The festive season has felt positively gloomy on Tyneside.
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Steve Bruce’s men suffered four consecutive losses over the Christmas period, including a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United on Boxing Day and were described as ‘awful’ by Times journalist Martin Hardy during their recent loss at home to Leicester City.
Their January fixture schedule isn’t kind, facing Wolves and Chelsea before a second showdown with Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton within a month.
They’ve struggled to score goals all season, finding the back of the net just 20 times in their 21 league games this term.
Bruce’s favoured front three of Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton have all scored just once so far this season. Indeed, even reserve options Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto have just one goal between them, highlighting their troubles in front of goal.
So, Bruce expressed a desire to play more attacking football in his pre-match program comments prior to yesterday’s game (posted by Lee Ryder on Twitter) as he attempts to improve things.
Steve Bruce programme notes: “The next step is to develop and evolve our style so that we can play on the front foot and consistently threaten any team in the Premier League. My approach at the moment is to play to our strengths and not change too much.” #nufc
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) January 1, 2020
His comments didn’t go down too well with the fans, here’s how some of them reacted:
Will be great in the championship
— Craig Bell (@CraigNUFC1991) January 1, 2020
Need a better midfield and attack for that. Good luck convincing Mike, as we edge closer to safety.
— Matthew (@JB4t00n) January 1, 2020
Really don’t like this mentality. No one is expecting great football but there’s some weeks when we can’t even put 3 passes together. Compare that to the football Sheff utd and Brighton are playing. There might not be much between us in terms of points but they have an identity
— colin oliver (@100Magpie) January 1, 2020
Haha to do that ashley needs to release the purse strings and we all know that wont happen
They just hope they can get the right formula by luck and as cheap as possible #ashleyout— locallad (@northernoutlaw) January 1, 2020
Evolve our style, front foot – have i watched different football to this man since aug
— David Robson (@dagvidjunior) January 1, 2020
Clueless
— NOVOCASTRIAN…9 (@Dendo99) January 1, 2020
