In a present full of new additions, and a future in which a global project is sought that makes room for itself in the Premier League and European football, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle tries to stay as far away from the relegation places as possible. A task that is not easy, but that improves with the passing of the games. The six matches without losing in the Premier League show this (they haven’t been defeated by another team since December), and in part they are due to some changes made by the English coach.
Between the present and future that they plan in the north of England, one of the reconversions that has been able to surprise the most is that of Joelinton. The Brazilian, who became the most expensive signing in the club’s history, arrived from the Bundesliga (from Hoffenheim, specifically) to contribute goals to a team that was missing the determination of a scorer who might make a qualitative leap to the completion of the plays.
In his third season with the Magpies, he probably never would have imagined what the future would hold for him. With two goals in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season, the change in his role and sometimes in his position caused alarm bells to go off at the club to a certain extent. The 44 million paid for his services weighed heavily, and the four goals achieved in 2020/21 did not justify the outlay. All this, moreover, making it difficult for him to continue at the top of the attack with the arrival of Callum Wilson.
The change of course at the club, and the arrival of Eddie Howe, have given a twist to what the Brazilian can give to the team. Despite the fact that he has already played games on the wing before (something that Steve Bruce sometimes returned to as usual), the former Bournemouth manager has placed him in midfield to act as a midfielder in a 1-4-3-3.
A new role approved by his coach
Joelinton’s new position has been influenced by several reasons: the attackers that Newcastle enjoys, something to which must be added the arrival of Chris Wood to take away minutes up front, and the qualities of the former Sport Recife player that only the Englishman has been able to see to take advantage of the situation, even if he is an atypical midfielder.
“I think I would be lying if I said I was capable of this when I started working with him. The first time I realized his tactical understanding was in the game once morest Norwich when he came on following the sending off.”. Eddie Howe’s statements regarding Joelinton leave no doubt. The change of position is surprising, but the performance of him is also. The test that he did has led to him today being a fixture in a midfield that he saw this winter how Bruno Guimaraes He became the star signing.
Joelinton is a player with the ability to cover the field due to his stride, and with a reception that gives him chances to hold the ball. In the movement of the ball, great things cannot yet be highlighted in his game, playing more delayed, but for Eddie Howe their defensive tasks to recover field, make tackles or intercept rival passes are reasons to believe in what they are doing. “I can’t praise him enough, and I know there is more to come”. Without the pressure of the goal, Joelinton may have found his best place in the Premier League.
