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Bobby Moncur talking about Steve Bruce just reminds me of his infamous John Carver words

5 years ago
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As a director/employee in recent years, Bobby Moncur has been a regular staunch defender of his boss.

The former Newcastle United star, willing to say pretty much anything to back up Mike Ashley’s shameful running of the football club.

A great shame when he was such a good player and captain of NUFC back in the day.

Just like Shola Ameobi and others earlier this summer, it was only a matter of time before Bobby Moncur was wheeled out to tell fans to get behind the club, Steve Bruce, Mike Ashley, whatever…yet again.

Forty eight hours ahead of Newcastle facing Arsenal, Moncur has made his appearance.

When I see what he has to say, I can’t help but think of what he (Bobby Moncur) was saying about John Carver back in 2015.

Back in March 2015, John Carver was busy trying to get Newcastle relegated from what had appeared impossible when taking over halfway through the season.

Halfway through a run of 18 games where Carver managed two wins, four draws and 12 defeats, Bobby Moncur told Newcastle fans that he should be given the job on a permanent basis. After only surviving on the final day of the season with that Jonas Gutierrez inspired win over West Ham, even Mike Ashley wasn’t daft enough to think he could still make Jon Carver permanent, though he undoubtedly wanted to. Instead shifting to Steve McClaren who had just been sacked by Championship Derby.

Bobby Moncur speaking to The Chronicle – 10 March 2015:

“I have seen John Carver at close hand working with the players at Newcastle United and I have to say it’s impressive to see.

“There are people who like the idea of a big name in charge but I think Newcastle have been down that route before.

“You don’t get bigger names in football than Ruud Gullit, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish or Ossie Ardiles for example.

“I see where people are coming from in that perhaps John does not have the worldwide fame to attract player but he’s so passionate about the cub he can still sell the club to them and that makes up for it. One thing is for sure he fits in with what the club are looking for.

“He would work well with Lee Charnley and Graham Carr and I think three heads are better than one with transfers.

“JC already understands those rules and if he did get that top 10 place he would deserve a crack at the job on a full-time basis.”

Now four years and five months later, it is all sounding a bit groundhog day, Bobby Moncur telling us to put our trust in Mike Ashley’s latest head coach, brought in from the lower divisions yet again and given no power beyond training and picking the team, as well as representing the club/Ashley to the media.

Bobby Moncur first having a go at the (non-existent) fans who think the big problem with Steve Bruce is that he used to manage down the road.

Bobby Moncur speaking to The Chronicle – 9 August 2019:

“Anybody who is pointing to the fact that Steve Bruce managed Sunderland, so what?

“What has any of that got to do with his managerial skills? It is an absolute load of nonsense.

“The size of the job is massive.

“He came over to China at late notice to start preparing the team, he was half asleep when he got here but he started work straight away.

“Steve, Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence know exactly what they’re up against.

“That for me is quite good – they can see the obstacles they have.

“Hopefully, the supporters are right behind Steve Bruce, regardless of what happened outside the playing side of things, they have to back him.

“The page of the history books have been turned again and sadly Rafa Benitez is gone, now we have to look at the future and Steve Bruce is here. Who is anybody to have a go at him?

“You have to give him an equal chance to do things the way he wants to do it and then judge him on results like every manager that has come before him.”

Newcastle fans will judge Steve Bruce on the results he gets BUT in the meantime they/we are perfectly entitled to question his appointment when no other Premier League club would have given him a job, as well as questioning why Ashley forced out Rafa Benitez. Not to mention the make it up as you go along recruitment, Steve Bruce fooling nobody when claiming he is playing a part in signing players, all of which were targeted before Bruce even got the job.

Mike Ashley has said he doesn’t understand why fans aren’t over the moon because he has given the job to a Geordie.

No doubt he is equally/deliberately confused as to why we all very much liked having a Spaniard in charge.

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