After watching us collapse to the ground like a side who’d just been relegated when the full time whistle went at Aston Villa, we’d better ‘roll our sleeves up’ and ‘dust ourselves down’ better than ever before if we’re going to save Bruce’s bacon here.
The question is, has the NUFC boss now lost the dressing room? They didn’t look like they were playing for him (again) over the weekend and looked like a bunch of broken men throughout Saturday night’s latest defeat.
He’s certainly lost the fanbase via his awful brand of football, negative tactics, pathetic excuses and refusal to accept criticism, but another dismal display and heavy defeat to Leeds and it may be that he loses his job.
Bielsa’s side have lost all of their last three and have failed to score since the turn of the year, however they’ll be fancying their chances here against a Newcastle side without a win in TEN.
Not only that, we’ve scored just ONE goal from open play since they put five past us in that Elland Road massacre on December 16th, making our struggles in front of goal far more of a long-term concern.
Graeme Jones may be appointed by the time this one kicks off at 6pm on Tuesday, but lose this one badly and Bruce must SURELY be on the brink.
Team news
- Fernandez, Clark & Dummett – The defensive trio have all been declared injured for this one, leaving Schar and Lascelles as our only fit CB’s. To think we allowed Lejeune to join Alaves before signing a replacement…
- Allan Saint-Maximin – Bruce has all but confirmed that he’ll be restricted to another cameo role from the bench, with him still stepping up his recovery from COVID after coming on for 25 minutes at Villa.
- Javier Manquillo – Rated as ’50-50′ for this one after coming off with a knock in Saturday night’s 2-0 defeat.
- DeAndre Yedlin – Another who looks likely to miss out, this time via a visa issue that is yet to be resolved.
For the hosts, star man Kalvin Phillips is back from a one-game ban and goalkeeper Illan Meslier is set to return, but German international centre-back Robin Kock (knee) will miss out once again.
Predicted line up
(5-2-2-1): Dubravka – Murphy, Hayden, Lascelles, Schar, Ritchie – M Longstaff, S Longstaff – Almiron, Fraser – Wilson.
OUT – Darlow, Manquillo, Lewis, Shelvey, Hendrick and Carroll?
IN – Dubravka, Murphy, Ritchie, M Longstaff, S Longstaff and Fraser?
Yes, that’s right. Another change in formation. Another game where there’s wholesale changes and a different midfield combo. It’s not the team I think is best equipped to beat Leeds, but it’s what seems most likely to me based on Bruce’s obsession with constantly ‘mixing things up’ since taking his gloves off and ‘doing it his way’.
In goal, I think this might be the night Dubravka comes in for Darlow. The latter’s has left in the odd questionable goal (what was he doing for Watkins’ header on Saturday?!) and I think this will give Bruce the perfect opportunity to justify the return of the more senior, more reliable Martin Dubravka.
At the back, we went with a four-man defence at Elland Road and might’ve done the same this time out had we had both Fernandez and Clark fit. Because both are out along with Dummett, I can see Hayden, Lascelles and Schar continuing. After all, Lascelles looks absolutely knackered and Schar can’t be trusted in a back four, so they’ll need to be helped out by Hayden (who we could’ve done with in midfield, really!).
On the right of that five, I can see Murphy coming in IF Manquillo fails a late fitness test. Yedlin looks set to miss out again and Krafth is no wing-back, so he could be recalled – especially when his pace and direct running may offer an outlet in attack.
At left wing-back, Lewis looks shot for confidence after being ‘Bruced’, so I can see the NUFC boss turning to one of his senior men in Matt Ritchie – someone who’ll at least try and match Leeds’ high intensity approach.
The midfield is a tough one to call, not just because Bruce tends to change it EVERY single week, but down to the fact Shelvey seems unlikely to A) play three times in 8 days so soon after groin problems and B) because he’s almost certain to be chasing shadows and running through treacle against an energetic Leeds side who’ve covered more ground than any other Premier League side.
Bruce logic means he’ll probably start, fail to track their runners and pull his groin late on, however I’ve got a feeling he’ll play it safe with Shelvey and start the Longstaff brothers. Both are well rested and capable of getting about the pitch, but they’ll have to watch their positioning if they do start (they sometimes get caught pressing together and leave gaping holes between midfield and defence!).
