In those quotes eight weeks ago, on 22 January 2021, Steve Bruce was talking about still aiming to finish top ten this season.

Not that any Newcastle fan would claim 45 points as some kind of success. Bruce saying heвЂ™d matched Benitez, which wasnвЂ™t actually true as Rafa despite getting minimal support from Mike Ashley and actually making a profit on transfers during his time at Newcastle, finished with a point more in 2018/19 than Steve Bruce did in 2019/20. Only eight weeks ago (22 January 2021)before Newcastle played away (and lost) at Aston Villa, Steve Bruce made his embarrassing вЂMighty RafaвЂ™ comments (see below). We want to push for the top ten on a regular basis.вЂ™ Then at the end of last season Steve Bruce said (see below) that he would have taken 13th place if offered it before a ball was kicked вЂBUTВ that is not enough. When he arrived at Newcastle United 20 months ago, Steve Bruce said that NUFC should always be aiming for a top ten finish as a minimum, not worrying about fighting relegation in the bottom half. It is quite astonishing really just how often Steve Bruce moves the goalposts and the friendly media donвЂ™t question it.

Steve tally