From losing one of the most prestigious managers in world football to losing two of their star players from the last season, Newcastle United are a club in a bit of a bother at the moment.
Rafa Benitez did extremely well with the restrictions he had at the club but he is now replaced by Steve Bruce, a decision not widely accepted by the Newcastle faithful.
We are less than a month away from the start of the new campaign and the former Aston Villa boss will need his team and his fans to get behind him next season.
But what can he do to win their trust? Here are three things Bruce needs to sort out at St James’ Park to try and get the club back to its glory days:
Find Lost Identity
The Magpies are no longer giants in the Premier League. They came up from the Championship not so long ago, but are still a side struggling in the top flight, and that needs to change quickly. Under the former manager, the style of play was cautious and every point gained against any side in the competition seemed like a bonus. But Bruce needs to change this approach and has to make sure that even the best teams in the competition are not comfortable playing them next season. Newcastle United, as a club, has lost its identity recently and Bruce needs to start his repair work to try and get them back to their previous best.
Smart Scouting
While Bruce has successfully worked under restricted environments, Newcastle United is a different challenge for him. There have been talks of Bruce getting a decent £90m to restructure the team in the limited time he will get. He needs to invest in players all around the park, which will not be easy under Mike Ashley. So the manager and his recruitment team need to work extra time to find the right players who fit the requirements at Tyneside. We have seen many teams in recent times going all out with their transfer budget but struggling to touch the 30 point mark in the league. So, a smart scouting system is essential for Bruce where he can add the right players to the mix and ensure the players present at the club can adjust accordingly.
Winning The Fans Back
But the most important step for Bruce will be to try and win the fans back. Most Newcastle United faithful are not really excited about the appointment of the 58-year old. But the Corbridge born gaffer has enough experience in the top flight to help his team challenge the best in the country. So Bruce will need to have his side playing a brand of football that keeps the fans on their toes. The expectations for this season are pretty low at St James’ Park but their new manager has every chance to start his own chapter at this historic club and erase the animosity which the fans have towards him at the moment.