In attack, Almiron must start after being our best outfield player in our last two games, while Fraser seems likely to return after creating two goals in our last clash with Leeds and offering Bruce some ‘encouragement’ in his cameo at Villa on Saturday.
Joelinton is due a start and I’d back him to if we go back to a 4-2-3-1, however his unreliability could see a desperate Steve Bruce leave him on the bench.
Up top, Carroll is due a rest (ironically against a Leeds side who are awful in the air), meaning Wilson could lead the line with Almiron and Fraser offering support (in theory!) either side of him.
The Opposition
Here’s a few ones to watch in Marcelo Bielsa’s newly promoted Leeds side:
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Stuart Dallas – The marauding Irishman will have you believing he’s playing as a winger, not a full-back! He’s a big part of this energetic, all-out attack Leeds side and ranks highly for interceptions at the other end, too.
Raphinha – Bags of pace, skilful, direct and full of running, but has showed signs of adding final product to that before their dip in form this month, scoring an absolute stunner in that 0-5 win at West Brom in December. Whoever is playing at left-back has their hands full!
Kalvin Phillips – The man they miss most when he’s out, but he’s back from a one-game ban for this one. He’s their defensive screen who often pull the strings from deep. Has a brilliant range of passing for a holding midfielder, meaning he’s capable of causing bother if given too much time on the ball to pick out cross-field passes.
Jack Harrison – Only De Bruyne, Fernandes and Grealish have created more chances per 90 minutes than the Man City loanee this season, who destroyed us on the counter attack with a 88th minute stunner in the reverse fixture last month.
Predicted Leeds XI: (4-4-1-1): Meslier – Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioksi – Raphinha, Phillips, Klich, Harrison – Rodrigo – Bamford.
Prediction
Leeds may be out of form, but they battered us last time out…and we’ve only gone and got MUCH worse since then.
They’re devastating on the road against teams that allow them to play (see that 0-5 win at West Brom a few weeks ago) and will be looking to get their 2020/21 season back on track after three straight defeats in 2021 – and what better way to do that than against a Steve Bruce side feeling well and truly sorry for themselves.
Leeds can be got at defensively, as we proved last month, however I know who I’d fancy to win the match if it becomes another end to end affair of defence against attack!
Who knows whether this would be the final straw for Mike Ashley, but I see us getting out passed, outworked, outrun and completely outscored in this one.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-4 Leeds
HWTL!
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Olly, I dont know mate? Schar????
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sean Longstaff?
I think we may as well go with Amdy Faye or Joelinton.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly – I think he’ll want to stay with 2 up front having made such a big think of it in recent weeks.
He’ll either stick with Carroll or maybe go Joelinton in his place.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So WHU approach Man Utd to loan Lingard.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Are the EU serious organisation ? They now threatening to block exports of AZ vaccine to the UK because they’re not getting as many vaccines as they ordered. They haven’t even approved yet ffs! The Germans are also spreading rumours that the AZ vaccine is only 8% effective in those older than 65. Can anybody explain to me how the authorities here would approve it if that was the case?
But regardless of all that – don’t the EU come across as really nice people? I mean, if this was Russia or China they’d be up in The Hague on anti humanitarian charges!
Stuart79(Quote)
Regards tomorrow game we will lose and we will play drab, boring football and allow Leeds to have all the ball. 1-3
Stuart79(Quote)
Sadly it probably will be a draw – papering over a Numpty!
We have a brilliant opportunity to get Frank Lampard
Don’t waste time and money getting a sponsor for Bruce – he hasn’t the dignity to admit that he’s simply not a MANAGER…
…dragging a Club that he loves down with him = wake up and really look at how well you did at every club that’s believed yr **** soaked babble while wasting the clubs Millions, as value of the club’s assets go through the floor…
..and young kids career’s are pissed down the drain
KK(Quote)
Clark, Fernandez and Dummett all injured. Not sure what else we can do!?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Likely another hiding tonight Olly, if it gets rid of he who should be respected, so be it.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://mobile.twitter.com/NUFC360/status/1353782206372655107
kimtoon(Quote)
https://mobile.twitter.com/StevenNUFC/status/1353772577009922048
kimtoon(Quote)
They’re so much fitter and stronger than us all over the pitch. An easy win for them.
Except the Bruce luck may kick in one last time.
georgio(Quote)
Kim – he seems to be one of the few talk sport pundits saying it how it is.
I thought Ambrose spoke well on it yesterday. But you still have idiots like Simon Jordan, Darren Bent, Charlie Austin and Troy Deeney who claim the fans are being unfair to Bruce.
Austin was in yesterday saying Bruce never stood a chance coz he’s not Rafa. Listen, Bruce came in saying he was a Geordie and knew what we wanted to see. He was bringing attacking football to excite the fans – if he delivered what he said, what he promised, he’d have won the majority of fans over.
Not all, but then Rafa never had all the fans. I think only KK & Sir Bobby had all the fans.
Bruce failed not because the fans turned on him, but because he chose to play the way the players wanted to play rather than implement his own style from the start. I’m not saying his own style would have worked, but at least he’d be where he is on his own terms.
It has nothing to do with the fans not giving him a chance. He didn’t give himself a chance because he opted to be the players best mate rather than the man in charge – the manager.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Georgio – they are coached mate. Bielsa hasn’t gone in to make friends, he’s went into a group of average and made them a team.
Individually they only have 2 or 3 top players, but what they do have is a world class manager.
He’s not going to make Dallas or Aloiski world class players, but he can get the best out of them & drill them to be key players in a very strong team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
trying their best to make us suffer,its peoples lives we are talking about here,shocking!
icedog(Quote)
Dead right Sharpy. Have you heard of Bielsa’s Murderball Sessions? It’s what we need 4 days a week.
georgio(Quote)
Bruce is being shoved out. You do not bring in a new coach over the existing coach’s head. As I have said before, Jones is a caretaker in waiting whilst they test the waters for a new Manager. The Steves’ days are numbered. Probably, 4 days if we get beat by Leeds. That is wed-thurs-fri-sat defeat to Everton, Bye Bye Brucie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont know why so few journos are not saying Bruce is as good as gone? The Chronic think he has until the end of the season. No he doesn’t. This latest move is to put Bruce’s nose out of joint if it could possibly look worse. Ashley is playing a game to see if Bruce will resign. HE WONT. He will stay for the pay-off and just like Ugly John he actually thinks he is a good manager. He keeps referencing his 20 years in Management and his CV which is the worst in PL history for Managers that were not just promoted over their heads or last a year.
That is what will happen with Graeme Jones if Fatty keeps him full time. Promoted above what he deserves because Bruce is ****. We may get a short term bounce but I think this new character will take us down as sure as Bruce would have. He gets 3 games whilst we look for someone else or we are doomed. Look at Everton! Ferguson did well there but they had the chance to get Ancelotti. No-brainer!!! Although I would take Big Dunc over both Bruce and Jones.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hmmm… It is not 4 Days for Brucie, it is 7. He will get the Palace home game because Jones will need to settle. Palace is a must win. Would it get him a stay of execution?
I said Lampard was getting sacked. You dont spend 250 million to be 9th. I really do not get these pundits. They seem to put their brains into neutral because they like their Pals – Lampard, Bruce, Silva at Everton, Redknapp, Pards etc.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think I have been correct on Managers since I have been on here. I spent a year arguing with Troy Stavers saying Pards was ****. Then I said Ugly John would be a disaster. Same with Schteve and Bruce but they deserved a few games because they had not been total b0llock at ALL of their clubs. I turned on Bruce the Xmas before last, so that is more than a year ago. I had seen enough close up! It is sometimes hard to gauge a Manager unless you see them close up. It is like living with a drunk or drug addict, you get to see the real them.
I think Rafa was over-loved given the job he did, and have said so. He had 10 games to keep us up and even he thought he would otherwise he would not have taken the job in the first place.
So what do we do?
SACK BRUCE!!!!
