Charlie Nicholas has been doing his regular predictions for this weekends round of Premier League fixtures, and when talking about our game, let’s just say it’s a mixed bag.
It’s as entertaining as it is baffling.
Read his thoughts on NUFC below during his prediction for Saturday’s trip to the Hammers:
“I think Steve Bruce has done a fabulous job at Newcastle. He doesn’t have two up front to play and he loves playing with two strikers.
“Everything he has had to build, he has done so from the back, so they have to go back to front, but Newcastle’s away record is good – they will frustrate them but West Ham will just edge it.”
Fabulous? Right, there are some completely unreasonable and vitriolic opinions on Steve Bruce that are unwarranted, but then there is also ignoring facts and saying he’s doing a fabulous job. There has been many problems that haven’t been Bruce’s fault at all, but calling his performance thus far “fabulous”…….?
Then onto his claim about our away record. Played 5. Won 1. Lost 4. Scored 3. Conceded 12. That isn’t particularly good, albeit we’ve had some very tough games. However, when he says we will frustrate them, that certainly isn’t beyond the realms or possibility.
West Ham haven’t won in 5 games and the home fans aren’t particularly happy if you read the forums and social media. The reaction at the end of their last home game, a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, wasn’t exactly a positive one, and when asked about Saturday’s game, a lot of their fans are feeling exactly the same as Nicholas, predicting another difficult and frustrating afternoon at home.
Hopefully this can play into our hands and we can come away with something. HTL!!
10 games in,
scored 6 goals
conceded 15
an average possession of 37%
17 yellows and 2 reds
One point above relegation
How is that fabulous?
mactoon(Quote)
Yeah, we get it Jamie. Everybody else is wrong, you’re right.
Makes you wonder why these pundits who played at the highest level are paid so much money when we could just ask a bitter and twisted Newcastle fan who never made it past Sunday League level.
Brrrian(Quote)
Jamie – please take this constructively coz I appreciate anyone who takes time to write articles for this site.
I don’t know if you dislike Bruce or loved Rafa and whoever his replacement was was gonna get it from you – but there isn’t a fair perspective in your writing.
I agree fabulous is over the top – but you seem to have read that word and the red mist hit ??.
Fabulous is certainly over the top – but that’s par for the course with the like of the soccer Saturday boys.
But, credit where’s its due I think. When you consider the animosity towards him & Ashley – resulting in protests (which I’m not judging) it makes his working conditions very difficult. When you go into work and a lot of fans – and some ex players are hoping you fail – that’s not a good start.
Add to that the new faces he’s had to bed in – in key positions by the way. Along with injuries and suspension – he’s probably not yet been able to put out what he would see as his strongest 11.
Fabulous is Leicester or Sheff Utd I think. But ours would certainly be better than expected at the very least.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brian, do you just say black if writers on this blog say white?
A genuine question, just because you seem to find issue with just about everything posted on the site. Anyone would think you’d have stopped reading years ago based on your comments 😆
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Sharpy 17
I’m always open to discussion and criticism. There was no red mist, I actually laughed when I read his comments and on top of that I was actually assigned this article. I actually thought my article, on the whole was quite positive, as I agree with what he said about frustrating them. As you agreed with, he was over the top saying fabulous.
For the record I really rated Rafa, and I do dislike Bruce. I think it’s a dreadful appointment and it will end in tears. I don’t want him to fail, I just have a sneaking suspicion that he will. If that comes across in my articles then so be it. I would be so happy if he proved me wrong and I would be the first to admit it.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrian.
You’re so right, but boy, you should have seen me as a Sunday league player, 37 goals in 76 appearances for North Ferriby under 18’s. I was ahead of my time. My mum told me last week she actually thinks Roberto Firmino modelled his game on me such was my ability to drop between the lines. She often brought a camera to the games so it is actually possible they somehow found their way to Brazil and influenced him.
Jamie(Quote)