On Saturday, Eddie Howe's decision to deploy another winger in place of a centre-forward when he had two strikers on the bench for Newcastle United was the most confused I'd been in a while ... Enter Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle's recent inability to create and score goals is absolutely baffling but nothing is as strange as the reel Bruno Guimaraes has posted on his Instagram.
Bruno is usually a force of positive energy on social media, even after a bad performance he either chooses to remain silent or tries to inspire with a positive message.
He's the first in the comments of his fellow players offering up support and praise, but we have no idea what his latest post is about.
Posting an image of a giant tiger in the woods approaching a woman, Bruno Typed the quote "Stop watering a dead flower" in his native Portuguese.
This could, obviously, have nothing at all to do with Newcastle United, but the context and the content can easily be applied to the Magpies after another toothless performance.
Is this Bruno saying that it's beyond time for a change in tactics? We'd certainly say it is, but would our Captain be so bold as to undermine his gaffer in public? Doubtful.
A quick Google of the quote brings up this explanation:
"The phrase “You've got to stop watering dead plants” is a metaphorical way of saying that it's important to let go of things that are no longer serving us, whether it's relationships, habits, or even ideas"
Maybe Bruno is having a pop at Eddie Howe after all?
It's not a good look and hints at the beginnings of disharmony in the ranks. Bruno's reaction at full-time on Saturday certainly didn't do anything to hide his disappointment.
Hopefully, we're just reading too much into this and it's nothing at all to do with Newcastle and directed at something in his personal life.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
15 | -8 | 18 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
15 | -15 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |