Can Bruce Do What Pardew Couldn't?

Last updated : 03 September 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Hull City manager Steve Bruce: "I've been monitoring Ben Arfa for a couple of weeks and we quietly made it happen.

"I didn't think it would be possible to do a loan deal, but the later it got the more beneficial it became.

"With a bit of patience and luck, we've managed to pull in a really good player.

“He's got fantastic ability, as everybody in the north east knows so let's hope I can get the best out of him.

"Whatever's happened at Newcastle has happened.

"It's a big challenge to us all - he wants to come here and play and get his career kick-started again."

Ben Arfa almost came to blows with Pardew after the game against Manchester United and another time Shola Ameobi threw him out of the changing-room.

Now it's Bruce's turn to deal with a player, who former Newcastle star Mick Quinn says "just needs an arm put around him".

Bruce has handled many difficult characters during his long managerial career and his backroom staff say he has rarely, if ever, fallen out with any of them.

Every good performance for the Frenchman is going to make Pardew look as though he cannot handle the big players.