The manager more valuable as bait than a coach

The Newcastle United takeover is a depressing manifestation on many fronts but with some money behind them, ever-mediocre Steve Bruce’s time in charge may be coming to an end.  Bookmakers have installed one-win-in-nine-trophies expert, Steven Gerrard as their favourite.  I sincerely hope he remains in Glasgow.

When Brendan Rodgers left for Crisptown, Celtic received £9m in compensation, a fee that bridged some of the gap between Europa and Champions League money that season.  I expect Newco would receive the same for losing Gerrard.

Gerrard was perhaps saved from the sack when the league programme was curtailed in 2020 with boos from the Ibrox support as his team left the field to another defeat.  Since then, he, along with Callum Davidson at St Johnstone, have profited from Celtic’s collapse, although Davidson helped himself to twice as many trophies.  Faced with a functional and appropriately prepared Celtic, his teams have unerringly collapsed.

I see some speculation about Newco’s accounts this week (not far off my expectations).  When they are eventually released, few will argue they need a compensation figure in the region of £9m more than any player or coach at the club.  Gerrard is managerial bait.  Let’s hope Newcastle go for our old pal, Eddie Howe, currently third favourite.  They seem so well matched.