APPOINT CARETAKER-IN-WAITING GRAEME JONES
DO NOT GIVE JONES MORE THAN 3 GAMES, no matter what the results.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I might be contradicting myself here but I would take Lingard at this point. I am not though, I think he is distracted and not good enough for Man U but probably is better than what we have. We do not have an attacking midfielder, and dont say Sean Longstaff!!! That ship has sailed and should probably go to Derby or Sunderland to resurrect its career. I wouldnt even be bothered if it was a straight sale with a sell-on and not a loan. And JoeLinton? See if we can just partially pay off his contract and write off the fee. It was never 40 million in the first place, that was journos adding his wages in. But he is done. SuperMac said he was **** and Mick Lowes says he is the worst purchase IN THE HISTORY OF WORLD FOOTBALL. I would take their word over Ashley and Charnley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Georgio – yeah mate, it sounds brutal. But whenever the players talk about it they are really positive about it. You’d think it would ruin them but they are all fit & they play a similar team most weeks so they aren’t getting injured.
Rafa used to drill our lot through training sessions. Doing the same thing over & again until they got it. It’s quite clearly the difference between Bruce and Rafa – that and Rafa didn’t give a **** what the players wanted, he did it his way and if the players didn’t get it, they were moved on.
I honestly haven’t heard of any other manager taking the approach that Bruce took – letting the players call the shots on how they set up.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – I knew you’d catch up eventually mate ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I must be wound up 🙂 🙂 🙂 I HAVE GONE ALL CAPS. It might get worse after Leeds? I am torn because I have a feeling we might do Ok but if we do it will mean a stay of execution for Bruce.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Chris Hughton at NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – if your theory about Jones is correct, I really don’t care.
I’d give Jones a chance if it got rid of Bruce.
It could be part of a grander plan – maybe getting Roberto Martinez in next season once he’s done with Belgium – optimistic I’m sure but who knows.
If not, sod it, let’s see what Jones can do.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So, Olly reckons it will be 6 changes for Leeds. Even given Covid and the schedule that would show Bruce has no clue what he is doing.
8 changes for Arsenal
4 changes for Villa
6 changes for Leeds
Sorry, my caps unlock key seems to working again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: somebody has brought this Graeme Jones character in to p!ss Bruce off. I dont know who did it? Justin Barnes? But it must have been sanctioned by Ashley.
I dont usually watch the pre-match press conferences but will today. For comedy value if nothing else. Let’s see what platitudes Brucie comes up with.
If we actually get a result I will be counting the “delighteds” from the Fat Cabbage.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – it wouldn’t surprise me if Ashley hasn’t told Charnley to get Bruce out without having to shell out £1.5m comp for him. If he has to sack Bruce & pay up, I think Charnley will be gone too, because it’s mistake after mistake with that clown.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Steve Roger Bruce
You have pleaded guilty to being a big fat loser with and average of 1 point and 1 goal per game in your 500 matches in the Premier League.
You are a habitual failure who accepts the sack or relegation as an occupational hazard. You do not know your best players or even a set formation and accuse fans of being the exact things you are – delusional and histrionic.
You say “delighted” too often to describe players who had a below average game.
We therefore feel compelled sentence you to the maximum term of 5 years at her Magesty’s Island of Bermuda on Mike Ashley’s dime and take the other 2 Steves with you. Our one hope is that you are mistaken for some sort of Elephant Seal and harpooned.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Majesty.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So we are officially 100,000 covid deaths now 🙁
Heartbreaking.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yep, Shelvey and Hendrick are the midfielders you want against a high press but also fast counter attacking team!
At least we also have some pace in our team tonight.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
More than who died in the blitz here
kimtoon(Quote)
Trying to decide if i want to watch the game or not
kimtoon(Quote)
What are the odds we hit the first man at a corner. Fraser didnt do any better when he too one last game. It must be the Steves explaining that the only choices are hit the first man or a Shelvey floater. We have SCORED ONCE from a corner all year.
Caps lock is back.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
More Americans have died than in WW1 and WW2 combined. More dying per day than 9/11 World Trade Centre plane hijack.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Another flat back 8 I see
Stuart79(Quote)
You have to watch it Kimtoon so you can have your say. I am going backwards and forwards on whether Bruce will get lucky again, although with Shelvey and Hendrick in midfield I am not as optimistic as I was half an hour ago.
