Bruno Guimaraes could only watch from the stands as Newcastle United limply suffered a home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. What was a big opportunity for the Magpies to take a big step forward towards a top five finish became another sign of how Eddie Howe\u2019s team still can\u2019t be considered among the very best in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
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The result continued an unwanted pattern for Newcastle. Somewhat unbelievably, they have taken just five points from a possible 27 in matches they have played without Guimaraes in the lineup since the Brazilian first arrived on Tyneside nearly four years ago. Their dependance on the midfielder is clear.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou lose a lot when a player like that isn’t available,\u201d said Newcastle manager Howe after the damaging defeat to Aston Villa, highlighting the obvious absence of Guimaraes in the centre of the pitch. \u201cBut we can’t rely on one player. We do have to find a way of winning without him.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Guimaraes has long been considered one of Newcastle\u2019s best players and it\u2019s natural that a team would be worse off for the absence of someone like the Brazilian. Nonetheless, the Magpies\u2019 record without Guimaraes in the team says something broader about their limitations as an outfit.<\/p>\n
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On their day, Newcastle are a force of nature. They are capable of out-running and out-fighting any opponent on their day, especially at St James\u2019 Park where the home fans get right behind their side. When Newcastle aren\u2019t able to play in quick transition, though, they can be found lacking.<\/p>\n
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This is where Aston Villa were able to expose the hosts on Sunday. Unai Emery\u2019s team are just as devastating in quick transition and they did a better job of attacking open space than their opponents, setting up with a front four of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia and Jadon Sancho that pinned Newcastle back.<\/p>\n
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Without Guimaraes on the pitch, Newcastle couldn\u2019t control the game. As Howe noted, \u201cI just thought we missed Bruno’s forward thinking. He always wants to pass forward and is always looking for a creative pass. You could see we missed that today. He always wants the ball and he’s always demanding the ball from his team-mates.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Even when Guimaraes is involved, Newcastle aren\u2019t always the most proactive team in central midfield. Their central trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Guimaraes can match any opponent for physicality, but they aren\u2019t always the most tactile in terms of their use of possession.<\/p>\n
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Newcastle are hitting their head on the Premier League\u2019s glass ceiling. This is partly due to the league\u2019s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), but Howe and the decision-makers at St James\u2019 Park have also failed to evolve the team beyond a specific playing style. Without Guimaraes, they are one-dimensional.<\/p>\n
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The January transfer window is open, meaning Newcastle could enter the market to give themselves more midfield options. The likes of Lamine Camara, Nathan De Cat and Alex Scott have been linked with a move to the North East, hinting at a desire from the club to bulk up Howe\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n
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Finding someone good enough to deputise for Guimaraes, however, won\u2019t be easy. The Brazilian is one of the most accomplished midfield operators in the Premier League and will be back in the Newcastle starting lineup as soon as he is fit again. Sunday\u2019s game against Aston Villa might have panned out differently had he played.<\/p>\n
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Newcastle\u2019s struggles without him, though, says something about their failure to join the true elite in the Premier League despite technically being the richest club in the world. Whether it\u2019s with Guimaraes on the pitch or not, an evolution must take place for Howe\u2019s side to meaningfully improve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bruno Guimaraes could only watch from the stands as Newcastle United limply suffered a home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. What was a big opportunity for the Magpies to take a big step forward towards a top five finish became another sign of how Eddie Howe\u2019s team still can\u2019t be considered among the very best in the Premier League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":54847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[643],"tags":[1269],"class_list":["post-58009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-feature-home"],"yoast_head":"\n