Newcastle United: Managers being considered for potential opening

The inevitable is fast approaching for Steve Bruce and with his time limited at Newcastle United, he becomes the manager under the most fire alongside the struggling Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Steve Bruce has little time to show he can get Newcastle their first win of the season, that’s if he still has some minutes left on the job clock. They fought well and hard but succumbed to an attack too strong when they lost 3-2 to Tottenham and endured their fifth loss for the season.

They now have dropped down to 19th place – and the short-lived celebrations of the takeover are now over – and no honeymoon will be afforded to those on the Tyneside with only three points to show for after eight matchdays.

Making matters extensively worse, the Magpies have now become the worst conceding team in the league with 19 goals let in by them. This is a worrying stat, to say the least; that is 2.4 goals conceded per match.

Yes, discussions and cries for a new boss to take them forward at St. James Park have been heard for many years, however, last season’s late resurgence and positive results that helped United stay afloat in the Premier League saw Bruce keep his job.

However, taking the 16 losses from 2019-2020, the 17 losses 20/21, and five losses now over the opening eight games, he has lost 38 times from 84 played across three seasons; including last’s season’s strong ending, they’ve only managed four wins in their last 20 league outings, picking up 22 points from a possible 60.

This is the worst start for them under the Englishman, further stipulating that Newcastle have just regressed under his stewardship – this is the first time under Steve Bruce that the club have lost five of their opening eight games.

This has sparked the talks of potential new suitors to take over at Newcastle United

Three names have been mentioned more often than not and who are regarded as serious contenders for the job if/when it is to come available. Those three names: Steven Gerrard, Roberto Martinez, and Unai Emery, all of whom are currently in a job and with a team in a far better situation than the Magpies.

The times on the Steve Bruce situation:

"Newcastle United will this week step up their search for a new manager with Roberto Martínez, Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery emerging as leading contenders to replace Steve Bruce.Newcastle were yesterday beaten 3-2 by Tottenham Hotspur in their first match under Saudi Arabian ownership with Yasir al-Rumayyan, the new chairman, and the director Amanda Staveley in attendance at St James’ Park.Bruce had not been expected to retain his position after the takeover and a capacity crowd called for his dismissal. All decisions will be taken by the board of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 80 per cent of the club, with al-Rumayyan the PIF’s governor. It is thought Bruce will stay until a replacement is found. (Via: thetimes.co.uk)"

Managers linked to the club
Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool legend and former captain has spoken around the links to the Newcastle job and has mostly brushed any rumours aside, talking only about the “respect” he has for the man he will likely replace, stating he only kept a close eye on the Englishman’s milestone of 1000 games.

Roberto Martinez

The Belgium national team manager made his intentions clear before the current campaign got underway; he was adamant about returning to club action with England a prime destination for the Spaniard.

This was all while the Tottenham job was up for grabs, although, Daniel Levy and the Spurs’ board had him lower down on their list of targets. The Mirror reports that Martinez could be set up to act as both the Belgium team and Premier League team’s manager if he was to get the Newcastle post.

Unai Emry

The former Arsenal boss, now Villarreal’s man in charge, and multiple Europa League winner is also said to be on the shortlist of potential suitors. The talk is he is not the new owners first choice but certainly one high up in the order.

Of the managers in the running for the soon-to-be-vacant post, it appears Stevie G is the front runner. All reports point towards a Gerrard move but it is still too early to say who will get the job with the trio of managers staying tight-lipped on their individual situations.

The club’s ambitions have taken a drastic change and time for fighting for survival will become a thing of the past and in around the top spots is where the new owners want to be messing around.