For more than two years, Joelinton was the butt of the Newcastle jokes. How funny: Mike Ashley never wanted to open his wallet for fear of a North-east moth outbreak but then spent £40million - FORTY MILLION - on Joelinton.
Twenty six games, 39 shots, and 2,130 minutes of action later, the Brazilian scored his first goal. Look up any polls from the time for 'Biggest Premier League flop' and Joelinton will be near the top.
Step forward Eddie Howe. The Newcastle boss came in, saw something no one else did, moved Joelinton into midfield and, now, the question is how close he is to a call-up for Brazil.
Newcastle are eight games unbeaten and Joelinton's influence in the middle of the pitch has been crucial. No one in the Premier League has won more tackles since his move into midfield. Not N'Golo Kante, not Wilfried Ndidi. As Premier League transformations go, the renaissance of Joelinton is one of the best.
He - and Howe - are having the last laugh.
Has Frank made Toffees worse?
How different things felt just a month ago. Frank Lampard had won his first Everton game, 4-1 over Brentford in the FA Cup, and had got Goodison Park rocking again. There was some belief at last, a sense of hope. A 3-0 victory over Leeds in the Premier League a week later only strengthened those views.
Not any more. They are into the FA Cup quarter-final but three straight league defeats, no goals scored and eight conceded have left the Toffees just a point above the relegation zone.
Game in hand help but the underlying numbers suggest things have got even worse than under Rafa Benitez - and it was bad then.
Gerrard earns Cash reward
Matty Cash has had his doubters over the years. No end product, they said.
But since Steven Gerrard took over, with his focus on attacking full-backs, Cash has thrived. Two goals and two assists in his last three games, his numbers are up there with the best.
'I've worked hard,' said Cash. 'I don't have to prove to anyone I've got a final ball. There's been a few people doubt it. For it to come off and everyone see it is really good.'
Rodgers backs Arteta on Aubameyang
Brendan Rodgers believes opposite number Mikel Arteta has been vindicated over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arteta put his Arsenal legacy on the line when he dumped his former captain over disciplinary issues.
'Decisions like that are not easy but it's all about the spirit, the discipline and the menality to succeed,' said Rodgers. 'Now he's seeing the benefits within the team.'
Marsch mission to revive Raphinha
Jesse Marsch has vowed to get the best out of frustrated star Raphinha. The Leeds talisman stormed down the tunnel after Leeds’ defeat by Aston Villa.
‘Raphinha is clearly a special player,’ said Marsch. ‘I like his talent. He’s another guy who wants it so bad.
He tries everything he can but what happens is it becomes individual instead of it being the collective and how it all fits together.’
Roy's revival looks on hold
Watford appointed Roy Hodgson for a very good reason: as we all know, he has never been relegated.
If he is to avoid that first blot on his managerial copy book with the Hornets, something is going to have to change.
The chances of doing so today are not on his side. Hodgson's record against Southampton is one of the worst of all his opponents, while Watford are on an abysmal run on Sundays.