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Newcastle manager Steve Bruce was under immense pressure heading into the Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
But if tensions were simmering before a ball had even been kicked, they had fully boiled over by the time both sides strode off at Villa Park for half-time.
Goals from Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore put Villa 2-0 up and in cruise control heading into the break, with the Magpies offering little to no threat going forward. Yes, they put a season-high 13 crosses into the box for Andy Carroll to attempt to win, but the rest of the opening 45 minutes was frankly as pedestrian as it comes – with Newcastle’s defending borderline woeful at times.
In the firing line first for a lack of defensive effort was Jonjo Shelvey, whose lackadaisical attempt to close down Matt Targett resulted in the former Southampton full-back teeing up – with the aide of a Fabian Schar deflection – Watkins for the opener.
Needless to say his efforts went down well with the boisterous Geordie faithful on Twitter…
Jonjo Shelvey once said he preferred playing under Steve Bruce because “he lets the players express themselves.”
AKA he lets us get away with not closing the opposition down. #nufc
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) January 23, 2021
Get rid of Shelvey. One of the highest earners at the club but I’ve lost count of how many goals we’ve conceded because he can’t be arsed. He’s an absolute disgrace to the shirt. No surprise he loves Bruce and his easy going training.
— Marc Duffy (@MarcSDuffy) January 23, 2021
A reminder people Shelvey was going to be sold at the end of 2018 – 19 season by the then manager
Fast forward January 2021 Steve Bruce manages #nufc & Shelvey in that time got a brand new 3 year contract & loves his training ??
— Lee Johnson ⚫️⚪️ POPWORLD MAGS ??♂️ (@Lee18_92Johnson) January 23, 2021
Has anyone seen the Lord Lucans of our midfield aka the double act of Hendricks & Shelvey #pedestrian
— Paul Wilson (@senior2831) January 23, 2021
Working out what Newcastle’s tactics really are takes a bit of doing, as they seem to have absolutely nothing to do with exploiting the pace of Callum Wilson. You know, the man they forked out £20m to buy from Bournemouth last summer.
Whatever the case may be, what’s going on in attack is the least of Newcastle’s worries when they can’t get the basics right defensively.
After Karl Darlow fisted away an inswinging corner Jack Grealish corner, Villa were inexplicably allowed to recycle the ball out wide – eventually leading to the home side’s ace in the hole teeing up Traore for a sumptuous second.
About those tactics…
Steve Bruce’s tactics tonight seem to be hoof it to Andy Carroll and hope for the best… it’s the year 2021.
— James Copley (@JamesCopley_) January 23, 2021
Started off alright, piss poor from 25 mins. Awful tactics, awful formation, defence all over the shop and all of our ‘best’ players on the bench. Impossible to defend Bruce here. #NUFC
— Steve Kell (@SteveKell91) January 23, 2021
Sky Sports slating #NUFC players for giving up, but tbh I don’t blame them. Playing under Bruce’s anti-football tactics must be so demoralising, you’re constantly out of possession.
— Adam Gilks (@SgtGilko) January 23, 2021
Steve Bruce and his tactics board #nufc #bruceout #NUFCTakeover pic.twitter.com/FTIcolt1rF
— Goalazo (@Goalazzzo247) January 23, 2021
This is a major S.O.S message to @rafabenitezweb we need you back @NUFC A.S.A.P to sort the club out and get us winning again before it’s to late. This is from the #toonarmy . Please come back Rafa, Bruce is a clown and has no tactics pic.twitter.com/WH17deKV6V
— stephen (@stephenindurham) January 23, 2021
So all in all, not a pretty picture for Newcastle. Want to know what the rest of the reaction was when half time struck?
Of course you do!
If you’re a club looking for a manager here’s some advice #nufc #BruceOut pic.twitter.com/C7XUwori1z
— Chris Dixon (@CDixon_NUFC_83) January 23, 2021
Newcastle United fans at half time #NUFC #BruceOut pic.twitter.com/pXFDyYolnj
— Magpie 24/7 (@Magpie24_7) January 23, 2021
I hope Graeme Jones has some bloody good ideas #nufc
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) January 23, 2021
End of days stuff #nufc
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) January 23, 2021
Raggedy arse bin fire of a football club. Going nowhere but down, owned by an arsehole, managed by a clueless dinosaur with the tactical awareness of a toilet brush. #NUFC
— Taylor Payne (@TaylorandBesty) January 23, 2021
This is so desperately bad and so desperately predictable and it shows absolutely no signs of changing soon. #NUFC
— Sean McCormick (@S_McCormick95) January 23, 2021
Steve Bruce being a Premier League manager when younger, more proactive managers are getting abuse for commiting the sin of not having 20 years experience, is proof that football illiteracy exists.
Absolutely dire, backward and turgid tripe.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 23, 2021
Say what you want about Rafa Vs Bruce, same points, same football bollox. Rafa had them dreaming they could do anything, Bruce has got them questioning what sport they play #nufc
— Gianfranco Shola (@SholaGianfranco) January 23, 2021
THREAD ??⚫️⚪️⚫️
“tHeRe’S nO dIfFeReNcE bEtWeEn BeNiTeZ’s NuFc AnD bRuCe’S”#NUFC
— NUFCblog.co.uk (@NUFCblogcouk) January 23, 2021
Been some low points since #nufc last won a game on Dec 12 but this is unravelling. Fast.
Plenty of options on the bench but it’s going to take a huge turnaround in the second half and this team just aren’t responding at the moment.
For such a spirited group, that is worrying
— Ciaran Kelly (@CiaranKelly__) January 23, 2021
Surely this is a 45 minute good bye for Bruce now? Walk or pushed, surely we are close to seeing his exit #nufc
— Gianfranco Shola (@SholaGianfranco) January 23, 2021
If Steve Bruce was a true Geordie he would resign✍️ straight after the game, #BRUCEOUT #OUTHISDEPTH pic.twitter.com/WSh1zEQ6n7
— NE&WC ⚫️⚪️ (@stevengoica83) January 23, 2021
Strap in Newcastle fans, it’s going to be long a second half to the season. Cue the inevitable calls for this newly available man to make his return to sunny St James’…
Rafa Benitez has left his job in the Chinese Super League with Dalian Professional.
cc: All Newcastle fans ? pic.twitter.com/7eiYxvSOW0
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 23, 2021
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