Charlie Nicholas at least gets one thing right “Everyone dislikes Ashley”
Charlie Nicholas is back on his favourite topic.
Every time a match comes around, he goes out of his way to say what a great job Steve Bruce is doing, as though he is managing Gateshead and not Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Ahead of Newcastle playing Manchester City, Charlie Nicholas declares: ‘I have nothing but compliments for the way Bruce goes about his business.’
Funny that he doesn’t mention how shocking the negative tactics were at Aston Villa, that gifted Villa control and domination, meaning the match was over in 36 minutes as the home side went two up.
I don’t necessarily expect Newcastle to match Man City but surely NUFC should at least be trying to go toe to toe with a poor to average Aston Villa side.
Also strange that Charlie Nicholas doesn’t even mention that Rafa Benitez stopped a run of 22 games (home and away) without a win against Man City, with that 2-1 win only 10 months ago.
Indeed, Rafa managed Newcastle three times at St James Park against Manchester City and the scores were 1-1, 0-1 and 2-1. Which should give us some hope of getting something on Saturday, or at least try to. Yet Charlie Nicholas suggests it should just be a case of keeping the score down.
With £80m spent on three attacking players in 2019, there should be every expectation of having a real go at home against anybody, unless that recruitment process is fatally flawed and the owner insists the club had to spend £40m on a specific Brazilian striker for some reason – who looks anything but a goalscorer.
Charlie Nicholas sees it as all a bit desperate and the club getting relegated unless further signings are made, the Sky Sports pundit saying: ‘Steve Bruce needs to speak to Mike Ashley in January. Everyone dislikes Ashley but can he help the manager? Bruce needs help because if they survive under his control, it might be even more valuable. This opens up the option, by the time summer comes, to sell the club.’
Sadly, surviving in the Premier League is pretty much the start and end of Mike Ashley’s ambitions at NUFC, the club has been supposedly up for sale (according to Ashley) without been sold and surviving this season in the top tier, would only seem to ensure Mike Ashley staying, not going.
Charlie Nicholas talking to Sky Sports:
“Manchester City are unconvincing but the same can be said of Liverpool.
“At this time of the year, with the fixture congestion and the confusion of injuries, you never know.
“Ederson is back, which is a big positive for City, although the full-backs are worrying and concerning, as are the centre-backs.
“Newcastle have the togetherness and fighting spirit, and every now and again, they will come in with a good result.
“Steve Bruce needs to speak to Mike Ashley in January.
“Everyone dislikes Ashley but can he help the manager?
“Bruce needs help because if they survive under his control, it might be even more valuable.
“This opens up the option, by the time summer comes, to sell the club.
“You live and hope but I can only see Man City winning this one.
“I don’t see it being stylish and it will be a day of frustration.
“But they will pick off Newcastle nevertheless, who will not want to lose by too many.
“I have nothing but compliments for the way Bruce goes about his business.
“This one is a free swing but he knows if they loosen up they could lose four or five and goal difference could be valuable.
“Prediction is Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 2”
If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk