And to think that Unai Emery rejected Newcastle.
Hindsight is a glorious thing, but when Aston Villa’s new manager parachutes into a deep battle, Toon’s dizzying army shows symptoms of winning the league.
Villa are the latest to feel the full force of St James’ Park, with the Tyneside Express unstoppable at the moment.
Emery stayed at Villarreal last November when the Magpies’ new owners chose him over Eddie Howe as their first coach.
When the sliding doors passed, it was huge.
Howe has been the beneficiary, turning an organization of desperate others into, at the moment, the most feared team in the country.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday Newcastle were a “competitor” in the more sensible one, and who can argue with that?
The Brummies’ mutilation, their fifth win in six games, leaves Howe’s boys five points behind the best with a third of the crusade saved.
Facing England boss Gareth Southgate, Callum Wilson filed his World Cup appeal request with a double to bring his overall season to six.
Joelinton has yet to win an international match in Brazil, but he couldn’t jeopardize his chances with his first crusade with head coach Tite also present.
And Miguel Almiron simply can’t help but scream, with the latter scoring six goals in his last six.
Both groups remained unchanged after last weekend’s wins, with Newcastle entering a Prem game in the most sensible 4 for the first time since April 2012.
It was a great day for the 4 Brazilians involved, but Villa’s first Argentine foreign star, Emi Buendía.
With the speed of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey alongside the playmaker, they were a constant threat.
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope a spectator, but only because of two large blocks of the last hotel to deny Buendía.
Kieran Trippier looked for the maximum probably to open Villa and his ball was played by Miguel Almiron, only for sub-goalkeeper Robin Olsen to rush in and block.
The Swede throws him out because Emi Martínez is sent off at 35′ with a header.
He had gone into the past but persisted before being replaced soon after.
Another long stop due to Buendía’s injury meant TEN minutes of extra time, and then when Toon took the lead.
Ashley Young slid to block Almiron’s shot from the right, but his arm was high above him, giving referee Paul Tierney the resolution when he hit him.
Frigid as ever, Wilson lifted him up amid Olsen’s dive to end a forgettable 45-minute first game.
Bruno purring just after the break: when he’s at it, Toon is irresistible, and they were leading 4-0 22 minutes after the restart.
The Brazilian’s ball sent Almiron down the right a catch that resulted in a corner.
Kieran Trippier played short in front of Almiron, the Paraguayan inviting a defender before a cheeky return to Trippier in space.
His ball floating in the blender in the most attractive way possible, with Wilson convenient to nod and in the far corner.
Then there was a brilliant counterattack, introduced through this Bruno guy that took a Villa striker to the edge of his own area.
Working through the lines, Villa all over the store when he got to Wilson at the other end.
Olsen is about to deny it, but Joelinton is available to win his first attack of the season on Tite.
Now Villa’s limitation hurt, but with Howe and assistant Jason Tindall it wasn’t any easier, a loss on the cards.
The Magpies’ form boy in recent weeks has been Almirón and the Paraguayan has returned duly forced with his sixth goal in six games.
Another absolute world, Miggy cut from the right and unleashed an unstoppable roll from that left ankle past Olsen.
Wilson then rattled the bar, narrowly missing an underwater hat-trick that Jacob Murphy shot off the post.
Toon’s army now in dreamland, making a song to win the league.
They haven’t done that on the best flight since 1927, but now they’re only five numbers away from the best!
Read what follows.
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