Steve Bruce hits back at criticism from his former Newcastle United player Dwight Gayle with a comment made about the tactics.
The current Blackpool head coach this weekend responded sharply to what Dwight Gayle, who now plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, says when Bruce was in charge of the Magpies between 2019 and 2021.
Speaking on the Open Goal podcast, Gayle claimed Bruce lacked tactical focus, citing an instance during a match against Manchester City where Bruce allegedly told the team at half time, when they were trailing 2-0 or 3-0, “Boys, you keep asking for tactics – I don’t do tactics! Just put your boots on and work hard.”
Gayle also suggested Bruce didn’t prioritise team development, instead managing game-by-game, and only became more hands-on in training after the Saudi takeover in 2021, seemingly to prove a point.
Bruce fired back after Blackpool’s 2-0 win over Northampton Town, sarcastically referring to Gayle as “the legendary Dwight Gayle,” pointing out a missed opportunity by Gayle in an FA Cup quarter-final against Man City in June 2020, which Newcastle lost 2-0.
🗣️ Dwight Gayle on Steve Bruce’s time as Newcastle manager – with @CraigHope_DM even getting a mention. #NUFC
(via (@opengoalsport) pic.twitter.com/ixm9bRDdnj
— Adam. (@adamnufc_) March 21, 2025
🗣️ “Is that the legendary Dwight Gayle who missed the chance in the quarter-final against Man City?”
Steve Bruce has hit back at Dwight Gayle following the former Newcastle striker’s comments. 😬pic.twitter.com/zCbNJCrCQm https://t.co/SfxMTMr929
— Adam. (@adamnufc_) March 23, 2025
“He was OK,” Gayle told the Open Goal podcast. “I felt that he didn’t spend enough time working on a lot of things with us. Perhaps he was trying to go game by game rather than developing us as a team. I think we could’ve improved a lot of things.
“I remember some of the boys got chucked into the Man City shift. We had a three-game week and the gaffer chucked some of the boys under the bus in terms of who had to play Man City away.
“Me and Matt Ritchie were asking for tactical improvements for weeks, months. We came in at half-time and we were two or three down, and he was like, ‘boys, you keep asking for tactics, I don’t do tactics; just put your boots on and work hard’.”
Bruce told BBC Radio Lancashire: “Is that the legendary Dwight Gayle, who missed the chance in the quarter-final against Manchester City? Is that the same Dwight Gayle? Interesting.
“I’ve been around the block a long, long time. I’ve only managed 1,050 games but according to Dwight, I don’t know what I’m doing.
“I’ll let other people make their minds up who are a bit more established than Dwight ever was.”
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Twitter users reacted as Steve Bruce hits back at Dwight Gayle after the criticism on Newcastle United tactics…
@_C_1_9: The bloke is a clown. Made a fortune from being a failure, absolutely stolen a living!
@uskfisher: Well said brucey
@LiamL1985: When he talks about those who know what they’re doing is he talking about his paid mates in the media who were prepared to defend him at all costs? The guy was more bothered about his own image than managing his club
@2NarMe: Ha ha ha. What a whopper.
@Robbie_J04: Big gayles hit a nerve there haha what a cabbage heed.
@Austin_14Scott: If I were him I wouldn’t be bragging about managing 1050 games given how often he’s been sacked, and that every team he’s managed has been shite during his tenure. If he “knew a thing or two” he’d have actually shown some signs of improving a team
@jjack_95: Bruce is a fucking prick isn’t he. Won 133 games out of 476 in the premier league, he’s an awful manager and an awful person.
@dcfc_connor: Dwight did wonders for Newcastle what exactly did you do for them ? And it’s not just them what about Villa aswell… ur a L1 manager that’s your level move on
@billyredhead1: He is entitled to his opinion as is Dwight Gayle. You won’t find many at SJP agreeing with SB. If he had been paid on results and days actually at the club/training ground he would have owed us money.
@ChrisBlack10: I said this relentlessly at the time & I couldn’t understand how we had a few that stuck up for him but pound for pound, he’s the worst manager we ever had. Stole a living #NUFC
@Pooliemags1Ttv: Blackpool fans saying go on Brucey 🤦🏻♂️
@NUFCLC: “I’ve only managed 1050 games but what do I know?” Aye, and your win record is about 27% at every club leaving a trail of destruction behind you. Dwight Gayle did more for Newcastle United than an apparent geordie ever did.
@King_Kevs_Rant: Everyone’s lying except poor Brucey again eh 🥱 Imagine Eddie was criticised by a former player years down the line, think he’d come out with snarky little comments like that? More class in his little finger than that fat fuck has ever had. Your record speaks for itself Steve.
@MattyTJW: For the record, Gayle isn’t the only ex professional who’s played under you who has said he’s tactically inept. Grealish has, there’s been a couple more too. He’s utterly abysmal and needed Graeme Jones to save his arse and then he took all the credit. He’s shite #NUFC
@samstafford_x: Have you ever seen anything so bitter??? Embarrassing
@AdamTweddell00: I’ll still take Dwight Gayle’s word for it seeing as loads of other former players have said exactly the same about him as a manager😂
@MickyBtoon: So in Steve Bruce’s mind because Dwight Gayle missed a chance against Man City once we can’t trust his opinion. 😂😂😂
@Neilfarrington: Steve “I’d never have had the chance to ‘manage’ #NUFC in the Premier League but for Dwight Gayle’s 23 goals in their promotion season” Bruce here…
@lee1892Johnson: Magic……… triggered like he used to gas light the fanbase with his son via various media outlets! #nufc 😂🤣
@Y2Craig: Surely someone who has “only managed 1050 games” would have a bit more professionalism when being interviewed. Fucking taytie.
This is how I remember Dwight Gayle Bonny lad………as for you it’s the darkest time I’ve had following the club! pic.twitter.com/wVkATJH0jZ
— Lee Johnson ⚫️⚪️ UP THE MAGS (@lee1892Johnson) March 23, 2025
https://t.co/jDaPCHeyxv pic.twitter.com/HCawq529DL
— Manxpie (@manxpie86) March 23, 2025
