BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Don Hutchison has sent a passionate plea to Steve Bruce, urging the Newcastle United manager to ditch his defensive ways and send his team out to attack the opposition.
Newcastle are currently 19th in the Premier League table with just one win and four goals in seven matches.
Bruce watched his side get humiliated by Leicester on Sunday when they lost 5-0 at the King Power Stadium and Gateshead-born ex-Scotland international Hutchison has shared his thoughts on what he believes Bruce could do to improve the situation at St James’ Park.
“This is the one and only time you’re going to manage your boyhood club. If you fail you might as well fail by playing exciting football that the fans want to see. Imagine failing by playing boring defensive footy. Keegan will always be the messiah because of what he tried to do,” said Newcastle fan Hutchison via his personal Twitter account on Monday.
He added: “My thoughts on Steve Bruce while he has the Newcastle job. It’s your one and only chance man. Have a go by playing balls out attacking football. Newcastle are dying a slow death at the mo.”
https://twitter.com/donhutch4/status/1178597973250527233
https://twitter.com/donhutch4/status/1178598951248912385
OPINION
Hutchison, and the fans, may want to see Bruce play a more attacking system, but does he have the players to do that? Allan Saint-Maximin could be an exciting player for the Magpies once he is up to full fitness and Joelinton has shown flashes of quality. Miguel Almiron’s wait for a first goal or assist in English football is still going on and while the jury may still be out on him for some supporters, the Paraguay international is not looking like someone who has made the move to the North-East as good as many would have hoped. Bruce’s tactics will get blamed, yes. But was Rafa Benitez really known for his attack-minded football? Newcastle’s squad is arguably as good as what Benitez had last season. Benitez is a much better manager than Bruce but he used defensive-minded tactics a lot and it worked for him. All of these issues stem from one source and that’s Mike Ashley and his lack of investment. Bruce is having to deal with a lot of issues and a tactical overhaul might not be the best thing.
