Newcastle United and the Mags ‘ enemy of the status quo?’

If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt of a ‘Black ‘& White’ persuasion. ‘You’ll also notice that as a United supporter, you’re currently under media attack from all sides.

Everyone’s second club of the 90’s have recently evolved into a modern day pariah.

Why is this? ‘Well, for one a Saudi takeover has many seething, but I’m not here to talk about that on this occasion. No, this week’s ‘fury’ is all about the peddling of an underperforming manager, and ‘our’ perceived role in this crime.

Why is Mr Bruce’s departure provoking such condemnation of the Newcastle United rank and file?

I put it to you that we are watching a rerun of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes.’ ‘From my pew, all I could see was a guy completely out of his depth in modern day football. He is tactically non-existent and has the win percentage record to prove it with a questionable work ethic.

Ah, but he’s a great bloke I hear some of you say? ‘Really? I don’t know him, but I don’t recall many occasions where he let an interviewer finish a sentence. Rude.

This is a man so thin skinned that he has a member of the ‘fourth estate’ in Craig Hope banned from the SJP media zone for having the temerity to question him. Let’s add ‘petulant’ to the list. He’s also a person who lets everyone know that he’s ‘rhino skinned‘ and definitely ‘not a quitter.’ ‘Well, a quick glance down his management resum’ will tell you that that’s bullshit.

I’m not going to even start about the plethora of ‘days off.’

I’ve always seen Steve Bruce as a bit of a bluffer and for all the reasons above, my opinion hasn’t changed following the last two & a bit years. ‘I hoped he’d succeed at our club, but had little confidence. ‘I’m therefore completely stumped as to why he has become some kind of ‘National Treasure.’ ‘He’s hardly Sir Bobby, is he?

We’ve been roundly condemned this week by members of the national press. ‘The Mail’s Martin Samuel has weighed in. His cohort, Oliver Holt has been even more scathing. ‘When Bruce exited stage left at both Sunderland and Aston Villa, some of the former’s fans pelted coins at him, the latter, spherical green veg.

Where were the hours of TalkSport outrage then?

On top of dishing it out in the flesh, much criticism has been dealt out online. ‘I despise keyboard warriors spewing venom too. However,’let’s face it; these weird, faceless trolls are usually a vocal minority and hardly representative of any broader fan base.

I’ve just listened to a bit of Luke Edwards’ condemnation (of us) on that self same radio station. ‘If you’re a Twitter user, you’ll know all about this scribe. ‘For someone who’s covered United for twenty odd years you’d like to think he’d have our backs? Not so.

If I take you back a few years to another unsuccessful manager, in Steve McClaren.

To be honest, I believe he got a lot more grief from the stands than our most recent head coach. Ah, but he’s the ‘red top’ christened ‘Wally with a Brolly‘; the ‘Turniphead.’ ‘That’s ok then.

The NE sporting press were hyper critical at that time, and Mr Edwards was front and centre. ‘Why is Bruce any different? ‘I’ll leave you to your own conclusion. ‘Mine, however is that he became far too ‘pally’ with the manager and therefore was constantly writing from that skewed perspective. ‘He quickly became his ‘mouthpiece’ and for these reasons alone, everything he says on the subject should be approached with healthy scepticism.

The whiff of hypocrisy is in the air, brothers and sisters. I think we’re going to need to don some of that famous ‘rhino skin’. ‘I believe we’ve just become the enemy of the status quo.

Buckle up. ‘I reckon it’s going to be some ride.

Nick Clark – @Clark5Nick

Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme on Steve Bruce’s time at their club ‘ click here

Aston Villa fan on Steve Bruce’s time at his club ‘ click here

Louise Taylor (The Guardian) covering Steve Bruce’s departure from Sunderland ‘ click here’