It’ll mean absolutely nothing if Mike Ashley doesn’t pull the trigger and sack Steve Bruce, but there was some movement with the bookies last night when it comes to a potential replacement.
Moments after our 3-0 defeat at The Emirates, it was revealed that some bookmakers now make Mark Hughes the new 4/1 favourite.
Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe had been the leading contender – and remains the most likely successor according to some bookies – however it’s the former Man City, Fulham and Stoke boss that is now being tipped to take over on Tyneside.
An uninspiring option to say the least and one who’s been jobless for two years (for a very good reason), yet he would probably be an upgrade on Bruce – mainly on the basis it really couldn’t get any worse right now!
Hughes has managed seven top 10 finishes with all but two of the six Premier League clubs he has managed, however his most recent spell with Southampton was a bad one – seeing him secure just five victories in 27 games as he was dismissed in December 2018 with a 18.5 win percentage.
Here’s his managerial record in full:
Just like he did with McClaren, I expect Ashley to stick with Bruce for as long as we’re outside the bottom three – which won’t be much longer on last night’s evidence!
Hughes in, Bruce out? What a time to be alive.
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Another who wouldn’t be acceptable or accepted
Eddie Howe or Thomas Frank for me
Cc(Quote)
Mark Hughes??! Oh please God no. Someone is playing a cruel joke on us. I would literally prefer a random supporter to take charge instead of these cretins like Hughes and Bruce. Fucking hell
Anthony(Quote)
Another typical unemployed useless ex manager who’s too bad to even be a tv pundit
Dave(Quote)
Please, no more Manure hasbeens.
What we need is someone like Arthur Cox when he came, who was a strict discipliarian and precision training methods , associated wirh his milutary background.
Bruce is sloppy, the players gave become sloppy and are not training correctly.
My God , if ever there was a need for a bloody good sort out it’s right now. TODAY…ASAP.
Pirciestreet(Quote)
You can clearly see, as the PL evolved, Hughes got worse. He’s another dinosaur, which is the only reason Ashley would choose him – though I suspect he would be too afraid of him. This can’t get any better until Ashley and his moronic ownership is over.
sickandtired(Quote)
Nigel Pearson would be a far better option
Maurice brown(Quote)
Thomas Frank’s team seem to know what they are doing. Definite upgrade and maybe wouldn’t cost Ashley too much to get
Stu Taylor(Quote)
Clueless Bruce should leave now and don’t bring in mark Hughes bring in Eddie Howe
Lee Jeyes(Quote)
It makes no difference who manages this team, you would get the same result as the past several managers…..Poor football.
It will only change when the owner leaves.
These players are just going to work, they do not represent the shirt of the City.
BillyTheFish(Quote)
After watching the game last night I did not see any difference from before Bruce said things are going to change they played like school kids charge forward and leave the back open what I seen last night is a team that all ready down with Sheffield United so that leaves one place to go down where was the midfield was Carroll, Wilson playing and what a waste of a shirt is joelinton wrong team picked again and shelvery total hopeless at corners I thought Bruce was taking the gloves off he must have forgot
Ricky(Quote)
It needs a MANAGER
Hughes is in a Care Home – it needs someone to get a reaction = Howe took Bournemouth down with Wilson
If looking short-term it has to be Pearson but all fan’s want a Positive vision!
Father Jack took the gloves off but left the Beer Goggles on!
Another 8 changes last night (!?) But I was giving Bruce a Hall pass for last night. BUT if he makes 4/5 changes against Villa, he has to be sacked immediately = even before the game
But fans have seen 4/5 changes in every game over the past 18 months – this just highlights that Bruce isn’t a Manager – it needs player to play together for 6/7 games SO they understand how their teammates play = when to pass, when to put into space!
SELL GAYLE and SHELVEY now!
Shelvey can’t take corners and has just started thumping it forward as soon at it lands at his feet = guy can’t be bothered to run / tackle
Joelinton – Bruce leave him out completely for a few games = it will give him a wakeup call and a break from walking for 90 minutes!
KK(Quote)
FFS Alan have a word with your mate and tell him to FO before clueless takes us down, no tatics, no ideas no hope.
davep(Quote)
The likes of Hughes, Souness, Pulis, Pearson and obviously Bruce are well past their sell by dates and we shouldn’t even think of hiring them. Howe would be good but I can’t see him leaving the South to come here. Younger, enthusiastic managers with new ideas who can get the best out of the players are what’s required . Preferably British but that might narrow it down a bit.
Iain Groundwell(Quote)
I would back pearson who, I think, is a strong disciplinarian who I think would get the players fit at least because I think that is half the problem. I also think ashley will just carry on as we are and hope for some luck to come his way. 🙁
john marshall(Quote)
Couldn’t believe the maestros team selection last night.
If you are playing with a back 4 you need 2 very good fullbacks, Bruce probably selected the worst 2 we’ve got, you also need one good holding midfielder who can get up and down the pitch, Hayden is probably the best we’ve got, where was he?
For the other midfielders he needed 2 who can cross a ball… definitely not Shelvey or Joelinton, who don’t work hard enough either.
Almiron down the left where Rafa used to play him, Ritchie down the right, the young lad Anderson… what would he have to lose? and they would all work their socks off!
Wilson and Carrol up top.
Joseph(Quote)
So what’s our obsession with replacing Bruce with mediocre relegation specialists?
Helen Clarey(Quote)