Gayle has some force – so why is he missing?
AS BRUCE TALKS OF DOING IT ‘MY WAY’, LET’S HOPE THE BEST IS YET TO COME
WHERE do we go from here – apart from back to Arsenal to try to avoid yet another humiliation.
Amid a scatter gun of vicious accusations from furious supporters United and their beleaguered leader stagger on into the abyss of negative results.
They return to the Emirates carrying the burden of a dreadful record: eight games without a win, six lost, knocked out of both domestic cups, and one solitary goal scored in almost 10 hours of barren play.
Fans are convinced that Newcastle are hurtling straight down into relegation’s morass but a stranded Steve Bruce has come out swinging punches like a despairing fighter on the verge of being knocked out going for broke in the last round.
A stinging attack on “frigging hopeless” players at his Arsenal Press conference was concluded with a defiant: “The gloves are now off. I’m going to do it my way.”
Bruce, it must be said, has placed himself in the stocks and sold rotten eggs to passersby.
If ever anyone has brought ridicule tumbling down on to his own head it is him. Both by adopting the timid tactics of a fearful man and his utterings off the field in a futile attempt at justification.
I’ve been inundated with phone calls and messages from former Newcastle players the length and breadth of the country who have been watching televised matches in disbelief while ardently following events on line. Those who served are appalled just like the fans. What we are faced with right now is Arsenal followed by Aston Villa, Leeds United and Everton.
Arsenal have knocked us out of the FA Cup, Leeds have knocked us out with a bunch of fives, and Everton are flirting with great things at the sharp end of the table despite somehow contriving to lose at SJP. Revenge will be on their mind.
Is revenge on Newcastle’s mind tonight? Or will it be all about damage limitation?
Stung by criticism, talk of “my way” could convert into a flat back four, an extra body in midfield, and even two up top.
We shall see – and see if it works. Bruce has permutated virtually every player at his disposal rather like a Las Vegas gambler shuffling the cards without any plan other than blind hope but nevertheless amid the huge fall-out from a selfdestructive string of shocking performances I would like to ask one pertinent question:
What on earth is going on with Dwight Gayle since he scored Newcastle’s dramatic late winner against West Bromwich on the twelfth day of December?
The shunning of Gayle, especially over the last month, despite a reputation as a natural goalscorer is as baffling as Bruce’s repeated persistence of turning back to Joelinton who most certainly has no such pedigree.
You could be forgiven for presuming that such a crucial contribution to a difficult season would open the gates wide for Gayle but since he got Bruce and United out of jail to clinch United’s last victory he has not been picked to start a solitary one of United’s eight league and cup matches despite a string of shocking results.
United have played 750 minutes of football since Albion were put to the buck including extra time at Arsenal yet Gayle has risen from the subs’ bench for only 78 of them even though victory was not secured once.
It all means Gayle has not started a single league or cup game all season which, despite his injury, is a stunning stat made all the more startling by Bruce’s declared support whenever questioned about his lightly used striker.
Bruce often remarks that he tried to sign Gayle no fewer than three times when manager of other clubs and reiterates that he wants him to be rewarded with a new contract at the end of the season.
In other words United’s head coach says one thing and does the other.
If Gayle is so highly rated why isn’t he used more often?
His appearances since West Brom reads:
Leeds United: last 16 minutes for Joelinton.
Fulham: 15 mins for Joelinton. Brentford: 25 mins for Miggy Almiron.
Manchester City: 8 mins for Almiron.
■ Liverpool: unused sub.
■ Leicester: unused sub.
■ Arsenal: 14 mins for Andy Carroll in extra time.
Sheffield United: unused sub. That would be OK if United possessed a couple of strikers as consistent as Callum Wilson but their dearth of PL goals sees Jeff Hendrick second top scorer on two and then a bevy of players including Gayle on one a’piece.
Now I’m not suggesting that he is the answer to all ails because he most certainly is not.
But it is strange that in such dire circumstances when goals are virtually non-existent a striker verbally lauded by his boss is equally shunned by him.
All fans kept in the dark can conclude is that Gayle will be on his way on a free transfer in the summer if not this January transfer window.
To the faithful Gayle’s continued absence is a mystery of Agatha Christie proportions.
Yet so are many, many things in these dire times!