Tony Cascarino claimed that Steve Bruce’s relationship with Newcastle United could be short-lived after the 3-1 loss to Norwich City.
The pundit shared that after two league games it felt like that the 58-year-old manager had an impossible job and as a result, his stay at the club could be a short one.
Cascarino claimed it was unfair on Bruce that his relationship with the Magpies may be short, before adding that he thought the manager got zero support from supporters.
“It feels like after two games it is the impossible job. It could be a really short-lived relationship, and unfairly so,” wrote Cascarino in his column for The Times.
“I believe that Bruce has far more love and affection for the club he supported than Benítez had. The relationship between the owner and the fans is an issue but Benítez got total support and it feels like Bruce is getting zero support.”
OPINION
While Bruce isn’t getting the warmest of reception from Newcastle fans, the manager knew he wasn’t likely to feel the love from supporters when he took the job. The 58-year-old knew succeeding Rafa Benitez would be a difficult task, not just because he guided the club to two comfortable finishes in the Premier League but because the Spaniard was loved at St James Park. Granted Bruce does find himself getting more stick than most managers would after two games, but given how supporters feel towards Magpies owner Mike Ashley, that isn’t going to change and there’s no point pundits moaning about how fans treat Bruce in the media, as that isn’t going to change things. The only thing that will make fans less hostile towards Bruce, is if he delivers results but after the performance, his side registered against Norwich on Saturday that seems like a big ask. Bruce faces a tough task getting a result in his next game, as the Magpies are set to face Tottenham who not only reached the Champions League final last season but impressively drew 2-2 with the 2018/19 Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday. On a positive note for Bruce, while Cascarino believes Bruce may not have long at St James Park, Athletic journalist Chris Waugh shared he didn’t think the manager’s future was in any immediate jeopardy.
