Newcastle United have appointed Steve Bruce as their new head coach. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has signed a three-year contract with the Magpies, his hometown club. The Magpies were without a boss since highly-rated Spanish boss Rafa Benitez left the club at the end of his contract last month. Benitez’s departure was reportedly motivated by the lack of investment.
Steve Bruce a cheap option
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is known for his lack of interest in investing in the team. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Magpies owner has appointed a boss who is out of work, which means they will not have to pay any compensation to another club.
No doubt Bruce is not on a majorly big wage, certainly nowhere the wages that the highly-rated Benitez was picking up in the north east. The job will have appealed to the former Wednesday boss, who will be happy to be back in the Premier League and manage his childhood club. The attraction to the job was obvious for the veteran boss.
Many bosses were talked about, but the appointment of Bruce really does illustrate the lack of ambition from the club’s hierarchy. It is an uninspired appointment that’s for sure.
A patchy managerial record
Steve Bruce has a patchy record, to say the least. He has done a good job at some clubs and poor jobs at others. His critics would claim that he is a poor boss, but in reality, he is more of a mediocre manager. He is the sort of boss who has been around the game a long time, without really achieving any excellence. The fact that he was also formerly in charge of the Magpies arch-rivals Sunderland does not help the new head coach.
It is an appointment that has not really been greeted with great enthusiasm by the Toon Army. They would argue that they deserve better and they would be right. The club has so much potential and such loyal fans, yet the hierarchy seems to just let the team stagnate. The appointment of Bruce is highly unlikely to move the team forward in the near future.
Relegation is a real worry next season
Newcastle have not been great in recent season, mainly due to a chronic lack of investment in the team. The situation has got even worse this summer as they have lost forward pair Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez too.
The team from the north east have survived the drop by the skin of their teeth in the last few seasons. The quality of the squad is poor by Premier League standards. The main reason for their survival was the spirit instilled by Benitez. The Spaniard is now gone, so it will be highly difficult for Bruce to get enough out of the current squad of players.
It seems unlikely the 58-year-old will have the resources to strengthen his squad to any significant degree. It will all be down to Bruce’s managerial acumen, which is questionable.
The Magpies odds for relegation have shortened since Benitez’s exit from the club. Arguably Newcastle’s main and probably only aim next season is to beat the drop, which must be depressing for their loyal fans. Unfortunately, it’s the truth. Good luck Steve Bruce, you are going to need it.
Can Steve Bruce keep Newcastle in the Premier League?
