Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder thinks that Steve Bruce will have time to prove himself at Newcastle.
Bruce, who took over at the club after Rafa Benitez left earlier in the summer, has seen his side lose both Premier League games of the season so far, against Arsenal and Norwich.
He takes Newcastle to Tottenham on Sunday and that’s another tough test for Bruce, who is currently the favourite with bookies to be the first Premier League man to lose his job this season.
Writing in a Q&A with fans on Wednesday, Ryder was asked if the manager would be in trouble if Newcastle went through October without a point.
However, Ryder said that Ashley wasn’t really an owner who got rid of managers quickly.
“Well undoubtedly alarm bells would be ringing if that was the situation. But I think it is very early to be talking about that after two games,” Ryder wrote.
“I know it could well be three defeats in a row after Sunday but I don’t think there has ever been a desire from Ashley to chop and change managers.
“I think if Newcastle’s Premier League place was looking in danger come December/January then that might be different but he’ll get time to turn things round.”
OPINION
Fans might be calling for his head already but we are only two games into the season. Ashley decided that Bruce was the man to take the club forward and he surely has to give him time to prove himself or he’d have to admit he made a dreadful mistake over the summer. The next five games are mixed. No one is really expecting Newcastle to get anything out of the game against Tottenham on Saturday but the following week Bruce’s side is at home to Watford. Watford have had a terrible start to the season and are currently rock bottom after conceding four goals across their first two games without reply. That will be a big target for three points and a defeat to Tottenham and to Watford would be a disaster. Newcastle then have Liverpool, Brighton and Leicester, and an assessment of Bruce after these games would be fairer.
