Bruce’s blast as Ashley’s aircraft sets fans whirring
TOUGH SCHEDULE TAKES A TOLL – BUT TOON ARE STILL FLYING RELATIVELY HIGH
A THIRD game in the space of seven days was always likely to be a test for Newcastle United and so it proved as they picked up a point at home to relegation-threatened West Ham.
The draw did niot come without a cost as Allan Saint-Maximin and Isaac Hayden limped off with muscle injuries before the end.
After weighing up the tough schedule and the fact the Hammers were desperate for a result, the 2-2 draw was not the worst outcome imaginable for Steve Bruce and his players, especially at the end of a week in which they edged past the 40-point mark with a 4-1 win at AFC Bournemouth.
The game against the Hammers w a s nowhere near as spectacular as the rout at the Vitality Stadium four days earlier, but there were other talking points.
STEVE BRUCE’S UNDERSTANDABLY FIERY RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TAKEOVER AT NEWCASTLE
Bruce has been asked about the takeover 25 times since the end of lockdown – and after he had achieved the club’s first aim of the season perhaps many fans can see why he was not too impressed by a question on potential new buyers and then a follow-up on his own future if it went through. Bruce said afterwards: “Unfortunately I seem to be answering this in every interview and you again have brought it up. To be perfectly honest, I am bored and fed up with it, so can we move on? “I am fed up of answering the question, to be brutally honest.”
As we enter week 15 of the takeover saga, nobody from either side of the deal or the Premier League have been able to say anything on the record.
MIKE ASHLEY’S HELICOPTER RETURNING TO THE NORTH EAST HAD PEOPLE TALKING
Ashley is believed to be in the United States but his close aide Justin Barnes has been in the stands in recent matches.
The helicopter is usually used to transport the current owner’s guests to matches but there was nothing significant about it being in the area on Sunday as the club still belongs to the Sports Direct magnate.
Any suggestions calls are being made on player contracts and signings by the would-be buyers are thought to be off target with managing-director Lee Charnley and Bruce making football decisions at the moment. United gave contracts to Jack Young, Oisin McEntee and Ryan Barrett on Friday, held talks with Matty Longstaff and have extended the stays of Andy Carroll and Javier Manquillo, as well as sign
It remains to be seen if they will be seen again this season but Bruce’s squad is already down to the bare bones with five games to go