Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has offered a firm defence of his often-criticised style of football by noting the top-six sides we have toppled with it.
Bruce has overseen 35 matches across all competitions since succeeding Rafa Benitez at the St. James’ Park helm last year, and has managed to claim 12 wins of which nine have come in the Premier League.
Only six top-flight clubs have lost on more occasions than we after 29 league fixtures, while no side has scored fewer times with basement boys Norwich City the only other team to have struck the back of the net just 25 times to date.
January’s goalless draw with Norwich and the goalless FA Cup tie with League One Oxford United also led to supporters booing the team off the field as frustrations boiled over.
Yet even still, Bruce argues there has been ‘nothing wrong’ with how the Magpies have played during his tenure, having been able to beat Tottenham Hotspur in north London, beat Manchester United and Chelsea on home soil and held defending champions Manchester City to a draw.
“I didn’t come in and say I could change it all tomorrow,” Bruce told the Chronicle. “They have played a certain way under the previous manager and they were comfortable with it.
“So I then thought if they were comfortable, I wouldn’t implement change just yet. By the way, there is nothing wrong with how we’ve played.
“We beat Tottenham, Man United and Chelsea – and drew with Man City, that is some achievement from a team from the bottom half of the division.”
Does Bruce have the right to defend the performances we've seen?
Yes, it's got results
No, it's been awful to watch
While Bruce is offering a staunch defence of his style during the enforced break, he has previously vowed to adapt his system following suggestions that his tactics confused the players.
The boss again aimed to produce a more attacking team earlier this year when statistics revealed we were in the bottom three for passes, possession, shots on goal, expected goals and shots conceded.
But after that, rather than setting the world alight, Bruce was forced to defend accusations of the Toon being lucky as results continued to flatline; with one Premier League win between beating Crystal Palace on December 21 and securing a 1-0 victory away to Southampton on March 7.
If – perhaps more so than when – the season continues, it would be no surprise to see the Toon trudge back out onto the field playing the same dreary blend of football we have seen too many times this season.
In other Newcastle United news, the club have been backed to reject the chance to sign a €10m man this summer.