Steve Bruce should be ashamed of himself for the way he treated these three Newcastle United players on Saturday.
Newcastle United suffered another defeat on Saturday as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 victory at the Etihad. The loss was expected, and it only helps fans continue their calls for “Bruce Out”.
The pressure is mounting for Steve Bruce to turn things around, but fans have no faith that he is capable of it. Bruce does not know his best team and he certainly does not know his best available team during this festive fixture.
The front office is not expected to take any action right away, but they should at least start thinking of replacement candidates. The fans and the players need a new face calling the shots, especially the following players: Joelinton, Dwight Gayle, and Matty Longstaff.
The way Bruce treated the aforementioned trio against Manchester City was an absolute disgrace. Let’s dissect his actions for each player below.
Joelinton
Everyone on the planet knows Joelinton is not a target man who can lead the front line on his own. Bruce even said the same thing after the 2-1 win over West Brom, yet he started the Brazilian in that exact role. Why put all that pressure on Joelinton’s shoulders? Why make him look bad, and why hold the team back?
Dwight Gayle
Since recovering from his injury, Gayle has done nothing wrong, yet he continues to come off the bench as a late sub. Yesterday’s game was screaming for Gayle to start as Callum Wilson rested, yet he only saw eight minutes of action. With Man City in cruise control, Gayle could have threatened their goal much more than Joelinton.
Matty Longstaff
The talented midfielder has been desperate for some game time, but he got it against the wrong opponent. Longstaff brings so much energy in midfield, but he wasn’t able to utilize it offensively. The youngster was forced to chase the ball all evening. He will most likely start against Liverpool, too, but he deserves more chances against more lenient opposition as well.