Garth Crooks has named Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in his team of the week for the BBC, also claiming that next season could be the “most exciting since Kevin Keegan” for Newcastle fans.
On his 100th Premier League appearance for the club, Joelinton bagged his first Premier League brace in a 3-0 win over Norwich, while his Brazilian teammate Guimaraes finished the scoring with a well-timed chip over former long-term Newcastle keeper Tim Krul.
Goals aside, the pair have been crucial in our dramatic turnaround in form and have formed a strong bond both on and off the pitch.
After a run of 10 wins in 14 games, we have shot up into ninth place – one position away from a Europa Conference League spot – and excitement is building over what Eddie Howe can do with the backing of the owners over the summer, with Crooks claiming it could be reminiscent of the ‘Entertainers Era.’
Here’s what he had to say on Bruno, Joelinton, the game itself and our exciting future in his latest piece for the BBC:
“For the second consecutive week Guimaraes makes my team.
“The Brazilian was outstanding at home against Leicester but was a class apart against a Norwich side who, from the opening day of the season, were never good enough to stay in the league.
“In fact, if Norwich had employed the same strategy as Newcastle then they may have found themselves out of this mess.
“The Canaries might have changed their manager but managers don’t win football matches – players do – and sadly too many of their players were not up to the job.
“If Dean Smith thought for one second that Norwich had any chance of staying in the Premier League before their home game against Newcastle United then Joelinton must have made him think again.
“Two first-half goals from the Brazilian cemented Newcastle’s emergence as a mid-table team no longer flirting with relegation
“If the Magpies continue to buy wisely then next season could be their most exciting season in the Premier League since the arrival of Kevin Keegan.
“It took him (Keegan) little time to settle in but when he did what a chapter it was. What’s more, looking at the Newcastle fans at Norwich, the Geordie Army can sense it too. The club is in good hands.”