I think we might need Sharpy’s buddy Lingard at this rate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No surprise a country with a tiny island and a population bigger than France, Spain and Italy have been right in the firing line for this virus. High population density, aging population, obesity pandemic, heavy services based economy, a society based around mixing, socialising hospitality and shopping. We also have a population that isn’t used to authoritarian dictats from government and wouldn’t accept police and armed forces on the street to govern like other countries. Government could have locked us down earlier (although Italy did it faster and harder than us and up until new variant had same deaths as us) and could have closed all borders like New Zealand which wouldn’t have worked as a whole. Unfortunately we will have the same problems next time unless we completely locked down for a full year. Government cocked right up by not shielding the vulnerable and that’s ridiculous given what we knew about it. The medical experts explaining why the new variant has changed the game for us here. ?
Stuart79(Quote)
How does Bruce justify playing Shelvey and Kendrick in midfield? They’ll get absolutely bettered and have run rings round then all day long…
Stuart79(Quote)
At least Sean Longstaff has been dropped from the squad. Joelinton next?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: all Govts underestimated this. It is roughly the same numbers in the US as the UK but at least Boris seems like he cares, unlike Trump who called it a hoax. The scientists over here didnt take it seriously at first but you have to ask how much of that was driven by Trump. They changed after about a month even though Trump was sticking to his China Virus story and blaming others, as usual.
They did the same thing here as well Stuart and did not target older and fatter people to have them isolated. Probably would have bee called age-ist and fat shaming. I know how you like all of this PC stuff 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce is blaming Covid. Aye, like Villa didnt have 9 players with it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well here goes nothing again
kimtoon(Quote)
RIP NUFC … ?☹️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Kim – it’s double the amount that died of the blitz I think.
Did you see NZ have a total of only 25 ? unreal management of the spread that mind ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think Leeds are the WORST at defending set pieces and we are the WORST at scoring from set pieces.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This will get 20 mins of my time. If I don’t like what I see I’m off. I’m sick of wasting 90 mins on these clowns
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doesn’t Schar fancy it?
Stuart79(Quote)
Great start injury already
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah, very good
kimtoon(Quote)
Free kick – fcn Shelvey floater, again!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Zaha just scored for Palace
kimtoon(Quote)
west ham level
kimtoon(Quote)
1st Leeds corner and every NUFC player back in our box which means Leeds could put every one of their players in our box. If we left Wilson on the half way line then at least Leeds would need a defender back and probably 2.
What are our coaches thinking?!? It is not a pub league. These are pub league tactics!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
1 clean sheet at home this season – against Liverpool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
20% possession at home. ?
He decided today we’d play with two wingers. Then drops Carroll. But then again the wingers are essentially 2nd full backs
Stuart79(Quote)
There you go nice and easy
Stuart79(Quote)
ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Schar is ****. Hasn’t picked a pass yet!!.
Leeds are able to win the ball back with such ease!!.
There we go – 0-1. F@cking hopeless!!.
I’m going at least 0-4 here. But I won’t be watching it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There you go Sharpy mate. 16 mins, goodbye 🙂
1st goal for Leeds in 2021.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Leeds are suppose to be vulnerable in the air so I suppose it makes sense to drop Carroll in Brucie world.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I thought you being optimistic with the 8 at the back. I thought 9-0-1 as usual but also 10-0-0 at corners.
26 passes completed in 20 mins for NUFC.
Oh **** a Shelvey corner – better! I have to admit am shocked at the delivery but not the finish 🙂
I will repeat, 1 goal from a corner all year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
2 fuc.king comments made from my iPad missing again. Shi.t team and Sh.t site. ???????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I’d rather Leeds just score a quick two or three and get it over with to be honest.
Stuart79(Quote)
Bruce saying illness of coach(es) has caused the Jones to come in. Pull the other one you fat lying w@nker. Oh no. A shelvey free kick. Watch out in row Z!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yep. Row Z. Who would have think it.
EVERYONE!!!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You see. This is what we do every time. We have more than a half to go and overcommit. We are desperate. Leeds know we are desperate and just have to wait for their chances.
This is Villa revisited except with only 1 goal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What a liar. Saying Jones is coming in because of covid with coaches. The 2 other Steves are on the bench.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well that was par for the course. Static and motionless. Waiting for the ball to come to them instead of running to the ball. Of course the ball doesn’t reach then as, surprise surprise, Leeds players run! ???????.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bruce will absolutely see that as improvement. No doubt about it.
Stuart79(Quote)
saved by the handball
kimtoon(Quote)