Bruce's sarcastic barb at 'mighty Rafa' might come back to bite him

Steve Bruce’s needless, sarcastic barb at the ‘mighty Rafa Benitez’ might come back to bite him… he talks of ‘progress’ at Newcastle, yet all the evidence points to regression after one goal in 13 hours and eight defeats in 10 matches

• How ironic that Steve Bruce spoke of maintaining his ‘dignity’ amid criticism 
• He proceeded to speak on Mike Ashley by comparing himself to Rafa Benitez 
• Bruce said a needless and sarcastic barb where called him ‘the mighty Rafa’ 

What would the ‘mighty Rafa’ do in Steve Bruce’s situation?

He would not, you assume, make insincere comments about the previous manager. How ironic that Bruce spoke on Friday of maintaining his ‘dignity’ amid criticism.

He then proceeded to answer a question about Mike Ashley by comparing his own record to that of Benitez. 

How ironic that Steve Bruce spoke on Friday of maintaining his ‘dignity’ amid criticism

Bruce said a sarcastic barb in which he referred to previous manager Rafa Benitez as ‘mighty’

And that would have been fine had he not let his guard slip with a needless and sarcastic barb in which he referred to the Spaniard as, ‘the mighty Rafa’.

It is no secret that Bruce is a convert of those – including several senior players – who believe Benitez receives undue worship from supporters.

But in saying what he did, Bruce sent the mercury rising among a fanbase already bubbling with rage and contempt for the head coach. It would have also no doubt raised eyebrows among those players who do respect Benitez and the improvement he brought about in their game.

Benitez was not alone, though. Bruce referred to ‘the fella from Bournemouth’ who ‘got a team relegated last year’. That would be Eddie Howe, and that was in response to a local newspaper poll in which he was the pick for next boss.

Defeat at Villa was an eighth in 10 matches and Newcastle have scored one goal in 13 hours

You can understand Bruce’s frustration while he remains in post, but was his retort dignified?

As for the Benitez comments, it was a foolish misjudgment. Maybe it was intended. Maybe he does not care what supporters think anymore.

But if you cannot get it right on the pitch, at least retain some decency off it. Bruce is failing in both regards. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa was an eighth in 10 matches and they have now scored one goal in 13 hours.

The idea put forward by some pundits that Benitez could not do any better with these players is wrong.

The only folk who make repeated mention of Benitez, by the way, are Bruce and his backers. They do that because, when you strip it back to points-per-game, their Premier League records over the last four seasons are not dissimilar – Benitez is at 1.17, Bruce at 1.10.

Fans want Bruce to go and there were banners placed in protest outside St James’ Park

But that is to ignore Benitez taking a newly-promoted team to 10th and then, in the second half of the following season, having them in the top six on form with an attacking style he had been building towards.

Benitez was, then, doing far better with largely the same group of players. There was methodology. It was not always pretty, but you could see the bricks being put in place, week by week. 

Bruce, in contrast, is staring at a pile of rubble. The foundations of a competent team have eroded. He talks of ‘progress’, yet all of the evidence points to regression.

Fans want him to go and there were banners placed in protest outside St James’ Park following the Villa surrender.

The club’s response is to bring in Graeme Jones, a Bournemouth coach who will work alongside assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence.

Jones best arrive with a blueprint for survival because, on current form, Newcastle look incapable of winning a football match.

The foundations of a competent team have eroded under Steve Bruce’s management

Indeed, the club’s plight is captured by Javier Manquillo having to play at Villa Park for the first time since November because DeAndre Yedlin’s work permit had expired and was not renewed in time.

Villa won thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore. They are a team with identity, ingenuity and incision.

Newcastle host another side with a clear strategy tomorrow – Leeds United, who were 5-2 winners in the reverse fixture last month. Bruce now needs to come up with a plan to combat their energy and movement.

What would the mighty Rafa do? 

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