Newcastle situation comes to a head after player bust-up post Tottenham

Newcastle defeated highlighted by player tunnel bust-up

Newly-purchased Newcastle are hardly out of the woods after a Saudi-backed consortium arrested the club from the grip of Mike Ashley, after the Magpies lost at home to Tottenham 3-2 at the weekend.

The result, which was more or less expected given the persistence of Steve Bruce at the helm of a steadily-sinking ship despite the regime change, was highlighted by tunnel bust-up between club captain Jamaal Lascelles and midfielder Isaac Hayden.

According to Daily Mail North East Football correspondent Craig Hope, a heated confrontation took place just after full-time in the tunnel and reached the point of meltdown as to where club staff had to intervene to avoid an even bigger incident.

Exclusive: Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles & team-mate Isaac Hayden pulled apart by staff during post-match bust-up as Steve Bruce reign descends into anarchy. Sources say players want new owners to intervene now & change manager as tensions rise #nufc https://t.co/4NWnhaJTct

— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) October 18, 2021

In the wake of the club’s takeover by new majority ownership through Public Investment Fund, in-fighting and resentment directed at Bruce has increased, with players later voicing unhappiness under the command of the former Manchester United center-back after Lascelles & Hayden exchanged shoves while coming head-to-head during the exchange.

Bruce left without a paddle by new ownership

With recent links citing Newcastle narrowing a managerial shortlist down to Belgian manager Roberto Martinez, Villarreal headmaster Unai Emery, and Glasgow Rangers’ Steven Gerrard, some have levied criticism for the club’s new ownership in their treatment of Steve Bruce.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United waves during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on October 17, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have both leapt to the defense of Bruce recently, with Neville unleashing on Monday Night Football likening the way Newcastle are treating Bruce as employment abuse;

“This thing with Steve Bruce is totally wrong. If it was any other walk of life, it would be classed as employment abuse. Bruce needs clarity.

The leaks in the last week, two weeks, four weeks. Bruce deserves to be treated with decency. Stop using Steve Bruce as a shield for criticism as a football club.”

Carragher echoed a similar sentiment;

“Steve Bruce has got a real problem. The ownership had a really poor week. 

They messed up the managerial situation right away. An ownership should not be coming in and feeding journalists stories (about managers being sacked). It’s not been a great start for them.

They’ve conceded more goals than anyone in the Premier League, this back four is a Championship back four – they’re not good enough for this level.

They’ve got really poor defenders and that’s a big problem for them. They need three or four defenders in January to stay up, there’s no doubt about that.” Note: quotes via Sport Bible.