One of just four teams without victory in this early stage of Premier League competition, Newcastle United continue to frustrate their passionate fans, as the club hierarchy seemingly appears content just to tread water this season. Having now failed to win in five games, continuing this way is more likely to result in relegation.
Even the most hopeful fans were never expecting much going into the 2021-22 campaign, although the disappointing start now underlines just how complicated the situation could become. The latest English Premier League betting odds value Newcastle United as 11/10 certainties to be relegated. Unless there is a swift and immediate turnaround, those predictions are unlikely to change.
Likewise, there is little confidence that Steve Bruce can mastermind any improvements. Following his recent “keep the club ticking along” comments, after the 1-1 draw against Leeds United, he also features amongst the Premier League betting tips as one of the first managers to leave their current club. That being said, we all know he won’t resign, which means the 60-year-old will inevitably need to be pushed.
? Steve Bruce spoke to NUFC TV following the 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 17, 2021
The harsh reality is that, in modern football, the chances of any manager choosing to resign are exceedingly rare. We only need to look at Jose Mourinho as a fine example, given he has earned millions in compensation payments due to being sacked. These days, few managers are willing to take the honourable decision to resign, especially at the cost of renouncing the chance to fill their pockets before they go.
In the mind of Bruce, he is doing little more than that what has been requested by his paymasters. He doesn’t regard this current squad as being capable of aspiring for more, instead of “ticking along” as he said or simply treading water and aiming to survive an inevitable relegation battle. Why should he resign if that’s the reality of current expectations within the club itself?
At the end of August, when Burnley eliminated Newcastle United from the Carabao Cup, pundit and former footballer Frank McAvennie insisted Bruce would “soon” be fired from his post. More than a month later, Bruce remains in the job and regardless of the pressure, the club seems content to let him stay on.
Steve Bruce was sacked after 98 games as Sunderland manager, with a win percentage of 29.6%.
— Geordie Joe (@GJ_1892) September 12, 2021
He's currently on 93 games as #NUFC manager, with a win percentage of 30.1%.
Getting very close to history repeating itself here. ? pic.twitter.com/ti16qQrPU2
Most reasonably well-run clubs would have sacked Bruce long ago, yet we all know that Newcastle United in the hands of Mike Ashley is anything but well-run. During his tenure, which stretches back to July 2019, Bruce has guided this team to just 28 wins in 94 matches, alongside 27 draws and 39 defeats, which is poor by any standards.
Despite the constant chants by fans for Bruce to be sacked, Ashley seems completely unwilling to oust the current Newcastle United manager, no matter how close the team is teetering on the edge of the relegation abyss. In his mind, he has the right man to do just enough to keep this team in the Premier League, so why chance bringing in anyone else?
So long as talk of a takeover at Newcastle United keeps rumbling along, there’s little chance of Ashley taking any action, unless something like a full player revolt happens. Only that would make Bruce’s position completely untenable, thus forcing the hand of his largely disinterested boss. In the meantime, we can only hope that if new owners do eventually arrive, they will take the corrective action this club so desperately needs.