Sport
Newcastle’s slump highlights the importance of Bruno Guimaraes
The importance of Bruno Guimaraes to Newcastle United is highlighted in the numbers behind the Magpies’ season. Indeed, Eddie Howe’s team have failed to win a single Premier League match without the Brazilian midfielder with Saturday’s home defeat to Liverpool a particularly damaging result.
Guimaraes was serving the final match of a three-game suspension, meaning he will be back in the Newcastle team for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester United. That is good news for everyone associated with the St James’ Park club as they target their first major trophy since 1955.
Against Liverpool, Newcastle United were left exposed in the centre of the pitch with Guimaraes watching from the stands. Stefan Bajcetic was repeatedly allowed to turn and get Liverpool moving forward with the ball at his feet. Guimaraes almost certainly would have been quicker to engage the young Spaniard. Bajcetic surely would have experienced a tougher test.
Newcastle will need Guimaraes to match up against Casemiro at Wembley on Sunday. The two Brazilians are enjoying excellent seasons with the latter more important to Manchester United’s ability to start attacks from deep than many give him credit for. Guimaraes mustn’t allow Casemiro too much time on the ball.
On the ball, Guimaraes’ influence on Newcastle United is clear. So much of the Magpies’ possession play flows through the 25-year-old. He allows Howe to push his midfield higher up the pitch which helps the likes of Miguel Almiron and Joe Willock get into more goal-scoring areas more regularly. Guimaraes does more to impose Newcastle’s game on opponents.
Without Guimaraes, Newcastle United’s midfield lacks presence and control. Howe doesn’t have another player in the mould of the Brazilian to bring into his team whenever he is missing. Newcastle’s poor recent form – one win in seven matches – demonstrated why the Magpies need Guimaraes to stay fit and available for the rest of the season.
“He’s absolutely a bargain because he’s had a huge effect on the team and the club,” said Howe when assessing the impact of Guimaraes’ signing for just £38m in January 2021. “In today’s market, that is a relatively modest sum – which I can’t really believe I’m saying – but it is.
“It’s an amazing thing for us to have him, it’s not just the player, it’s the person as well. I can’t say how good a person he is. He’s a pleasure to coach and be around. He’s a really positive person, an energiser and someone I love to coach and be with. I think everyone here connected with the club – me, the players, the supporters – absolutely love him.”
A lack of goals and attacking threat has hindered Newcastle United in recent times with Howe’s team drawing a blank in four of their last seven matches in the Premier League. It’s not just Guimaraes who must step up to keep Newcastle in top four contention, but the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson too.
Guimaraes’ signing set a precedent for Newcastle United in the transfer market. The Brazilian was identified as a high-potential individual who was ready to take the next step in his development and was integrated almost immediately by Howe who built his midfield around the new addition.
Newcastle United will need more players like Guimaraes if they are to challenge for major titles and trophies in the future and he could help end the club’s long wait for a major piece of silverware this Sunday. There is enough evidence of how dependent Newcastle are on the Brazilian when he is missing. Now, Guimaraes can demonstrate how good they can be when he is on the pitch.
