Newcastle United fans are fed up with Steve Bruce, and that’s putting it mildly.
A poll conducted by the Chronicle resulted in 95% of people wanting a change in manager.
The warning signs have been there for a long time, but still he remains in the dugout.
Bruce wasn’t a popular choice when he was first appointed, and fans’ fears have been justified.
He’s had a lengthy managerial career in English football, but more often than not things end on a sour note.
“We’ve got really talented players in there, but they are just playing with fear,” Bell said in October 2018.
He went on to add: “At the moment I just think he’s (Bruce) devoid of ideas just as much as the players.”
Bell’s comments came after a 3-3 draw at home to Preston, where one fan hurled a cabbage at the manager. One day later he was sacked.
While the players and the division is different, a lot of what Rupert Bell said could be applied to Newcastle today.
The Magpies have got a talented group of players. They’re not world-beaters, but they certainly shouldn’t be fighting to avoid relegation.
So many players have regressed since Bruce took over, such as Jamaal Lascelles, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar.
And Newcastle are devoid of ideas. Our last four games were very winnable, yet we walked away with just three points after a hat-trick of draws.
Bruce does not know how to win games at the minute. Even against West Brom, the Baggies looked the more likely to triumph.
Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. What is happening now with Bruce has happened before. What is happening now with Newcastle United has happened before.
Sadly, Mike Ashley seems set on doing nothing about it. It is a perfect storm that seems very likely to end in the almighty mess of relegation.
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