Now, before people jump on this quicker than a sacking in the Chelsea boardroom just because it has ‘weaknesses’ in the title, the article is not aimed at slashing any NUFC throats or criticising anything that has gone on this season.
The aim here, was to highlight statistical statements regarding Newcastle United in the Premier League this season and look at what needs strengthening/improving to consolidate on the season gone and continue being a force in the English top flight.
There is absolutely no doubt that this season has been nothing short of amazing for us Newcastle fans, but every team has its shortcomings. NUFC_Stats looked at some statistical statements from this season and some of the things NUFC can be doing to get a little closer to that elusive Champion’s League spot in the next campaign.
The last article highlighted the difference between last season’s shots, assists, chances created and chance conversion rate and it was shown that although NUFC had less shots at goal, their chance conversion was slightly better. That is down really to the composure of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
Having said that, to finish above only 6 teams in terms of having shots this season is quite surprising and shows once again how important it has been for us to have quality up top. Even when having shots though, 12 teams have been superior than NUFC for hitting the target.
It just goes to show the margins in the Premier League – without a good frontline, these kind of statistics could see a club languishing dangerously close to the bottom, but real ability and finishing prowess makes a huge difference. Newcastle have managed the 6th most open play goals this season (37) and the 4th most from fast breaks (4).
It’s not just about scoring goals though – NUFC have been immensely strong at the back at times this season which is vitally important in our division and they finished 12th for the number shots conceded per game on average (14.3).
Alan Pardew himself recently paid tribute to this one saying that he has been disappointed with the threat NUFC have had from these situations. And, it is quite an eyebrow-lifting stat when you consider the ability Newcastle’s attacking line have had this season and the quality of set piece takers they now have in their ranks.
But, when you see City (19) & Man Utd (18) as 2 of the top 3 for goals from set plays, then the benefits of having that in your locker as a team in the Premier League are quite prominent.
Some may argue that this isn’t a weakness of NUFC’s play, certainly in the latter of this campaign, and that it is a by-product of the switch to the more attacking 4-3-3 formation that was implemented.
However, crossing is still an integral part of the modern game, especially with players like Ba & Cisse who feed off good service as they have shown on countless occasions this season. And, it hasn’t just been the number of crosses that Newcastle have produced that has been of slight concern, but their quality at times.
The fact that Yohan Cabaye, as a central attacking player, has produced more crosses than any other Newcastle United player in the Premier League this season, tells its own story!
A somewhat ironic statement this one, considering the result and performance of both teams at the Liberty Stadium this season, but again, for a team with European aspirations, NUFC need to take more control of games, keeping the ball for longer periods and knowing how & when to change the tempo of play to suit themselves.
Having a low percentage of play in the opposition’s half means that when chances arise, you have to take them. The conversion rate numbers compared to number of shots in general have shown that that has been NUFC’s strength this season. However, next season, when teams know more about how Newcastle play, particularly individuals like Papiss Cisse, it will become more difficult a task to score the quantity of goals that were notched this time around.
Furthermore, Newcastle feature 12th for average possession (46.8%), 14th for short passes per game (331) and 12th for pass success rate (76.7%) – all areas that will have no doubt been highlighted by NUFC’s backroom staff and looking to work on as we speak.
It probably won’t surprise too many people this one – Newcastle have been inconsistent with their choice of personnel on the right hand side this season and even when Hatem Ben Arfa’s selection became a certainty, he wasn’t going to change that being a left footer who likes to cut inside.
Right-foot dominant teams will always produce their shots from central and left areas more so than their right and NUFC are exactly that, with HBA & Tim Krul the only natural left footers in the starting X1 this season.
Ironically, Newcastle have actually conceded the lowest percentage of shots in the entire top flight from the right hand side this season; just 13% coming from that side.
This stat was touched on in the last article – when Newcastle have lost games, particularly away from home this season, they have done it in style! The mentality of the team definitely has question marks hanging over it, as going a goal down has appeared to have a very detrimental effect on the whole team outlook.
Alan Pardew is still searching for his first win as Newcastle manager after going behind and when conceding more than 1 goal in the Premier League this season, only Spurs gained fewer points (2). NUFC also lost the most games in the division (4) by conceding 4+ goals and were 1 of just 4 teams failing to score 4+ in a game.
Again, this is not a swipe at any of the Newcastle team or management – simply a highlight of some of the areas that NUFC need to strengthen to ensure they progress on their terrific successes this season.
The question is how? The priority at this stage is definitely going to be to hang onto the ones that helped make this season so vibrant, but if that fails, then replacing them will take priority.
If not though, more recruitment of the same nature as the superstars that have walked through the door of late may well just lift the Mags to real stardom next season!
« A few words of advice for Danny Simpson | Do we need to sell a star to thrive? »
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116 Comments
A good read read Statto, definately a few things need working on before our crack at the title next season
Good article as always statto. Lots of areas for improvement. Again I would bring up goal difference as well. We finished 7th in goal difference and plus 5 is not nearly good enough to keep us in fifth next season. I’m looking for an improvement into double figures to keep us in the top 6. Picking up Amalfitano is a good start as he looks promising but we already have several promising youngsters. We need more proven talent at CB to make Krul’s life easier. Colo should be a great role model for young CBs for several years to come. What would happen if Krul had a major injury? I don’t we should feel too comfortable with the goalkeeping situation either. If we lose Ba and Cisse goes down with an injury who takes his place? A lot of important areas to address but I’m looking forward to see who we bring in!
