Not losing beats winning for boss
BRUCE MUST DITCH NEGATIVE APPROACH
WHAT will happen when Newcastle United and Brighton lock horns in a fight to the death tonight?
It will all depend on the approach of Steve Bruce who has a choice between going for a win and the three points or reverting to nature which is be timid, defend for your lives and hope to nick a point.
Not being beaten has become bigger than trying to win for Bruce.
I mean, take the evidence of United’s last game, a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa when a point was rescued by an injury-ime equaliser.
Bruce went for a rigid 4-3-3 playing an outside left at centre forward (Ryan Fraser) and a centre forward at outside left (Dwight Gayle).
He then compounded a double error by fielding Joelinton on the right wing when the lad is a disaster and not up to Premier League class and a right back (Emil Krafth) who cannot defend.
All the while remaining steadfastly in love with Jonjo Shelvey!
It left Geordies shaking their heads. They want to know what Matty Longstaff has done wrong how he must regret signing that new contract in the summer!
Why Jacob Murphy cannot get a start when he is one of the best crossers of the ball in the club.
Why Andy Carroll is not given a chance after changing the dynamic of the game every time he comes on.
Meanwhile, United stagger on with only two victories in their last 19 games, which is an absolute disaster. Not a blip in form but a trend set in stone.
Everyone is asking if Bruce has lost the plot.
Well, what happens at Brighton might be his last shot at safety.
I believe Newcastle need 10 points to make certain of staying up. Where are they going to come from?
All right, we will put Sheffield United at home down as three points. Say we took a point against West Ham and a point against Arsenal. That is five.
Fulham away on the last day can go either way depending on what the situation is on match day so we cannot reply on that.
I do not expect us to get anything against Manchester City, Liverpool away, Leicester away or Spurs despite their very dodgy form simply because they have Harry Kane and Song.
So in my book I am still searching for another five points, which means winning at Brighton and Burnley who will be fighting and scrapping like mad the way they do.
Brighton is key. Bruce’s approach is key.
The Magpies need to win tonight because of what is to come but it will not be easy.
Graham Potter will be telling his players that if they beat United they will be on the cusp of safety and he will be reminding them of the game up here earlier in the campaign.
Brighton won 3-0 and Newcastle never had a meaningful kick.
Bruce has increasingly baffled me as time has gone on and all the fans I talk to feel exactly the same way.
They feel helpless and firmly believe Bruce has Newcastle sleepwalking to relegation.
United have drawn their last three matches but a draw at Brighton would not be enough.
They need to start winning again but only the right attitude, the right tactics and the right team selection with players playing in their correct positions will give them a chance.
For goodness sake Steve Bruce, get it right.