Paulo Fonseca latest to be linked with Newcastle as Steve Bruce comments on future

Steve Bruce’s 1,000th match in management got off to a bang but ended in yet another defeat as Newcastle’s winless start to the 2021/22 Premier League season stretched to eight matches.

Bruce, who survived the chop last week, is now 1/20 to be the top-flight’s second managerial casualty of the season with the 19th-placed Toon picking up just three points from a possible 24 so far, while no team has conceded more goals than their 19.

"I will carry on as best I can until I hear otherwise,” he said after the game when asked if he’ll still be at the helm away to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

“The owners have conducted themselves respectfully since they came in. As long as I don't hear otherwise, I will go into work tomorrow."

Bruce has handled himself with dignity in the face of overwhelming pressure, criticism, and intense speculation over his future.

On a human level you've got to feel for the 60-year-old, yet it's difficult to see him lasting much longer after the latest loss. However, football is jam-packed with surprises, so we'll have to see what direction the new owners decide to take.

Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Unai Emery, Antonio Conte, and Lucien Favre are just a handful of a plethora of managers who continue to be linked with the club in the next Newcastle manager odds while Paulo Fonseca, 48, has become the latest boss to have his odds cut in the market.

Previously out at 25/1, Fonseca is now as short as 5/1 (Bet Victor), with best odds of 9/1 still available with Betfair.

Over the summer Fonseca was a ubiquitous presence in the managerial rumour mill, with his name featuring in the Tottenham, Everton, Wolves, and Crystal Palace manager markets.

He came closest to taking charge of Spurs. In fact, he'd even verbally agreed to become Jose Mourinho's successor only for the club's managing director Fabio Paratici to pull the plug on a deal.

The Portuguese coach, who remains out of work, previously led Roma through to the Europa League semi-finals and has lifted nine trophies to date; seven of which came during an immensely successful spell at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, while he won domestic cups in his homeland with Porto and Braga.

Perhaps more relative to Newcastle, Fonseca led mid-table Portuguese side Paços de Ferreira to an incredibly impressive 3rd place finish, progression into the Champions League qualifying round, and the last-four of the Portuguese Cup - after his departure the club fell to 15th the following season.

Fonseca favours an attractive and attack-minded brand of football - music to the ears of Magpies fans - and will not change his principles for anyone: "I cannot be a different way. All my teams will have these intentions. Against the biggest teams, I'm not sending out my teams to defend near their own box."

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