SOMETIMES red cards change games, and sometimes they are a reflection of the game. Isaac Hayden’s dismissal against Leicester on Sunday was in the latter category. Of course it became easier for Leicester once Newcastle had been reduced to 10 men but nobody should think that the 5-0 scoreline was solely the result of the midfielder’s reckless lunge.
It may only have been 1-0 at the time, but a heavy defeat was definitely already in the pipeline – even if Steve Bruce’s fury at his side’s “surrender” was understandable.
The humiliation at the KingPower leaves Newcastle second bottom of the table and, already, in major trouble. The one team below them, Watford, have already changed their manager. The only consolation is that at this stage last season, Newcastle had three points fewer than they have now and they still ended up surviving relatively comfortably.
From the first game of the season this has been coming for NUFC. There is no identity under Steve Bruce, no idea of what he wants or what the team is supposed to be. It was evident from the off. Serious questions need to be asked before it’s too late.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) September 29, 2019
But can anybody, realistically, see where a similar improvement may come from? Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez, whose partnership was so vital in the upturn in form, have both gone. The decision not to take up an option to sign Rondon permanently for £16.5m looks increasingly baffling.
He had proved he fitted into Newcastle's system, he worked hard, and as well as being adept at operating as a very isolated front man could be relied upon for 10 or more goals a season. More than that he was popular with fans, somebody who represented the fundamental virtues of effort and courage that can inspire others. Not to sign him because he was older than an arbitrary threshold set by Mike Ashley makes no economic sense.
Had Rondon been signed, Newcastle would not have had to spend £40m on Joelinton. The Brazilian is seven years younger than the Venezuelan and so in theory offers greater resale value. It would be ludicrous to write Joelinton off on the basis of seven games but even the process of adapting to a different centre-forward made the beginning of this season needlessly difficult.
And Joelinton is very different to Rondon. He is not a leader of a line but a forward who likes to drop deep, which may explain why Fabian Schar has had more shots than him in the last five games. He may settle or he may not but why gamble £40m on that when you could have had a near enough sure thing for two and half times less? That’s not Ashley being parsimonious, it just makes no economic sense.
Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Longstaff, Hayden, Almiron, Muto and Joelinton are all very good PL players – but it’s clear they have no idea what the tactics are in this side (if tactics exist?)
Bruce *HAS* to go quickly before it’s too late.
— David Pick (@davidpick1987) September 29, 2019
All of which leaves Steve Bruce in a near-impossible position. Being manager of Newcastle is the job he always dreamed of, one he turned down twice before, and this time perhaps he felt the offer wouldn’t come again. But he has been made to seem increasingly hapless, looking on hopelessly as everything collapses around him.
Perhaps the job is essentially impossible, and it is tribute to the talents of Rafa Benitez that he made such a good fist of it for so long, but it’s hard to recall many moments as revealing as that during the home defeat to Arsenal when Jetro Willems came on and for a couple of minutes played in the wrong position as Bruce raged from his technical area.
It’s hard to identify any positives. When Bruce was appointed Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley promised “front foot football”. How well is that going? Four goals in seven games, the joint-lowest in the division, the lowest possession stats and the fewest touches in the opposition box. None of which would be too troubling if Newcastle could defend. Last season they conceded three or more goals in a game on four occasions over the whole league season. They’ve done it three times already this.
It’s equally hard to see how the situation can be rectified. This is an average squad that has lost its sense of purpose, led by a manager who already seems to be regarded by many as a lame duck. What is needed is a complete overhaul of the culture of the club, but that will not happen while Ashley remains as owner, and there is no prospect of him selling any time soon.
And so the dismal cycle goes on. Bruce looks incapable of stopping it but, then, who could?
