Michael Bridges has claimed focusing on the Carabao Cup final is detracting from Newcastle United’s league form. Since the Magpies beat Southampton in the semi-final a fortnight ago, the agenda on Tyneside has centred around the Wembley showdown.
Excitement has reached fever pitch among supporters ahead of Newcastle’s first cup final in 24 years. Alarmingly, that has coincided with a notable dip in league form.
Just one win in six means United are clinging onto their Champions League spot. Draws against Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Bournemouth were all winnable games but Newcastle failed to capitalise on rival clubs’ hiccups.
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Former Toon and Sunderland striker Bridges, a North Shields native, has also cited Bruno Guimaraes’ absence as a key reason for the Magpies’ slump. The influential Brazilian is serving a three-match suspension for his red card in the Southampton win.
“They're (Newcastle) unbeaten,” Bridges told the GegenPod. “So they can’t be having a bad run of games. There are two big things that have happened: the region is absolutely buzzing because Newcastle are in a League Cup final, taking on Manchester United in a couple of weeks, so the fans are getting carried away with that and the players might have taken their sight off the game a little bit.
“But there's been one massive influence. There was a guy who got red-carded in the League Cup - that was Bruno Guimaraes. He has been the player of the season because everything Newcastle do in the build-up play goes through this guy.
“In the final third, he unlocks doors with his passes, his vision, his goals and Newcastle have really really missed him. I think the thing for Newcastle that they're really happy about is he served the suspension in the league games and he's going to be available for the League Cup.
“Again, they've gone unbeaten. I think Eddie Howe was relieved they didn't get beat when he returned to his old club Bournemouth but they got themselves out of trouble.”
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