30-year-old one of two Newcastle players named in Garth Crooks BBC PL team of the week

 · November 27 2023, 11:59
30-year-old one of two Newcastle players named in Garth Crooks BBC PL team of the week
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Garth Crooks has once again made his selection for the Premier League Team of the Week and has chosen two Newcastle United players in his XI.

How he managed to whittle it down to just two is beyond us, but that's what he did, and for all they both had great games, one of his selections is a bit of a surprise.

Crooks opted for Jamaal Lascelles and Anthony Gordon from Newcastle's 4-1 win over Chelsea. Both players grabbed a goal each and Gordon also notched an assist.

Jamaal Lascelles finds himself in Garth Crooks' Team of the Week.

It's little surprise to see Gordon's name on there, but, as well as Lascelles played overall, he did have a couple of moments that could have been catastrophic for Newcastle were it not for Chelsea being so far off their game.

Team of the Week
BBC
Garth Crooks' Team of the Week on BBC

Here's what Crooks had to say about his selections.

"Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle): I don't think I've seen anything quite like it: Reece James sent off for two of the most pathetic and unnecessary bookings you will ever see, Thiago Silva playing as though his head was somewhere else and Chelsea sent packing, having had four goals put past them. One of those goals was scored by Jamaal Lascelles who has waited patiently to not just get back into this Newcastle side but is now featuring as one of their main contributors. Against Bournemouth, just before the international break, some Newcastle fans were questioning the team's commitment amid a catalogue of injuries. I wonder what they are saying this week?"

There's Garth Crooks talking out of his rear again about 'some fans' when it was literally just one fan who questioned the team's commitment and said fan immediately apologised and admitted he was out of order. Other than that, it's hard to disagree with what he said about Lascelles, and on the basis of what he said, he does deserve his spot in the Team of the Week.

"Anthony Gordon: (Newcastle) This player continues to thrive at Newcastle under the direction of Eddie Howe. The ball for Jamaal Lascelles to head home was fabulous, while his finish to put Newcastle 4-1 up was taken brilliantly. The former Everton player looks like he was born to play for the Geordies and has taken to his new environment like a duck to water. However, the Magpies have the most punishing schedule ahead of them. They play Paris St-Germain on Tuesday and return to face Manchester United at home on Saturday. They then travel to Everton, Tottenham, host Milan and then play Chelsea again in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. If you want to be a big club that's the price you have to pay."

Any one of our starting XI could have been selected

Anthony Gordon should be a permanent fixture in the team of the week for us this season. He's been outstanding and he just seems to get better with each game.

For us there were so many other players who could have made it into that team. Fabian Schar would have been a shoo-in if his brilliant left-footed effort had found the back of the net. Lewis Miley should have been a contender. For a 17-year-old to play like he did against a player like Enzo Fernandez ... there are no words. Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton were mint, Miguel Almiron was on fire.

It was just an all-round brilliant performance. Just give the team of the week entirely to Newcastle and have done with it.

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