Bruce: Judge me over the whole season
STEVE Bruce is under no immediate threat as Newcastle United head coach despite the desperate midweek League Cup exit.
The Magpies hierarchy will be well aware of rising supporter disquiet on social media at the performances overseen by Bruce. But the intention remains to back the United boss in the transfer window if there are players who can “improve” his squad.
Bruce has been given a freer hand than most of his predecessors to shape his squad, with the £20million signing of Callum Wilson breaking the transfer blueprint laid out by Mike Ashley. He has also pressed for a series of experienced players to be handed new contracts, including Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow, Isaac Hayden and Matt Ritchie.
That support seems set to continue for the moment, with insiders suggesting that the impact of the Covid infections on the club have had a big impact on recent lethargic performances, despite Bruce playing that down. Newcastle’s late rallies have dropped off and important players have been missing due to the coronavirus infection that ripped through the squad.
Bruce’s side have turned in some dire displays this season and Tuesday’s limp League Cup exit summed up the issues that have collected at the club. The Newcastle boss has been unable to justify assertions his team are moving forward and after 18 months the excuse that they are “a work in progress” is wearing thin.
Whether the steadfast support for Bruce holds if Newcastle drop into Premier League danger is unclear. They have three tough Christmas games which could leave the club closer to trouble – followed by an FA Cup trip to Arsenal.
He will hope the players back up his assertion that they are still performing for him in that run of difficult games.
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Newcastle United’s takeover saga will stretch into 2021 with those behind the bid insisting they will fight on in the new year.
Mike Ashley’s legal action is the focus of attention and with all sides bound by confidentiality, there’s no indication of when or how that could be resolved – but there is still action behind the scenes.
Those behind the Saudi-backed bid remain committed and believe plans formulated in the spring could be relaunched if the situation is unlocked.
It is almost a year since news of the bid broke in January 2020 and Newcastle fans have been left in purgatory. The situation needs to be resolved one way or another next year.
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Lille have cut the price of midfielder Boubakary Soumare to £18million in a bid to prompt a Premier League scramble for the player.
Newcastle’s offers last January were accepted before the player himself turned the deal down, despite exhortations from Allan Saint-Maximin and others.
They can now get Soumare for £10million less than they offered a year ago - if Newcastle are tempted to revive their interest.
Bruce privately acknowledged that if Soumare had signed, it would have seriously impacted his ability to make signings in the summer. ****
Jetro Willems has received interest from the Premier League, Holland and Italy as he looks to a new start in January.
Willems is keen to return to Newcastle but it is unclear whether the club are ready to make a move. He can sign a pre-contract agreement from January 1 after turning down a deal at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Fellow left-back Jamal Lewis was signed in the summer but has been up and down so far.