Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Garth Crooks explains why these 2 Newcastle United players made his Premier League team of the week

5 years ago
Share

Garth Crooks has chosen his Premier League team of the week.

Talking to BBC Sport, he has included two Newcastle players in his eleven choices after the 1-0 win at Huddersfield.

An interesting pair he has selected, as they wouldn’t have been my choices., though I do think the duo had decent games.

The trio I felt performed the best were Martin Dubravka and Ciaran Clark & Fabian Schar, two of his three centre-backs.

However, Garth Crooks has instead gone for the third of the centre-backs, Jamaal Lascelles.

Crooks wonders if the Newcastle captain should have been red carded for his senseless lunge on Depoitre in the first half but then declares ‘…everything the defender did thereafter was commandingly brilliant.’

The BBC Sport pundit revealing that the defender made nine clearances, two interceptions and one block to help Newcastle get the clean sheet and win.

Garth Crooks picks out Salomon Rondon as his other NUFC choice and gives two reasons as to why.

He thinks the striker is now showing more of a goal threat than when he was at West Brom and maybe key to this and more importantly, Rafa Bentez has got the forward fitter.

As evidence of this, Crooks says in the past Rondon would never have lasted the full 90 minutes.

Well he was taken off after 81 minutes…and after checking the stats Garth Crooks may have a point about his past record. In 94 Premier League starts for West Brom, Rondon was subbed off in 35 of them.

To be fair, I think it was more tactical when Rafa brought the number nine off on Saturday, as he didn’t go like for like and instead brought on winger Matt Ritchie to help see out the game.

Garth Crooks speaking to BBC Sport, explains why he has picked the two Newcastle players and following that is listed is complete team of the week:

Jamaal Lascelles:

“Lascelles was very lucky to have finished the game against Huddersfield.

“Referee Anthony Taylor thought the tackle on Laurent Depoitre was nothing more than a bookable offence.

“I must say I wasn’t sure but what I do know is that everything the defender did thereafter was commandingly brilliant.

“Did you know? Jamaal Lascelles made nine clearances, two interceptions and one block to help preserve Newcastle’s 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.”

Salomon Rondon:

“This lad deserved his goal for the way he persevered up front on his own for the best part of the game.

“In seasons gone by Salomon Rondon would never have lasted the 90 minutes – his fitness levels would never have allowed it.

“A much fitter Rondon is not only leading the line effectively for Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle, but is looking a real goal threat upfront.

“Benitez is performing miracles again with these players.

“Did you know? Salomon Rondon has been directly involved in six of Newcastle United’s 14 Premier League goals so far this season (four goals, two assists).”

The Garth Crooks Premier League team of the week:

Vincente Guaita (Crystal Palace)

Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Jose Holebas (Watford)

Gerard Deulofeu (Watford)

Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Arsenal)

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Danny Ings (Southampton)

Salomon Rondon (Newcastle)

Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks