Eddie Howe: Joelinton leaving Newcastle for free would have been ‘bad business’
Eddie Howe admits Newcastle could not afford to allow “gentle giant” Joelinton to leave on a free transfer after they finally persuaded him to sign a new contract.
The 27-year-old Brazil international put pen to paper on a long-term deal on Thursday to end fears that he could leave the Magpies for nothing next summer despite becoming one of their most important players.
Ultimately, the two parties managed to reach agreement over a man whose value on and off the pitch had increased substantially during his time on Tyneside, although head coach Howe knows the financial implications of doing so may impact on his summer business as the club attempts to comply with profit and sustainability limits.
Howe said: “Of course something like this will have ramifications. You’re potentially lifting wages and that has an impact on your Financial Fair Play sheet.
“But the alternative is that Joe leaves on a free transfer, which for a player of his quality, would be really bad business from us.
“I think what has happened has alleviated that problem. But of course it maybe gives you problems elsewhere that you need to fix.”
Whatever the financial fall-out from tying up Joelinton’s future, the football reasons for doing so are obvious.
Under head coach Howe, a man who had been branded a flop following his then club record £40million switch from Hoffenheim as a striker during the summer of 2019, has established himself as a midfielder destroyer who played a key role in last season’s top-four Premier League finish.
He is currently working his way back from thigh tendon surgery – he may or may not play again before the end of the current campaign – and his absence has been particularly telling.
Securing the popular Brazilian at a time when interest in Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak is mounting sends a message, Howe believes, that the club’s ambition remains intact.
He said: “It helps with the perception of our ambition and that we’re still desperate to grow and improve. For me, to do that you have to try to keep your best players, you have to try to create something that everyone wants to be part of.”
Howe thrust Joelinton into a midfield role after defender Ciaran Clark’s dismissal just nine minutes into a 1-1 draw with Norwich in his third game at the helm in November 2021, and he has not looked back since, building himself a reputation as a snarling enforcer, something far removed from his off-field character.
Howe said: “For the size and stature that he is and how aggressive he is on the pitch, he is a soft, gentle giant off it.”
Joelinton will be a frustrated bystander once again as the Magpies entertain Tottenham on Saturday hoping for a repeat of the corresponding fixture in April last year when they raced into a 5-0 lead after just 21 minutes before running out 6-1 winners.
Asked if he had been able to relax during that game, Howe, who has doubts over Lewis Hall and Joe Willock, said with a smile: “Let me tell you, I didn’t feel like that, not even for a second. Not when you’ve got Harry Kane on the other team.
“He then scores and you start looking at how long is left.”
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Phil Foden injury update: Should you pick him for FPL Gameweek 33?
Foden came off with a knock late on against Real Madrid in the Champions League
Pep Guardiola has plenty of alternative options to choose from in his Man City squad
Potential FPL replacements include Cole Palmer and Alexis Mac Allister
By Jude Summerfield
11:15 AM GMT+1
Will Foden feature in Gameweek 33?
Will Foden feature in Gameweek 33? / David Ramos/GettyImages
Manchester City will switch their focus from Europe to the Premier League title race this weekend when they face Luton Town at the Etihad Stadium.
The Cityzens played their part in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, with in-form attacker Phil Foden playing a key role with a stunner from distance to drag his side back level.
However, the England international was withdrawn late on at the Santiago Bernabeu and, with manager Pep Guardiola a renowned adversary for Fantasy Premier League players, whether he will feature in Gameweek 33 remains to be seen.
Here's what's currently known about Foden's availability in FPL this gameweek.
What injury does Phil Foden have?
Phil Foden, Pep Guardiola
Foden reacts to his substitution at Madrid / David Ramos/GettyImages
Having scored a brilliant goal from distance against Real Madrid, bringing City level again at 2-2 after earlier strikes from Bernardo Silva and Rodrygo and Ruben Dias' own goal, Foden was taken off in the 87th minute for Julian Alvarez with the score at 3-3.
After the game, Foden told TNT Sports: "Just got a bad dead leg at the end, time to recover before next games so hopefully I can."
What has Pep Guardiola said about Phil Foden's injury?
Guardiola gave a reassuring update when quizzed about Foden's fitness, revealing it wasn't anything serious and that the 23-year-old was somewhat upset about the substitution.
He said: "It's a knock. He was grumpy with me when I made a sub, which means he is OK, but he made a fantastic goal."
While the knock doesn't seem like a serious one, the squad depth Guardiola has at his disposal means Foden may be given the weekend off when Luton visit Manchester on Saturday. Foden bagged a hat-trick against Aston Villa in his last Premier League game before sitting out the 4-2 win at Crystal Palace and he may not be risked before the return leg with Madrid next week.
Argentine World Cup winner Julian Alvarez is a like-for-like alternative, while Kevin De Bruyne should get some minutes having been left on the bench at the Bernabeu. There are also the likes of Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes, Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis who can contribute in attacking areas.
Phil Foden alternatives in FPL Gameweek 33
Cole Palmer
Palmer is in outrageous form / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Foden is the top-scoring midfielder under the price of £8.4m, having scooped 183 points to date. He could be overtaken in that metric in FPL Gameweek 33 by former teammate Cole Palmer, who has bagged six goals and two assists in his last four matches.
However, the Chelsea star only has one fixture in the upcoming FPL Gameweek 34 when a number of other clubs have two.
Liverpool take on Fulham and Everton in away clashes and Alexis Mac Allister could provide a point of difference, having made four goal contributions in as many gameweeks before blanking at Manchester United.
There'll be some rotation in the Arsenal ranks after their Champions League exploits and moving for one of winger Leandro Trosssard or mainstay midfielder Declan Rice could prove beneficial for matches against Wolves and Chelsea.
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST FPL NEWS, HOT PICKS & TIPS TO WIN YOUR LEAGUE
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FPL Gameweek 33: Top replacements for injured Jarrod Bowen
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FPL Gameweek 33: Top captain picks
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Ollie Watkins injury update: Should you pick him for FPL Gameweek 32?
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FPL Gameweek 32: Top captain picks
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Fantasy Premier League (FPL)
Luton Town FC
Premier League Preview: Round 33
FotMob - April 12, 2024, 10:50 AM
This could be a pivotal weekend in the Premier League. With a number of teams in European action over the last few days, fatigue could well kick in. We might also see managers having to rotate and when things are as tight as they are at the top, one wrong change could see points dropped when it matters most. Here’s a look at what we feel could be the decisive matches across matchday 33 in the English top flight.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
An opportunity for Spurs
Spurs travel to St James’ Park for the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon knowing a win gives them complete control in their push for a top-four finish. Ange Postecoglou’s side are level on points with Aston Villa but do have a game in hand. A win over Newcastle would open up a three-point gap advantage ahead of Villa’s Sunday afternoon match against title-chasing Arsenal.
If results do go their way this weekend, Spurs will be three points clear with a game in hand over their rivals. This could be massive in the race for Champions League football.
This could be an intriguing match-up. Both Newcastle and Spurs head into this game unbeaten in three but performances have been a little erratic. The Magpies, for example, rallied in the second half to beat West Ham 4-3 before drawing against Everton having been utterly dominant. They needed a late goal against Fulham to claim the win. Spurs, meanwhile, scored late on against Luton to pick up a win before only managing to pick up a point against West Ham. They went in at half-time against Nottingham Forest level before two quickfire second-half goals helped them pick up three points.
Newcastle have been going a little under the radar as of late. If they manage to beat Spurs, they move into sixth position. This could complete a remarkable turnaround for Eddie Howe’s side.
Can City make a statement?
Manchester City face relegation-threatened Luton Town at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon knowing a win lifts them into top spot, at least for the time being. The reigning champions played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League in mid-week and while this may have taken a lot out of them physically, their performance will no doubt have filled the players with confidence ahead of this game.
On paper, it should be a formality for Pep Guardiola’s side. In fact, this should be viewed as an opportunity to claw back some of the goal difference on Arsenal. At the end of the season, it could all come down to that. Can City score four goals in the Premier League for a third successive match? You wouldn’t be surprised if they managed it, would you?
Luton halted their 10-match winless run last weekend with a surprise victory over Bournemouth. This, coupled with points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest, may have buoyed Rob Edwards’ men. Despite their poor run of form, a win could see them escape the relegation zone this weekend. If they manage to claim three points at the Etihad, it would be the result of the season. And it is around this time of the campaign that these sorts of results occur.
Which Manchester United side will turn up?
Manchester United really are Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde this season. Sometimes they are incredible, other times it appears as though they have never played football together as a team. The Red Devils were dismantled by Liverpool in the first-half last weekend before a second-half comeback showcased what they are capable of.
They put in a similar performance against the Reds in the FA Cup in March, knocking Jürgen Klopp’s side out, before following it up with a 1-1 draw with Brentford and a 4-3 loss to Chelsea.
What Manchester United side are we going to see on Saturday in their game against Bournemouth? Erik Ten Hag’s men still have a lot to play for with European football up for grabs if they finish the season well. They are against an in-form Cherries side though.
Andoni Iraola’s men were on a five-match unbeaten run prior to their shock defeat to Luton last weekend. They’ll want to get that result out of their system and show it was the exception as opposed to a sign of things to come. They have an ideal opportunity to do just that against an inconsistent Manchester United side.
Are the wheels coming off for Liverpool?
Not long ago, Liverpool were in the hunt for a quadruple. Now, though, the Reds are out of the FA Cup, they’re 3-0 down in the Europa League having been battered by Atalanta at Anfield, and they lost top spot in the Premier League last weekend following a 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
It has been a week to forget for Jürgen Klopp and his players.
The loss to the Serie A side on Thursday night was their first defeat at home in 14 months and while they haven’t necessarily been convincing at Anfield recently, they have managed to eke out results. The first loss in over a year could be a psychological blow and now they welcome Crystal Palace to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon.
The cavalry in the form of Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold have arrived but is it too late? It would be naive to write the Reds off as they have shown time and time again under Klopp that they are capable of the impossible, but the timing of this, coupled with the performances over recent weeks, point towards this group of players running out of steam at the worst possible time.
They have the chance to silence critics with an imposing performance on Sunday to return to the summit though. The pressure is on them to deliver a big win.
A top of the table clash
Regardless of what happens elsewhere, Arsenal know a win at the Emirates on Sunday will see them return to the summit. They face an Aston Villa team trying to juggle commitments in the Europa Conference League with a pursuit of a top four finish.
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery might have to rotate given he went with a strong XI on Thursday night but he will know that if things don’t go their way this weekend, they will finish matchday 33 three points off the pace in the race for top four having played a game more. It isn’t a position they want to find themselves in, so it will be interesting to see his approach to this game.
The Gunners weren’t at their convincing best against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Mikel Arteta is going to have to manage the minutes of a number of key players ahead of the second leg. He can’t afford to name a weakened XI in the game this weekend though as, if results go against them, they’ll be third when this matchday comes to a close. The Arsenal boss will have to earn his money this week.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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