Ex-United full-back Warren Barton has offered words of advice to under-fire defender Titus Bramble.
Bramble has never really won over the Toon Army, and hardly surprising with the displays we have seen since his £5m transfer from Ipswich Town, not least the game on Sunday against Bolton.
We were given a copy of Bramble’s last five games for Ipswich before Sir Bobby Robson signed him, and TRUST ME … it was horror viewing!
But Robson backed his judgement, and Graeme Souness soon followed him out of the door, as both picked up their P45s for sticking by the Under-21 international.
However, Barton says the play can just buckle down and try and get it right.
Barton: ‘All I would say to the likes of Titus is – don’t hide.
‘It wasn’t always rosy in the garden for me at Newcastle and you have to be big enough to take the stick if it comes your way. The only way to deal with the pressure is to give everything, but at the same time don’t try too hard.
‘That sounds complicated but I always remember John Beresford coming up to me after a game and saying I was trying too hard to please people.
‘My problem was I was too honest.
‘But if the Geordies do see you giving it your all and trying to eradicate errors, they will always back you.
‘Most Newcastle fans aren’t stupid and they know that the re-building at United is still going on.
‘Glenn (Roeder) has brought in Damien Duff and Oba Martins as his main signings and they will take time to bed in.
‘It would be a mistake to start judging Glenn too early.
‘Unlike people like Ruud Gullit, Glenn has a feel for the club and with Lee Clark and Terry Mac next to him at the moment they have to be given time to build foundations.
‘Plus you’ve got people like Kieron Dyer and Michael Owen injured, and any manager would struggle without them.
‘Patience isn’t really part of football now, but being realistic I think Glenn will do a good job long-term.’
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