‘Pulled out a miracle’: Harry Redknapp makes Steve Bruce claim Newcastle fans won’t like

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Harry Redknapp told talkSPORT (26/08/21 at 7:50 am) that Steve Bruce ‘pulled out a miracle’ by helping Newcastle finish 12th last season.

The former Premier League boss was responding to Newcastle getting dumped out of the EFL Cup to Burnley on Wednesday night.

Bruce made several changes to his squad, including leaving some of his big names on the bench or at home, and the Magpies paid for it by losing on penalties.

But Redknapp defended the Newcastle boss for his actions and claimed ‘I do think if anyone has a weak squad then it’s Steve’, comments which clearly won’t sit well with fans.

On whether it was the right thing from Bruce to make changes when fans are demanding success: “No, I don’t think so really,” said Redknapp.

“But I do think if anyone has a weak squad then it’s Steve. I don’t know what he is supposed to do. What can he do? I think they have made one signing.

“He pulled out a miracle last year to finish where they finished in the table and he’s going to have to do another one this year because it’s going to be a relegation for Newcastle.

“You look at their squad. He’s short. And he can only do what he can do. His hands are pretty much tied for Steve Bruce.”

This constant praising of Bruce or defending of the job he is doing needs to stop.

The squad he has at his disposal at St James’ Park isn’t a ‘weak’ one, as Redknapp alluded to, but one that has seen money put into it, especially compared to a team like Burnley.

Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis are all £10m+ signings, and in some cases, £20m+.

But Bruce left some of them on the bench or at home, which just opens him up for the obvious of getting serious criticism if they lose.

Whenever Bruce has managed a club where there is serious weight on the shirt – Newcastle and Aston Villa – he has struggled to win over the fans.

From his style of play, questionable team selections, constant ‘we will be there or thereabouts’ type of attitude after the game has resulted in him being criticised so much.