Newcastle United Takeover: Bruce, Rafa, or Poch?

No, the sale of Newcastle United has not yet gone through. We are, however, anticipating an announcement within the next week. So while we wait, speculation never killed anybody... I think. So LET’S GO.

There are three managers whose name keeps popping up when it comes to Newcastle United’s takeover: Steve Bruce, Rafa Benitez, Mauricio Pochettino. Two of those names are quality, one is Steve Bruce. Yet, they’re all in the running for the managerial position if Newcastle United is sold this summer to the Saudi Arabian PiF.

Rafa Benitez: Return of the Saint?

Rafa Benitez’s name has continually popped up as one that fans would be interested in having, including being interested in coming back himself. However, some of his lustre has been lost as some fans believe his departure was due to self-enrichment rather than the good of Newcastle United.

In the view of this writer, Rafa Benitez had done all he could with an owner and board that wouldn’t back his vision. Sure, they may have been willing to spend larger sums of money than they had in the past, but it wasn’t to the liking of Rafa and how he wanted to build his team. A manager needs to be given room to define their vision, and a lack of control over who the club signs because of a silly youth player rule was detrimental.

Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United

Benitez still has a good amount of years left in him as a manager before he starts to move into retirement. The big question is whether he’d be able to guide Newcastle United into a Champions League spot within those few years. It took Manchester City some time before they made their foray into Europe, and Rafa would be working with a new ownership team looking for immediate competition. Will his style fit?

Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham’s past...Newcastle’s future?

I think only Mauricio Pochettino could have brought that Tottenham team to their runner-up finish in the Champions League in the 2018-2019 season. He’s like Rafa in how strict he is with his players, but he certainly has favored an eye-catching style of football that had made Tottenham one of the best teams in the Premier League to watch.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Pochettino is the definite safe choice for Newcastle United. He’s an exciting manager, with a solid management style, and a good record of accomplishment in the Champions League that would bring European nights back to Newcastle. He’s the name constantly being thrown around, as well as some outlets going as far as to attempt to “confirm” Newcastle United’s buyers having made an offer already to the man.

You can’t go wrong with Poch, in fact, it could only go right with him.

Steve Bruce: Undercover genius or right place right time?

Ah, Steve Bruce. I don’t hate the man and respect his determination and belief in himself. It’s also hard to fault the potential new owners from considering him seeing as they’ve not seen his performance with a sizable war chest made available to him. Steve Bruce is currently playing Mike Ashley’s game, and he’s working with what he’s got.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Will he be able to identify players that will truly be a boon to the club? How will he strategize a team that is made up of expensive playmakers and goal scorers? Steve Bruce is a low tier manager about to be given high profile owners.

How will it play out?

I’m glad you asked. Once the takeover goes through, and it should go through within days, Steve Bruce will not be fired. It wouldn’t make sense to fire Steve Bruce just yet. The Premier League is about to be back in action with Project Restart a go. This would give the new owners a modicum of time to work with the manager and get a sense as to whether they mesh or not.

Then he gets terminated.

Let’s not act like Bruce is keeping his job here. He has to put on a smiley face for the cameras and the press, but even he knows that his time with Newcastle is short and he’ll be replaced. With who?

Mauricio Pochettino. I’m calling it now that Steve Bruce finishes out the season, gets terminated within the week and Pochettino immediately being announced the successor. While I love Rafa Benitez and would love to see him return, it would be a mistake for the new owners of Newcastle United pass up an opportunity on Pochettino who throughout his time at Tottenham was one of the best managers in the Premier League.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Who would you want as Newcastle United’s manager under the new owners? Leave a comment below! Or angrily Tweet at us if that’s your thing.