Steve Bruce’s Newcastle side have been very inconsistent since he arrived at the club, but according to Sky Sports’ Charlie Nicholas, he is doing a better job than Rafa Benitez.
It is quite an odd assessment to make and one that he may not have dared to assert after their pitiful defeat at Aston Villa, though a draw with Manchester City does give the Magpies boss some credibility.
However, Rafa Benitez beat the champions last season with a squad that didn’t contain signings like Joelinton and Miguel Almiron.
Fans certainly think Nicholas is completely wrong in his comments, though Newcastle have been nicking points here and there recently, as he suggests.
Nicholas also claimed that Bruce has brought passion back to Newcastle, but how he has come by that judgement is anyone’s guess, as if anything attendances and the mood around St James’ Park have declined.
It was Benitez’s name on the fans lips at Fulham at the end of last season, something which Bruce is yet to enjoy, and likely won’t until he makes a significant impact on the club.
There is no doubt that the Magpies boss faces a bit of an uphill battle to sway fan opinion, and slowly but surely he is beginning to impress some, though there will seemingly always be love for Benitez.
In other Newcastle news, fans have been lavishing praise on a top performer following his display against Man City and subsequent inclusion in Alan Shearer’s Premier League Team of the Week.
