Alan Shearer believes the return of ‘stability’ in midfield has been the ‘massive distinction’ at Newcastle United in latest weeks and the driving drive behind back-to-back Premier League wins over Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Talking on the Relaxation Is Soccer podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer hailed Eddie Howe’s latest adjustments in the course of the park, feeling the mix of Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock – who has linked up down the left with Joelinton – has ‘labored completely.’
Shearer feels we’ve ‘bought our mojo again’ and look energised once more, reminding him of the aspect who completed fourth two seasons in the past in our 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
“He’s discovered the stability in midfield, and that’s been the massive distinction, the place the change has been,” Shearer mentioned. “Joe Willock’s are available to the left of the three in midfield, Bruno [Guimaraes] within the center and [Sean] Longstaff simply to the proper of him. Then, Joelinton both left aspect up entrance or proper aspect, he performed each side once more at this time which permits Gordon to play left or proper.
“I feel that stability has labored completely and that has been the massive distinction; from successful in opposition to Chelsea, Arsenal and once more (in opposition to Forest). They’ve bought their mojo again. They’ve bought their vitality again. They give the impression of being far more like group from a yr in the past or 18 months in the past after they had been actually robust to play in opposition to.”
It’s been robust on Sandro Tonali, who hasn’t began in our final two league video games after dropping his place to Longstaff, however there’s no denying that we’ve regarded much more balanced – on and off the ball – in latest weeks, benefiting from Willock’s vitality and combos down the left and Longstaff’s diligent defensive work.
Hopefully this theme continues, though there’ll certainly come a degree the place we should discover a position for Tonali within the aspect, as we’ve not paid in extra of £50m for an Italian worldwide to heat the bench. A optimistic choice headache for Howe and one to observe within the coming weeks, particularly when he regarded so good within the No.6 position in that cup win over Chelsea two weeks in the past.