.
When asked if his brief included loftier aims than just staying up this season, Bruce told the Chronicle: “Yeah but we have been in and around it (relegation) for the past six or seven years.
“Let’s not kid each other here. You look at the bottom half of the Premier League and everybody is fighting it.”
In Bruce’s eyes, Newcastle were always going to be vulnerable in only their third season since winning promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.
Looking at the two sides which came up with United in 2017, Brighton (who have twice finished below Newcastle in the Premier League) are just three points ahead of United while Huddersfield Town are now back in the second flight and lying in 20th place.
The season after only Wolves, who have invested heavily since promotion, have done better than Newcastle with Cardiff and Fulham also going down.
Bruce added: “If we are fighting it so are the teams below us and the ones above us.
“Two or three points can change things but you could argue everybody from 10th down, we are all looking over our shoulders.
“We understand where we are at the minute and where we have to try to improve to get better.
“Let’s also not forget we are just two years out of the Championship too.”
Bruce also believes it was always going to take time to implement some of his methods at the club’s Benton base.
He said: “People were judging me after one or two games. I understand you don’t get time these days, it is what it is. It will take time.”
United went into today’s game on the back of headlines about a transfer meeting that will take place next week but Bruce said: “People are talking about January now and the window but how can you transform a team in a month?
“It is impossible. You only really
We understand where we are at the minute and where we have to try to improve and get better
Steve Bruce
have the summer window to go to work. That is the reality of it.”
United could only muster a draw against Wolves last weekend but in many ways, given the doom and gloom around the city, it felt like a defeat.
Bruce tried to put things into some context and added: “Look, Manchester United are in seventh and have won one more game than us.
There is doom and gloom here unfortunately.
“We have had an OK start, nothing scintillating and nothing special, and nobody is disputing anything but we are in the pack.
“Three or four points are separating 12 or 13 teams and we are right in there. I believe we can still get better.
“The young players will get better and they will get used to it.
“Allan Saint-Maximin has only played three games this season, for example.
“Let’s not all have doom and gloom around the place.
“It is what it is and we are in among 10 or 11 teams and two results can propel you up the table.
“Look at Manchester United, they have won three games and are in seventh, let’s keep moving forward as we always try to do and it is a big month in December, six games in a month could be defining.”
The Magpies could pull away from the bottom three if they beat West Ham at the London Stadium.
Looking ahead to the game and his side’s prospects, Bruce reflected: “Look, they have had a tough time too but if you look at them on paper and analyse them throughout the week they are like every Premier League team, they have some good players.
“In front of 60,000 at West Ham it will be difficult but we know we are capable.
“Since the Leicester debacle we have been pretty solid, which has pleased me, with Ciaran Clark and Fede Fernandez.
“We have to prove going forward we have to create more and score more from all over the pitch.
“That is the one thing we have to keep working on.
“If our forwards gain confidence to score you will see a different side to them I am sure.
“Let’s not forget they are young and inexperienced in the Premier League and in this country too, let’s try to work with them and get the best from them.”