That nine-game winning run. Remember it? In some ways it feels like yesterday, in others a lifetime ago.
Newcastle United suddenly awoke. After the Brentford bruising, a new Newcastle were on the march, reborn and invigorated Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Leicester City were among the teams swept away by a torrent of intensity clothed in black and white.
At the heart of the performances was the heart of the team – the midfield. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Power, physicality, cunning and artistry combining to perfection.
The major switch, of course, had been the decision to move Bruno to the right-sided No.8 position which had previously been the domain of Sean Longstaff or Tonali. Guimaraes’ role at the centre of the midfield – the No.6 position – was now occupied by Tonali, who brought a different range of skills and control to the position.
With Bruno buzzing around and using his creative ability higher up, and Joelinton’s pure physical presence working at both ends to press and provide defensive cover, it seemed Eddie Howe had nailed the dream midfield line-up. Forget Arsenal’s combo of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard. Forget Man City’s stuttering central structure. This was the best, they were told.
It’s not quite functioned as it should since then. Granted, Joelinton’s knee injury meant a vital component was taken out of the machine and despite the best efforts of Lewis Miley and Joe Willock to fill the void left by the big Brazilian, it just wasn’t the same.
Matters weren’t helped by an alarming drop off in form by Guimaraes. The captain was anonymous in the games against Man City and Liverpool, among others. Usually the heartbeat of the side with his infectious enthusiasm, ability to drive United forward and niggle away at the opposition, there were games that passed him by.
The trip to Anfield was a lesson to Newcastle in how to influence a game from the centre of the park. Liverpool’s own trio of highly-talented midfielders not only controlled proceedings but offered a huge goal threat. While Ryan Gravenberch played the holding role to perfection, his two midfield partners Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister grabbed the goals in a 2-0 win.
It was a perfect illustration – and wake-up call – to Newcastle about the threats they’ll face at Wembley today. Keeping Mo Salah quiet is only one part of a puzzle they must solve if the Carabao Cup is to come back with them to Tyneside. Tonali can’t afford to switch off defensively like he did for Szoboszlai’s opener. Nor can they squander possession so easily as they did that night.
Thankfully, Bruno showed some signs of his form returning on Monday night, when he bagged the only goal of the game against West Ham United and looked something close to his old self. Maybe it was being reunited with his Brazilian buddy; maybe it was a refocus on the job as he prepares to lead the team out at Wembley. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t have been better timing.
Joelinton’s return to the starting XI is the best timing of all, however. While he won’t have the sharpness of having several games under his belt, his mere presence provides Tonali and Guimaraes with a reassurance in the battlefield.
Tonali perhaps didn’t get the accolades he deserved at West Ham. His performance was an understated masterclass in ball retention, ball winning and control. But without wishing to be unkind, that was against James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez, good Premier League players but not on the same level as what he will face today.
The middle of the park is where this game will be won or lost. They need Tonali to dominate from the base, they need Joelinton to power through the Liverpool line-up and perhaps most important of all, they need Guimaraes to be that bubbly, effervescent character on the pitch as much as he is off it.
Newcastle need their Holy Trinity to turn up and show that they are the best midfield in the country. There’s no better or bigger occasion than Wembley to prove it.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-were-told-best-31091632
