Barton cannot defend way Magpies are playing
FORMER Newcastle United defender Warren Barton has slammed Magpies’ boss Steve Bruce and his squad, calling the team’s football ‘unenjoyable, boring and negative.’
Newcastle put in a pitiful display on Tuesday evening as they handed rock-bottom Sheffield United their first win of the Premier League season.
The Blades had scored just eight goals and registered two points in their opening 17 games – but dominated proceedings as Billy Sharp’s penalty secured a 1-0 win.
Bruce lined up with five defenders and just two attack-minded players in South Yorkshire against a side which had made the worst start in Premier League history.
Barton believes that set the tone for a negative performance and blasted Bruce’s lack of passion as he recalled playing under Sir Bobby
Robson and Kevin Keegan during his time at St James’ Park.
He said:“I think it is a mindset. I think of Newcastle going forward, being ambitious, winning games.
“Steve is going into games, not just now but all this season and last, and it is about not being beaten – and that sets a tone in the game.
“You are playing against Sheffield United who have not won a match.
“You know they are going to be
petrified and they are going to be nervous yet United them get into the game, let them get a hold of the ball and let them find some tempo.
“Forget about the red card. Even before that the tone was set.”
Barton added: “When Steve wins the game there is no passion.
“I remember Sir Bobby Robson and he would be smiling from ear to ear, and Kevin Keegan as well.
“I used to walk into St James’ Park thinking: ‘How lucky am I to be playing for this football club?’
“I don’t see that from the staff, I don’t see it from Steve and I feel for the players because there is enough quality there to be playing a lot better, attractive football and winning games than they are doing at the moment.”
Barton then used the job Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard has done at Rangers as a way of comparison to the job Bruce is doing at Newcastle. He said: “I know Steve and I have a lot of respect for him, he is a good football guy.
“Yet I don’t see him enjoying being manager of Newcastle and he is a Geordie so he should be enjoying it more than anybody.
“I look at what Steven Gerrard has done to Glasgow Rangers.
“He has gone in there and grabbed that club by the scruff of the neck. Someone needs to do that with
Newcastle. Whether that is Steve or the ownership, they should enjoy being in that football club. There is no ambition in the players.
“What is demoralising for me as an ex-player, captain, spectator, is that it is not enjoyable to watch.
“I am sure it cannot be fun to play in either.
“It is negative, it is boring and it drains you because you cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel.”