Newcastle United: Lee Ryder revelation that Steve Bruce’s backroom team tried to switch tactics before Palace defeat sparks outrage

According to a report from Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder, Newcastle United’s backroom staff studied the possibility of playing with two strikers before their 1-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace on Saturday – with supporters left wondering why they decided to stick with their usual formation.

The Magpies, who were downed courtesy of a superb Patrick van Aanholt free-kick at the end of the first half, managed to test Palace keeper Vicente Guaita with stinging efforts from Joelinton and Fabian Schar but to no avail – with new loan signing Valentino Lazaro being sent off in stoppage time to add more misery.

Now, thanks to Ryder’s revelation, it appears Bruce and his backroom team contemplated changing things for the encounter – studying the possibility of playing two up front. However, despite testing a 5-3-2 set up in training all week, Newcastle emerged in their usual 5-4-1 formation – going without a Premier League goal since their 2-2 draw at Everton.

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As a result, many supporters have lambasted the tactical decision – here’s what they had to say.

I bet that Bruce/Agnew/Clemence ‘Playbook’ is about 1 page long. All utterly incompetent and out of their depth. Luckily for them they’re steering us back down to their level in the championship

— Craig (@1CraigAllan) February 23, 2020

Weve played a bck 5 for 2 seasons, drilled into them by 1 manager, ur telling me management / coaching staff cant revert bck to a 4 in which every1 of those players would of grown up playing, its nonsence for gods sake, bruce is a fraud, a dinosaur, get rid before he relegates us

— David Robson (@dagvidjunior) February 23, 2020

I don’t have any faith in those two. I watched a game a few weeks ago where Clemence was literally just copying everything Bruce was doing on the touchline. He was like Bradley Walsh in the Mike Bassett film.

— RLBelly 🌹⚫️⚪️🍀 (@RyanLongBelly) February 23, 2020

I’m sorry but if (qualified) coaches can’t change a system where which the players have played for one season into a back four. Which most of the players probably played since they were 11 then honestly what is the point of them being there ??🤷🏻‍♂️#bruceout

— Daniel Ruffell (@ruffelldan) February 23, 2020