I had an article printed on The Magazine earlier this week (Type is non permanent – I hope), the place I mentioned the function of Bruno Guimaraes and his present kind inside the crew.
Usually, you’d really feel some satisfaction when your evaluation seems to be right.
Nonetheless, given the selection between being proper and watching Newcastle lose, or being fallacious and seeing us win…
I’ll gladly select to be fallacious each time.
Within the article, I wrote about our captain:
“Bear in mind the final time Bruno bossed the midfield towards Manchester Metropolis? And even Liverpool? Yeah, me neither. Bruno’s nice when he’s received house to work his magic, however put an honest marker on him and out of the blue, he’s both on the ground on the slightest contact (certain, it will get us a free-kick, however nonetheless), misplacing passes, or shedding possession for enjoyable. Over the past 4 video games, Bruno has arguably performed under the extent of even a primary Longstaff, when what we want proper now’s a primary Bruno.”
We’ve all been excited concerning the Joe-Bruno-Tonali midfield axis, hoping it will change into the engine room that drives us ahead.
Nonetheless, it’s change into painfully clear that some gamers aren’t reaching their potential. Take our newest match towards Fulham—it appears like our luck has run out. The pundits, Merson included, who predicted a Newcastle loss, had been spot on.
Bruno Guimaraes is undoubtedly the heartbeat of this crew. When given house, he can dictate the tempo of the sport, however opposition groups have figured us out: slap a marker on Bruno and out of the blue the fluidity of our sport is gone. The knock-on impact? The entire crew suffers.
Make no mistake, Bruno Guimaraes is a passionate captain, however his performances this season have been under commonplace. Persisting with him whereas others are in higher kind is perhaps hurting the crew.
I vividly keep in mind him making an attempt to dash again after a Fulham counter-attack across the sixtieth minute, he struggled to get again manfully, but it surely was painful to look at. It raises the query: why wasn’t Sandro Tonali within the beginning line-up? Bringing him on with simply 20 minutes left, felt felony. Inside 5 minutes of being on the pitch, he delivered a defence-splitting cross, the type Bruno has been recognized for however hasn’t proven this season.
Eddie Howe is, undoubtedly, the perfect supervisor we’ve had in a very long time.
Nonetheless, there comes a degree the place loyalty must be re-evaluated in favor of benefit. Howe is data-driven, analysing participant efficiency meticulously in coaching and on matchdays.
Nonetheless, the proof of the pudding is within the consuming. Sticking with the identical gamers and method week after week has made us predictable. Final season, we had been those urgent excessive and dictating play. In opposition to Fulham, we struggled to interrupt their press, they usually arrange harmful counter-attacks far too simply.
One thing wants to vary and quick.
To get essentially the most out of this trio, Tonali ought to play because the quantity six, permitting Bruno to push additional up the sector, the place his expertise can do extra injury, or the place he will be dispossessed with out leaving us uncovered on the again. Possibly a relaxation or a place change would reignite Bruno’s spark and return him to his greatest.
Maybe I’m being overly vital of Bruno, however I believe he wants a wake-up name, even Brazil subbed him off at half-time towards Paraguay. There’s a prime participant in there, little question, however nobody—Bruno included—ought to take their place with no consideration.
When he finds his kind once more, I’ll be the primary to cheer him on and name him our saviour. He has the standard to show issues round and in Howe we belief.
Lastly, on a aspect notice. Fabian Schar, everyone knows you’re a top quality defender. Scoring that purpose was wonderful and nobody can take that second away from you, however subsequent time, simply cross it to Isak. You’ll nonetheless be a hero.
Fulham 3 Newcastle 1 – Saturday 21 September 3pm
(Stats by way of BBC Sport)
Objectives:
Newcastle United:
Barnes 46
Fulham:
Jimenez 5, Smith-Rowe 22, Nelson 90+2
(Half-time stats in brackets)
Possession was Newcastle 61% (60%) Fulham 39% (40%)
Complete photographs had been Newcastle 15 (4) Fulham 22 (13)
Photographs heading in the right direction had been Newcastle 4 (1) Fulham 11 (7)
Corners had been Newcastle 0 (0) Fulham 6 (3)
Touches within the field Newcastle 22 (10) Fulham 37 (20)
Newcastle United crew v Fulham:
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Kelly (Corridor 46), Joelinton (Tonali 74), Bruno, Willock (Jacob Murphy 46), Barnes, Isak, Gordon (Osula 83)
Unused subs:
Dubravka, Krafth, Almiron, Longstaff
(Match Report – Fulham 3 Newcastle 1 – A sport of two halves however Newcastle United failing in key moments – Learn HERE)
(Fulham 3 Newcastle 1 – Instantaneous Newcastle United fan / author response – Learn HERE)
Newcastle United upcoming match schedule, confirmed to finish of November:
Tuesday 24 September 2024 – AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle (7.45pm) Sky Sports activities+
Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man Metropolis (12.30 pm) TNT Sports activities
Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports activities
Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)
Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports activities
Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports activities
Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports activities
Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports activities
Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle
