According to Kieron Dyer, Steve Bruce deserves real credit for being the first manager to play Joelinton in midfield – a claim we all know to be completely false.
Speaking on talkSPORT after the Brazilian scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Leicester, the former Toon attacker had this to say:
“Newcastle fans won’t like me saying this, but it was Steve Bruce who played Joelinton in midfield, so credit to Steve Bruce.”
Absolute rubbish. During his first season and a half on Tyneside, Bruce consistently played his new ‘No 9’ as a lone striker – often booting it long to ‘big Joe’ – or using him as a left-sided forward.
He consistently mismanaged the former Hoffenheim star – who only started 28 of Bruce’s final 50 Premier League games – and it wasn’t until a 1-1 draw with Norwich under Eddie Howe that we saw him used in a deeper role.
Ironically, it was an early red card to Ciaran Clark that forced Howe to drop Joelinton back into midfield that night, but it worked wonders on the night and they’ve never looked back since.
There was a constant theme in the media during Steve Bruce’s time in charge. Pundits and former players would conveniently get their facts wrong while sticking up for the 62-year-old and it’s happened again here.
Do better, Kieron Dyer.
In defence of dyer he’s always been a bit dim hasn’t he ! I remember hearing a story from Bobby Robson once about dyer leaving his earrings in a changing room down south can’t remember the club then as they were nearly half way home and well on the motorway he realised he’s lost his earrings and asked Sir Bobby if they could turn around and go back to get em ! Knob ! So yeah he’s not the sharpest of beings really so it doesn’t surprise me that he can’t remember who made joey a midfield monster!
Andrew Aslam(Quote)
Isn’t Dyer the W**ker who wouldn’t play on the wing for Sir Bobby Robson in the Boro derby ?
Enough said!
And yes you are correct Olly the Norwich game at home was the defining moment for Joelinton and Eddie Howe for that matter.
Joseph(Quote)
Whilst we are correcting records here – Joelinton was only moved into midfield coz Clark was sent off after about 10mins and Howe did a reshuffle – taking a midfielder off for a defender and dropping Joe deeper into midfield.
It turned out to be the making of one of the most consistent & key players we’ve had since.
But it wasn’t like this came about on the training ground or Howe spotting something Bruce didn’t.
Credit Howe for sticking with it and building a team around him – but Dyer got it dead wrong giving Bruce any credit for Joe the midfielder – didn’t happen mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly – sorry mate the page jumped with the ads loading and I missed the part of your article that mentions about Clark’s sending off so I was more confirming records than correcting them 😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bruce did play Joelinton on the right on a few occasions – Sorry Olly lad but you’re wrong again
Ashley Out(Quote)
https://www.themag.co.uk/2021/12/why-is-nobody-calling-out-steve-bruce-on-joelinton-newcastle-united/
Ashley Out(Quote)
Playing him as a winger / wide forward – a position he played at times for Hoffenheim – is completely different to his rebirth as a no-nonsense midfielder under Howe.
No comparison.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
That isn’t the issue though is it
You’ve accused Dyer of “blatent lies” and “not doing his research” when in fact Bruce did play him wide MIDFIELD
Ashley Out(Quote)