Former Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce's approach to management is being exposed as 'outdated' following his poor start at West Brom. That is the view of former Magpies midfielder Darren Ambrose, who believes Eddie Howe's revival at St James' Park has proven supporters right with their criticisms of the 61-year-old.
Bruce endured a tumultuous two-year spell on Tyneside, guiding the club to 13th and 12th-placed finishes before departing by mutual consent in October last year following the takeover. The former head coach left days after his 1,000th match in charge ended in a home defeat to Tottenham, with the Magpies winless after picking up only three points from their opening eight matches.
Bruce later stated the Newcastle job could be his final managerial role in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, claiming 'people wanted me to fail' as he detailed the level of abuse and criticism he received. However, the former Manchester United defender returned to the dugout four months later as Valerien Ismael's successor at the Hawthorns.
The new West Brom boss was tasked with kickstarting their promotion bid, but the club have since slipped to 13th following Monday night's home defeat to Swansea City. The result leaves the Baggies eight points adrift of the playoff spots, and Bruce has conceded it will be difficult now for his side to secure a top-six spot.
In contrast, Newcastle's latest victory at Brentford has extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches. Howe has been praised by players and pundits alike for his role in helping the Magpies climb to 14th in the table, with matches in hand on several relegation rivals.
Ambrose believes this turn of events will have vindicated Newcastle fans who blamed Bruce rather than the players, and the pundit has questioned the head coach's approach to management. He told talkSPORT: "The tactics of throwing your best eleven out there and hoping for the win, I think it doesn't work nowadays.
"Unfortunately, we've seen a decline with Steve Bruce in management. It's been at Newcastle, and prior to that as well. He's had a few promotions, and you don't manage 1,000 games and don't have some kind of awareness.
"But I think it's a little bit outdated. I think the Newcastle supporters will be pleased to a certain extent, not because they're personally attacking Steve Bruce but everyone was blaming the poor players, and that's been proved wrong now.
"Eddie Howe has come into Newcastle, and that's been proved wrong. Bruno Guimaraes can't get in because of [Jonjo] Shelvey's improvement, Ryan Fraser has improved. He is taking pleasure really in digs at Steve Bruce without actually saying it.
"We hear this in interviews with Ryan Fraser, and I get out of that that he's digging the previous regime. It sounds harsh, but I think the fans of Newcastle will be happy that this is happening."
Ambrose admits the personal abuse which Bruce received during his time in charge at St James' Park was unacceptable. However, the former Newcastle midfielder went on to highlight a 'decline' in the former head coach's win rate in recent seasons as validation for the criticism he receives.
Ambrose added: "The harsh treatment you say Newcastle fans gave Steve Bruce, personal attacks I am totally against of course, and that's what it came to. But it was becoming so stale at Newcastle.
"I don't know Steve Bruce, I'm led to believe he's a real nice guy and I am sure he is, but when I'm talking about management, he wasn't good enough. He had a massive decline, and the only reason he finished 13th in the league was because everyone else was so poor. A couple of wins and they shot up.
"For him to come in when they are sat sixth, you expect a manager bounce. It hasn't happened at all. For you then to dig out the players, I think that's the worst thing you can do.
"Over 1,005 games, you can see the decline from Aston Villa with a 45% win rate, Sheffield Wednesday there were not many games, Newcastle at 28%. It's declining, and it's now at 0% with only five games in."
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