Is this the best roster Steve Bruce has ever coached?

Is this Newcastle United squad the best team Steve Bruce has ever managed over the course of his career?

Some of you might think I am crazy, but when looking at the other ten teams Steve Bruce has coached in the past, this Newcastle United squad is a step up in quality for Bruce. He coached a strong side while at Aston Villa (2016-2018) and he was in charge of a decent roster while at Sunderland (2009-2011), but the quality of those teams do not match that of the current roster at Newcastle United.

Let me explain why I made this bold claim. The best way to do this is by looking at the talent he has to work with at every position. Let us begin with goalkeepers. There is plenty of depth for the Magpies between the posts, but Martin Dubravka is the best keeper that Bruce has worked with as a manager. The Slovakian shot stopper ranked among the top seven in most categories in the Premier League last season. He has only played for the Toon for 18 months and has already claimed 15 clean sheets. He is a reliable keeper for club and country, and it is no surprise seeing his name linked with elite clubs like Manchester United, Juventus and PSG.

Moving on to the back-line, there is no doubt that this defensive unit is the best Bruce has ever managed. With players like Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett, to name the core defenders, Bruce has one of the most stable and consistent back-lines in the Top Flight. Newcastle United are blessed to have the best back-line outside of the top six. Hey, the numbers over the last two seasons do not lie.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 19: Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles (l) congratulates two goal her Fabian Schar after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Cardiff City at St. James Park on January 19, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

Bruce has trained some well-known midfielders at other clubs, but at Newcastle United he has some good depth and a wide range of skill sets in the palm of his hands. In Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron, Bruce has two talented players that can influence any game with their vision and playmaking abilities. In Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss has two young players, 21 and 24, who play with the composure and aggression of veteran Premier League midfielders. Are they the best midfield duo he has ever coached? No, but they have the potential to be the best duo he has ever coached.

Steve Bruce and players have the right mentality. dark. Next

Lastly, we have the striker position. This one is up in the air because we have not seen Joelinton in action for the Toon. However, based on his performances in Austria and Germany over the last four seasons, it is fair to assume that he could be the best striker Bruce has ever trained. We know he is the most expensive striker Bruce has ever trained, but time will tell if he will be the best on the pitch. It is also worth mentioning that Newcastle United are determined to bring in another striker before August 8th, so the quality of his front-line could continue to improve.

Final Note

Overall, when looking at the other teams on Bruce’s curriculum vitae, this squad, which is comprised of young talent, experienced veterans and a record signing, is the best team Bruce has ever coached. This roster has sufficient talent to earn a comfortable mid-table finish. Let’s just hope the players buy Bruce’s philosophy and avoid a relegation battle for the third consecutive season.