George Caulkin has been discussing the apology Jonjo Shelvey released online after Newcastle United’s victory on the latest episode of Pod on the Tyne.
On Saturday it was a 16th league start out of the previous 17 matches for Shelvey, and was also the third match in a row that the midfielder had been handed the captain’s armband, which shows how highly regarded he is by Eddie Howe.
Will Guimaraes start on Thursday?
Yes!
No!
However, he was handed the second-lowest WhoScored rating out of the Newcastle players who started on Saturday, 6.37, and after the game, he released an apology to the fans for his below-par performance.
Caulkin, while appreciating the sentiment of what Shelvey did, certainly didn’t think it was necessary.
He said: “I definitely didn’t think it was necessary because he’s been part of a winning team – it’s not like he got sent off, it’s not like he did a stupid tackle, it’s not like he gave the ball away for a goal that meant that Newcastle drew or lost or anything like that.
“But, if it stands for Newcastle’s improved standards over recent weeks, then great, I’m all for people taking responsibility for that.”
TIF Thoughts on Shelvey…
The former England international has become an integral player under Howe having started all but one match since the manager arrived last year. It’s clear to see why, as apart from the January signings, Newcastle average 1.28 more goals scored than conceded when he’s on the pitch – the best out of the rest of the squad (FBRef).
Also, the fact that Howe could quite easily swap him out for £40m signing Bruno Guimaraes if he wasn’t fully in on Shelvey, but is still yet to start the Brazilian shows the faith Howe has, even claiming in his pre-match conference (20:15) that he sees him in his long-term plans on Tyneside.
So there seemed little for Shelvey to have apologised for, particularly in the wake of another win that edged the Magpies closer to safety.
In other news: ‘Even Howe admitted’ – Journo hints NUFC boss was ‘concerned’ after what he saw Jan signing do