How Joelinton went from ‘flop’ to one of Newcastle’s best players under Eddie Howe and what problems it could cause against Chelsea… and statistics show the Toffees went backwards under Lampard Huh
- Joelinton has gone from ‘flop’ to one of Newcastle’s most important players
- The Brazilian has changed since Eddie Howe was appointed manager
- Stats also show Everton have been worse off with Lampard than Benitez
For more than two years, Joelinton was a part of Newcastle jokes. How funny: Mike Ashley never wanted to open his wallet for fear of a North-East moth wrath, but then spent £40 million – forty million – on Joelinton.
After twenty-six games, 39 shots and 2,130 minutes of action, Brazil scored their first goal. Watch any election by time for ‘Biggest’ Premier League Flop’ and Joelinton will be near the top.
step forward Eddie Howe, The Newcastle boss came, saw something no one else did, Joelinton was moved into midfield and, now, the question is how close he is to the call-up Brazil,
Joelinton has been transformed into one of the best central midfielders of the season
Newcastle are unbeaten in eight games and Joelinton’s impact in the middle of the pitch has been significant. No one has won more tackles in the Premier League since his move to midfield. Neither Golo Kante, nor Wilfred Nadi. As the Premier League changes, Joe Ellinton’s renaissance is one of the best.
He – and Howe – are having the last laugh.
Has Frank made Toffee worse?
How different things felt just a month ago. Frank Lampard won his first Everton game in the FA Cup 4–1 over Brentford, and shook Goodison Park again. At last there was some faith, a sense of hope. A 3–0 win over Leeds in the Premier League a week later only reinforced those ideas.
Not any more. They are in the FA Cup quarter-finals, but three straight league losses, no goals scored and eight concedes leave the Toffees just one point above the relegation zone.
The game in hand helps but the underlying numbers suggest that things have gotten worse for Rafa Benitez than ever – and it was worse then.
Frank Lampard’s Everton are on the run without a win in the Premier League
Gerard earns cash reward
Matty Cash has had his doubts over the years. No final product, he said.
But since Steven Gerrard took over, his focus has been on attacking the full-back, Cash has been flourishing. With two goals and two assists in his last three games, he is the best of the numbers.
Cash said, ‘I worked hard. I don’t need to prove to anyone that I have the last ball. Some people have doubts about this. It’s really cool to come out of it and everyone sees it.’
Brendan Rodgers backs Mikel Arteta’s decision to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Rodgers backs Arteta over Aubameyang
Brendan Rodgers believes the opposite number on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang justified Mikel Arteta.
Arteta put his Arsenal legacy on the line when he fired his former captain over disciplinary issues.
“Decisions like these aren’t easy but it’s all about spirit, discipline and the mindset to succeed,” Rodgers said. ‘Now he is seeing the benefits within the team.’
Marsh mission to revive Rafinha
Jesse Marsh vows to get the best out of disappointed star Rafinha. The Leeds Talisman entered the tunnel after the defeat of Leeds by Aston Villa.
‘Rafinha is clearly a special player,’ Marsh said. ‘I love his talent. He’s another guy who wants it so bad.
He tries his best but what happens is that it becomes individual rather than collective and how it all fits together.
Leeds winger Rafinha walks down tunnel after Leeds’ recent loss to Aston Villa
Roy’s revival seems to have stalled
Watford hired Roy Hodgson for a very good reason: as we all know, he has never been fired.
If he is to avoid that first stain on his managerial copy book with the Hornets, something has to change.
The prospect of doing so today is not in his favor. Hodgson’s record against Southampton is the worst of all his opponents, while Watford are on a poor run on Sunday.
