Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has joined his on-screen partner Gary Neville in making controversial comments about the Newcastle supporters.
Neville and Carragher both recently took part in a show on Sky Sports that previewed the new Premier League season, where they spoke with a number of fans from a host of different teams.
The ex-Manchester United defender questioned the attitude of fans towards Rafa Benitez as he admitted that his departure was something he had expected for a while.
However, Carragher’s thoughts on Newcastle focused on the fans and their feelings towards Steve Bruce following his appointment over the summer.
As cited the Chronicle, he said:
Rather than comparing Steve Bruce to Rafa Benitez, you’ve got to compare him to the managers you’ve had before Rafa Benitez because everyone was shocked you got Benitez. It just fitted.
Alan Pardew, Steve McClaren, Chris Hughton…Steve Bruce is in that category of manager of what Newcastle should have or had before Benitez.
I think it’s unfair on Steve Bruce.
Read Newcastle verdict
The comments from Carragher are another example of why supporters have become so frustrated with the media coverage that the club have endured this season and over the summer.
The reality of the situation that Newcastle find themselves in is not one that reflects what Carragher is saying. No Newcastle fan in their right mind is comparing Steve Bruce with Benitez, because as the former Liverpool man points out, it would be ludicrous to do so.
Carragher missed the fact that the unhappiness in the fan base does not solely come from the appointment of Bruce, but the reasons behind it and what it represents.
The lack of ambition from the owners, the lack of clarity surrounding the club and any potential takeover. It has reached breaking point with a lot of supporters.
It has been a summer of uncertainty for fans and it would be naive to think that the current mood surrounding the club stems only from the change in the dugout.
