CRAIG HOPE: Bruce should stay humble and accept the credit he's given

CRAIG HOPE: Rather than telling critics to ‘eat humble pie’, Steve Bruce should stay humble and accept what credit comes his way… he and his players have saved Newcastle’s season, but the mess was of their own making

• Newcastle – and Steve Bruce – finished the league season strong to finish 12th
• Helped by the goals of loanee Joe Willock they have been praised by many
• Steve Bruce should stay humble… it is a myth that Newcastle’s squad is limited
• They are a club disconnected from its fanbase with falling attendances to match the lowering of expectation and will start 2021-22 in their perennial purgatory

‘Criticism’ has made way for ‘credit’ as the buzz word around Newcastle United. Who deserves it? Who wants it? Who is dispensing with it?

On the back of their 12th-placed finish, Steve Bruce is in the market for some, calling on those who flagged concern amid a run of two wins in 21 to ‘eat humble pie’.

Such comments needlessly rile supporters, 95 per cent of whom used a local newspaper survey to call for him to go in March. What they see now is an attempt to render previous criticism null and void on the back of improvement.

Steve Bruce told his critics to ‘eat humble pie’ amid Newcastle’s impressive end to the season

The club’s fortunes were turned around, in part, by the goals of Arsenal loanee Joe Willock

Rather than talk of ‘humble pie’, Bruce should stay humble and accept what praise deservedly comes the way of him and his team.

Driven by the goals of loanee Joe Willock – seven in as many matches – they have belatedly realised their potential during the final weeks of the campaign, winning five from eight to ease relegation fears.

For one myth that needs to be debunked is that Bruce was working with a limited set of players all along. This theory has been presented for the past two seasons in mitigation against Newcastle’s absence of identity, desperate performances and over-reliance on certain players, the idea being that Bruce was making the best of a bad job.

In reality, it is a squad with sufficient talent and character capable of far more than residence in the bottom six for half a season. They finished 10th with lesser tools in 2018.

It is a myth that Newcastle’s squad is limited – they finished 10th with lesser tools in 2018

Yes, injuries and Covid-19 have been unhelpful this term, but Newcastle were not alone in this. They have also been just as unwatchable with their best players available. Star player Allan Saint-Maximin, for example, featured in 11 of their 17 Premier League defeats, likewise top scorer Callum Wilson.

Criticism, then, was valid. You could argue some of it was constructive, given it highlighted selection and strategic shortcomings that have been addressed in recent weeks.

And so to ‘credit’. In the wake of a 3-0 defeat at Brighton in March, owner Mike Ashley let it be known within 12 hours that Bruce was going nowhere, despite the consensus being that his tenure had reached expiry.

It was, on reflection, an inspired move, immediately shifting the onus back on the players – even if some of them wanted a different boss, they weren’t getting one.

Bruce changed personnel and shape and, with it, changed the course of Newcastle’s season. Credit, there you have it.

Newcastle are a club stuck in perennial purgatory, disconnected from their fanbase

Two wins against relegated teams in the final week have perhaps masked the story of a turbulent campaign in terms of league position, but there is no doubt it has finished amid relative calm and a collective will to be better than they were.

Beyond that, the January arrival of coach Graeme Jones – as well as Willock’s signing – have been hailed by those close to the dressing-room as having a major impact on and off the pitch.

Jones has won respect and offered a fresh voice when one was needed as Newcastle’s winter of discontent threatened to send them back to the Championship.

Supporter dissatisfaction remains – evidence by Bruce being booed at St James’ Park last week – but there is unlikely to be a change of head coach this summer, not when Ashley has seen how survival can be achieved with the staff and players already in situ.

The arrival of Graeme Jones (right) in the dugout has been hailed as having a massive impact

The permanent signing of Willock would buy some positivity, but that could be a long shot based on cost and, more so, the prospect of Arsenal wanting him among their number.

In all likelihood, Newcastle will head into next season stuck in their perennial purgatory, a club disconnected from its fanbase with falling attendances to match the lowering of expectation.

As for Bruce, a summer free of antagonistic soundings will at least allow tensions to cool, and given they have boiled over into vehement opposition to his presence, the sound of silence will be welcome.

For to quietly meet with credit and criticism (and treat those two imposters just the same) would be as wise a tactic as any going forward.

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