Garth Crooks believes next season could be the ‘most exciting since Kevin Keegan’ for Newcastle United fans after naming Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in his team of the week. Fan optimism is at an all-time high following the completion of the £300million Saudi-backed takeover and a stunning second half of the campaign under Eddie Howe.
The former Cherries boss has transformed a dysfunctional squad from relegation certainties to top-half hopefuls, with United sitting in ninth spot despite being five points adrift of safety when he took charge. Victory against Norwich was the Magpies’ fourth on the bounce and supporters are already excited about next season’s prospects.
Newcastle are expected to splash the cash again in the summer and Crooks claimed supporters could be set to ride a wave that is reminiscent of the ‘Entertainers Era’ under Keegan while heaping praise on the club’s Brazilian duo.
On Joelinton, he wrote: “If Dean Smith thought for one second that Norwich had any chance of staying in the Premier League before their home game against Newcastle United then Joelinton must have made him think again. Two first-half goals from the Brazilian cemented Newcastle's emergence as a mid-table team no longer flirting with relegation.
“If the Magpies continue to buy wisely then next season could be their most exciting season in the Premier League since the arrival of Kevin Keegan. It took him (Keegan) little time to settle in but when he did what a chapter it was. What's more, looking at the Newcastle fans at Norwich, the Geordie Army can sense it too. The club is in good hands."
Guimaraes continued his rich vein of goalscoring form with a lofted finish to capitalise on Tim Krul's costly mistake. The January arrival is the latest fan favourite on Tyneside and Crooks named him in his team again after another stellar display.
“For the second consecutive week, Guimaraes makes my team. The Brazilian was outstanding at home against Leicester but was a class apart against a Norwich side who, from the opening day of the season, were never good enough to stay in the league.”
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