Former Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has now made a prediction about how his old club are going to do this season.
The Magpies are completely transformed since Bruce was calling the shots. He was the manager when the takeover went through, and was in charge of the new ownership’s first game.
While the atmosphere was incredible beforehand, the owners immediately realised that their presence alone was not going to galvanise this team.
They made a change and relieved Bruce of his duties, with Eddie Howe coming in to replace him – who Bruce has since claimed he suggested should come in as manager.
Now the club is unrecognisable, with Howe guiding Newcastle into the Champions League after finishing fourth last season.
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Due to the increased number of games and all the travelling, it is going to be very difficult for the Magpies to replicate last season’s success. However, Bruce has admitted that he actually thinks Newcastle have the ability to do just as well, despite stronger competition.
Steve Bruce thinks Newcastle can finish in the top four again
Bruce has appeared on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast and predicted where he thinks Newcastle might finish this season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Newcastle managed to finish in the top four again this season,” he said.
“They are going to have more competition for it this year because you would expect Liverpool and Chelsea to both be better than they were last year. I think they have bought really well again and they’ve had a good start to the season, so we’ll have to wait and see.
“St James’ Park has transformed from when I was there. You can see the sell-out crowds and the flags waving and all the rest of it; it’s a really difficult place for anybody to go and get a result.”
Bruce really impressed with Newcastle
It sounds like Bruce has high hopes for Newcastle again, and thinks they can qualify for the Champions League two years on the bounce. It is incredible to think that he was in charge of this very team and a lot of these players just two years ago.
So much has changed, and it is largely down to what happened in the backend of 2021. New owners brought a change of manager, and Howe has done what Bruce couldn’t.
As he says, St James’ Park has been completely transformed. It is a fortress now, while before it was a cauldron of despair and desperation.
Bruce is backing Howe’s side to finish in the top four again, which would truly be a remarkable achievement.