Redknapp: Careful what you wish for
JAMIE Redknapp has issued a defence of Steve Bruce as he warned Newcastle United fans to be careful what they wish for.
Magpies supporters have been continually critical of their side’s football under Bruce, with the club relying on Callum Wilson’s goals to keep them out of trouble.
Yet Redknapp has joined a growing chorus of pundits defending Bruce over his record at Newcastle.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit said that Bruce does not have the squad to play expansive football and argued that Magpies fans will end their criticism if they win a cup competition.
He said: “Steve Bruce, if you’d have offered him quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, 18 points after 13 games in the Premier League, he’d have taken that.
“People talk about wanting more expansive football, that’s been the problem for Newcastle for many years, but I think right now they have a couple of injuries, and Steve Bruce and Newcastle are doing a very good job. It’s not easy, they’re not the most talented squad in the world and I know everyone always wants more, but right now they’re in a decent position.”
Redknapp said he does not believe United will be sucked into a relegation scrap but argued that fans would compromise on style for a shot at a trophy.
He said: “Of course you want a little bit more, but this has been the story of the team for a while now. Under Rafa Benitez, they weren’t an exciting team to watch.
“The way they play, a lot of teams at the higher end of the league are playing this way, where they’ll sit back and wait for a moment, a counter-attack.
“They’re not gonna be a side, with the players they have, who are gonna dominate the football. We saw at the weekend against Fulham when Fulham controlled the ball for the majority of the game, and if it wasn’t for a Callum Wilson penalty, it’d have been totally different.
“Of course they want more, but you have to be careful of what you wish for sometimes. They’re in a really good position in the Premier League, they’re relatively safe, there’s three teams that are cut adrift to a certain extent.
“If they can win a cup, that’s what the Newcastle fans really want. They don’t care what type of football they play, they’ll just love to see that name on a trophy, it’s been far too long for them.”