Bust-up between Steve Bruce and Sean Longstaff? – It would help explain a lot…

Sean Longstaff has not been the same player since Steve Bruce became manager.

There have been arguments that his regression is down to his injury but, in my opinion, there are too many elements of regression from him that simply constitute as injury related.

Under Rafa Benitez, Longstaff was being compared to the likes of Michael Carrick and was linked to Manchester United for £30m. Under Steve Bruce, Longstaff looks like a player out of his depth, who you’d be lucky to get £5m for.

The fact is, many players have deteriorated and regressed under Bruce and, being the young player that he is, Longstaff has been unable to lean upon experience to make the required step forward.

People may be keen to point out at this juncture that Saint-Maximin is the same age as Longstaff and is showing his stardom but context needs to be considered here. For one, Saint-Maximin’s role, playing style and, arguably, ability is vastly different to Longstaff. Secondly, though they are the same age, their development has been completely different. Saint-Maximin has had a longer time playing at a higher level and hasn’t been in a situation where he’s played at a high level under one manager, been injured, and then played under a new manager.

Longstaff has become a bit of scapegoat amongst the fanbase during Bruce’s tenure and, if social media rumours are to be believed, Bruce has also made him a scapegoat.

The Shields Gazette’s Liam Kennedy reported last month that Bruce and Longstaff have had a bust up after the Sheffield United game due to the manager levelling blame for the defeat on the young midfielder.

It seems that during this bust up, Longstaff had some choice words to say about Bruce also and I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that interaction!

Given that Longstaff has now been absent from the first team since that match (he hasn’t played a single minute of our last EIGHT games!) and our midfield has been far from impressive for a majority of those matches, it is certainly interesting that he hasn’t been given a chance in the new setup.

It can hardly be claimed that Shelvey or Hendrick have established those midfield places for themselves. Both players have continued to be frustrating but they, however, haven’t been stripped of first team appearances in the same vein as Longstaff.

It is also interesting to note that Matty Longstaff has also been stripped of any first team appearances. The younger brother was given a start against Arsenal after his older brother’s rumoured tiff but has suffered the same fate of no appearances since.

It isn’t too much to assume that if Sean did have an argument with Bruce, that Matty would be dragged into it also given their family ties. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past the petty Bruce to have started Matty directly after the Sheffield United match in an attempt to show up Sean.

With whatever happens after this season, be it survival or relegation, I think it’s imperative that Steve Bruce is replaced as a matter of urgency. I think it would be a very sorry situation if we lost two young local lads who have shown their potential before to the management of Steve Bruce.

14 thoughts on “Bust-up between Steve Bruce and Sean Longstaff? – It would help explain a lot…

  1. So Bruce has now fallen out with Ritchie, Fraser, and now Longstaff, this bloke really is mr Demotivator

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  2. Pi$$ poor management if he puts a petty spat in front of the teams success. There is no way on earth anyone would pick Hendricks in front of either of the Longstaff brothers.

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  3. Bruce needs to man manage better than he as so far, there have been reports of many fall outs he’s as popular as a rattle snake in a lucky dip, with what he as available to him he cannot afford to be falling out with players. I for one his hoping he’s not looking at summer signings, as I hope he won’t be there. He little or no ambition in bringing youth through, yes you can point to the long -staff brother’s and look what he,s done there. Sooner he’s gone the better.

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  4. Come on Ashley for Gods sake, please peddle this bloody numbskull before it’s too late…..
    It may already be.
    His lazy ‘ coaching qnd antiquated style are crippling our club.

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  5. Bruce has not give our Academy a sniff1
    The Longstaffs, Gibson, & I’m sure other who would play their heart out for a chance at The Toon,
    Not under Bruce!

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  6. Bruce should take a leaf out of Neil Lennons book and do what is best for the future of the club and leave. He has lost the dressing room and the fans.

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  7. This has been going on now for 12month.Bruce cannot coach its that simple.At last someone else can see what is going on here.Bruce has to go for the lads to progress

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  8. Once again Ashley doesn’t give a Toss about our football club, all he wants is to pocket the cash at the end of the season.
    As for that numpty Bruce, I hope every owner in football gives this useless idiot a wide berth.

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  9. I read the first line and thought ‘another attack on Bruce from this juvenile’.

    That was enough for me.

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