The Chronicle seem to have got under his skin: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/f ... w-19683863
https://www.nufc.com/ has a nice, full response about Bruce's thoughts on his position being under threat.With Eddie Howe's name spoken about as the potential next boss on Tyneside, Bruce feels some of the reporting has gone too far.
Bruce said: "Some of it needs to be more measured.
"I give respect. When I see polls, the next manager and the fella from Bournemouth, I find it disrespectful, I have to tell you.
"Your paper (the Chronicle) was gunning for a manager that got a team relegated last year."
Howe's name was initially mentioned in a comment piece in the aftermath of the League Cup exit at Brentford, and has since been used in articles about who the bookies feel is favourite to be next boss.
But Bruce has been able to continue with his job this week.
Speaking about exactly where United are going into the clash at Villa, Bruce said: "We're on a bad run, and we're not alone.
"We have 19 games and we're not yet at the halfway stage and haven't won for six matches.
"So we have done OK until the last five or six weeks, but we've had big problems with big players.
"We've had many problems and that's not an excuse.
"But what I will do, constantly, is try to keep a certain respectability and dignity about myself.
"Yet when I hear stuff like this (talk of time limits or ultimatums) I can say I have had nothing but support.
"Where that stuff comes from I do not know."
Asked about an ultimatum from the club hierarchy regarding his future:
"It is absolutely the biggest pile of s**** I have ever heard."
"Yes of course I make mistakes along the way. We are only human, I've been in it and managed nearly 500 games in the Premier League and would like to think that deserves a little bit of respect.
"When you are on a bad run, of course, accept it, but some of the stuff has bordered on being outrageous.
"However, I am big enough to accept it and try to understand and work so we can get out of the bad run we're in.
"Am I alone with the managers at Newcastle over the last 15 years? Hasn't every manager been in exactly the same situation?
"Why (change manager)? What is it going to get you and what is it going to gain?
Some of it is unbelievable (media coverage) and maybe people need to change and give the club a little bit of respect rather than always being negative.
"Everything is negative, some has been vile - unless that changes it doesn't matter who will sit here, anybody could. That is why it is so difficult.
"I would ask the question: what do you gauge as success? I gauge success last year as matching Rafa's tally of points, of where we finished, because that's where we are at this particular moment.
"We are in the bottom half of the Premier League and we've been there for the best part of 15 years. What's realistic for where we are? In between eleventh and sixteenth? Is that realistic?
"Can we aim towards the top 10? We're three or four points adrift of that. Would that be an achievement? In my eyes, probably yes.
"We are where we are and we try to keep edging towards where I want to take us, which is probably towards the top 10. I've said that since I've walked through the door.
"At this particular moment, we're four or five points off it and we're on a bad run so it's time to keep working hard and hope things change.
"Rafa, who I have obviously heard a lot of and have the hugest respect for, like all you have, where did he finish? He's a world-class manager.
"Where did he finish? Is that a success? Probably.
"We matched the mighty Rafa last year so we'll try and do as best we can again this year."
