With Steve Bruce’s appointment confirmed just moments before our pre-season friendly against Wolves earlier, several Newcastle United players have now spoken to the media bout his arrival.
Both the skipper Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez and Matt Ritchie have all had their say on his appointment – and it’s fair to say the latter’s assessment is a little hard to get behind.
Here’s what Matt Ritchie’s had to say about the 58-year-old’s arrival during an interview in China earlier today:
“Steve Bruce has been in the game for a long time and played and managed at a high level so I’m sure he’ll be fantastic for the club.
“A really exciting season is in prospect.”
“A really exciting season is in prospect” and ‘I’m sure he’ll be fantastic for the club.”
I’d love to share Matt Ritchie’s optimism after we swapped Benitez for Bruce, however it’s fair to say his comments above have not gone down too well with Newcastle fans – even if he is clearly trying to just stay positive.
Then to the skipper.
Here’s what Lascelles had to say about Bruce’s arrival when asked for his thoughts live on Sky Sports, just moments before our Asia Trophy clash with Wolves:
“We’re all looking forward to it. We’ve been waiting for him to come in, now it’s confirmed we’re looking forward to it. He’s a well known manager who has done well in the Premier League and the Championship.
“Now a manager’s coming in, we’re looking forward.”
“Most clubs are pretty settled by pre-season, unfortunately it didn’t happen but it’s not the end of the world.
“It’s important everyone gets behind Steve Bruce. We’ve got to stick together. It’s the best thing we can do, we can’t be pointing the finger and having a go.”
The second to last line is the most important one for me and quite a telling statement from the captain – “Most clubs are pretty settled by pre-season”.
He’s right, and the fact we’ve been left so unsettled for so long was quite clear against Wolves, with them hammering us 4-0 in our opening game of the Asia Trophy earlier today.
Finally, here’s what Argentine centre-back Federico
“A new manager is coming in now. We’re looking forward to working with him – a man of great experience.
“We are thinking positively and looking forward to working with Steve Bruce.”
“I understand the fans and the situation but for us we want to work and be better as a team.
“Of course the fans want a different manager or different players.”
Interesting that Fernandez actually recognises the situation here and accepts that we may have wanted a ‘different manager’.
Players are bound to speak positively about whomsoever is going to be in charge. What they say and what they think are probably poles apart.
Speaking personally I am so excited about next season I have cancelled my payments. Bye bye season ticket. Will renew when the lunatics have left the asylum.
Viru leckworth(Quote)
Raffa s gone so I’m gone no more 650 mile round trips for a while I recon by the time greedy follicle has gone I’ll be coming up in a hover car
Larry toon hants(Quote)
I know it will be hard but let’s all stick together on this one, no going to St James until the greedy fat fatherless son has gone with his fat greasy hands around his pot of money. We can do this, altogether now YOU FAT B****** GET OUT OF OUR CLUB
Dougie(Quote)
“Both the skipper Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez and Matt Ritchie ”
Really, Olly? You’re better than this.
So what did you actually expect the players to say about their new manager?
And Matt Ritchie was reported as saying “Well, he’s ***** but what choice to we have? On a positive note another season in the Championship will make us look much better players!”
Brrrian(Quote)