Garth Crooks has picked his best 11 performers from the weekend’s action.
The Premier League team of the week that have most impressed him.
Included in his top 11 are two Newcastle United stars from the Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 game at St James’ Park.
Garth Crooks explains why he has picked out Fabian Schar and Aexander Isak for his Premier League team of the week and then the full eleven are listed below:
Fabian Schar (Newcastle):
“Fabian Schar should have been booked in the first few minutes against Tottenham for his tackle on Son Heung-min and so should Dan Burn for pulling back James Maddison.
“If referees are going to be lenient in the opening exchanges, and I detect more officials are giving players a little latitude, it should not be for deliberate or premeditated offences.”
Funny how Garth Crooks fails to mention the most obvious booking of all that was missed in the early stages, BEFORE the Dan Burn foul on James Maddison, that was when Maddison cynically obstructed Anthony Gordon and sent him crashing to the ground, as Newcastle were on the break. Plus no mention of Maddison’s shocking studs first lunge at neck height into Jacob Murphy, that should have arguably been a red and not yellow card.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle):
“Spurs were 3-0 down in less than 60 minutes.
“If ever there was a case of a team showing how desperately inconsistent they are, then Tottenham’s performance at St James’ Park was it.
“The normally impressive Micky van de Ven looked like he was playing on skis, while James Maddison seem to go through the entire match as if the scoreline didn’t matter, oblivious of the fact that his team were fighting for a Champions League spot, and getting hammered.
“Newcastle’s Alexander Isak took complete advantage of Tottenham’s failings with two well-taken goals, and with a bit of luck the Sweden international might have had a third.
“Tottenham have increased their ticket prices for next season. With a Champions League spot looking increasingly unlikely as the season draws towards a close, can anyone offer a justification?”
Garth Crooks Premier League team of the week:
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa):
Fabian Schar (Newcastle)
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Andreas Pereira (Fulham)
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City)
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Stats via BBC Sport:
Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Saturday 13 April 12.30pm
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Isak 30, 51, Gordon 32, Schar 87
Tottenham:
(Half-time stats in brackets)
Possession was Tottenham 73% (66%) Newcastle 27% (34%)
Total shots were Tottenham 11 (5) Newcastle 18 (10)
Shots on target were Tottenham 2 (1) Newcastle 5 (2)
Corners were Tottenham 3 (1) Newcastle 16 (10)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Newcastle team v Tottenham:
Dubravka, J Murphy (Livramento 78), Krafth, Schar (Dummett 90+3), Burn, Longstaff, Bruno (White 90+3), Anderson (Ritchie 89), Gordon, Barnes (Hall 88), Isak
Unused subs:
Karius, Gillespie, A Murphy, Parkinson
(Match Report – Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happening again – Read HERE)
(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Very interesting on Newcastle after 4-0 Spurs hammering – Read HERE)
(Ange Postecoglou deserves credit – Very honest after Newcastle United outclass Tottenham – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)
(Can we play you every week(***) – Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Read HERE)
Newcastle United matches now confirmed for rest of the season:
Wednesday 24 April 2024 – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (8pm)
Saturday 27 April 2024 – Newcastle v Sheff Utd (3pm)
Saturday 4 May 2024 – Burnley v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 11 May 2024 – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)
Wednesday 15 May 2024 – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
Sunday 19 May 2024 – Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)
(The final day of the season live TV matches will be selected closer to the day but all 10 PL games will be same time same day)
Wednesday 22 May 2024 – Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG – Melbourne Cricket Ground)
Friday 24 May 2024 – A-League All Stars team v Newcastle (at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)