GT a lot of my feeling too mate.
good read STATS
So essentially we’re really shit
I think the thing is that clubs may have more shots than us but they’re usually shit shots, whereas we take our time to find the right opportunity to shoot leading to a goal, that’s why we’re do prolific, we don’t waste chances.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/alan-pardew-my-plan-to-land-the-england-hotseat-7777988.html
http://www.nufcfans.co.uk/blog-talents-dutch-eredivisie/
Good read, written by a Dutchman who supports Newcastle from Holland because of Tim Krul. That lad Narsingh that we were talking about the other night gets a mention.
Great read as always stats. It’s true we have some more stuff to work on ,not least our defensive frailities and lousy set play return . We could certainly do with some more decent crosses going in too. It would be nice if we could have a back four commanding and safe enough to enable Krull to pass the ball out to them rather than the mass panic that ends in a hoof ball up front. It inevitably ends up in the oppositions hands again with this play
.Priority is defenders ,good ones a striker to cover and challenge and another top notch goalie for me. We have Marv back now which will help with crosses hopefully too. Oh yes and Fergie and Tav to get more first team action as well.
Andy@6 nice read that.
http://www.toonarmyblog.co.uk/news/2012/May/22/sick-of-the-ashley-analysis.php
good read
I thought so too Kim
HITMAN canny read that mate
HITMAN pardew was almost saying the injury to dean ashton cost him his job and cisse could have done the same lol
Ice@10 ,That’s probably why he blew a fuse when they sold AC
we know he had a ruck with em about it. It’s all fine lines though isn’t it ,I mean if Ba hadn’t worked or Cisse for that matter where would we be now ,it’s a horrible thought and one I’d guess sends a shiver down Pards and every fans spine.
KIMTOON aye bloody good point about judas,never though about it that way
ice,pards is right in what he says about we might not make top 5 next season,with being in the europa it will kick holes in the squad.
Great read Stats. Lots of areas for the staff to work on. Would it be possible to do a MVP type article, eg mins on pitch, Goals scored conceeded per game when playing points gained etc and then break it down to defender, midfield etc with appropriate relevant stats? That would settle a few arguments as to what some of the fringe type players have contributed.
HITMAN aye thats going by past historys in PL have any team been in the top six and stayed there while playing in euro,maybe we might be the first if jabba helps oot a bit more
Excellent read. Up there with your best yet statto.
Actually pleases me, doing so well in the league but having a lot of statistical weaknesses means we have plenty to improve on.
It also means that we aren’t established as one of the league’s “good teams”, something we need to be wary about next season. Saylor’s injury and the Chelsea game were very unlucky, but game to game we have come out on top in the luck stakes this season.
ST
I felt that the luck evened itself out over the course of the season.
11.8% of statistics are a load of bollocks.
FACT
Excellent article anyway Statto.
@Andy I can think of lots of decisions that went for us, not as many that went against us (Chelsea aside).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9258810/Manchester-United-have-cause-for-complaint-as-unique-survey-highlights-Premier-League-errors.html
I think everything goes back to the defence in the end ,doesn’t matter how you break it down we have let in far too many goals this season ,which is why the value of Ba and Cisse cannot be underestimated imo. Without their goals we’d of been up s*** creek for sure and not forgetting some amazing goalkeeping from Krul. First 11 games saw us as one of the leagues best defensive units plus we were scoring too ,once Saylor was injured the defence suffered badly imo. Luckily for us we kept getting the goals and we got lucky having a player like Colo to steady that rocky backline. I ‘m not knocking Wilo and co. but it’s a fine balancing act getting the back four working cohesively just as it is to get the mix right up front. I would liken our season performance to cooking a cake .The mix was almost perfect but the thermostat went on the oven(defensive frailities) and luckily the cook took it out befor it got burnt . The cook was lucky this time but must fix the thermostat befor she puts another cake in the oven.
@rodz
Is that Stat of 11.8% boo locks as wheel?
@Kim, I think our mental deficiencies were greater than our defensive defencies. Our clean sheet rate stayed the same after Saylor. However games when we did concede, we capitulated. We lacked gritty, on the field leaders to keep us head strong imo.
Rodz & Troy
It’s a known fact that 73% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Tasty analogy Kim
…true enough though. If our goal difference was a cake it’d probably be a burnt sponge. Steven Taylor is one of the better soaker uppers, and we definitely missed him.
Good that we can criticise the squad constructively from the top end of the table for a change though.
…on a sidenote, I’m currently sipping white wine in my back yard, and a fucking black fly has just landed in it. If I was Alannis Morrisette I’d probably say that was ironic, but it’s Pinot Grigio anyway
…and it wouldn’t be ironic either, just a fucking pain in the arse. Gonna eat the little fucker anyway.
ST
I think Taylor’s got a better defencive mind that Williamson, he and colocinni were great at organising the back-line early in the season, pulling the offside trap and making effective last-ditch tackles, Mike struggles with this and we have suffered because of it.
Troy, wey aye. Life is but a bowl of bollocks.
…so they say.
Rodz
So your usual supper then
Not really Andy, I’d usually tuck into a woodlice and Feta cheese salad on such a glorious evening. Minimum crunch, maximum taste
…waste not want not though, it’s all good protein. Got Bear Grylls rund in a bit for a slug supper, washed doon with a few glasses if his latest piss homebrew. Wicked
I see we’re linked with some Spanish guy ‘Marquez’ from Espanyol. Anyone know anything about him? Like ‘Is he any good?’
Solano ,fair point ,but the thing about the mental deficiencies is that they only arise when you are not comfortable in possession or fearfull of your ability to come back from a goal down. At times our whole team was like headless chickens at Fulham ,Wigan ,Spurts and Wolves too. Wilo keeps trying out for the allin wrestling team and how often has he turned his back ,he’s improved but still a long way off perfect, Simmo too, great goaline clearences but looks uncomfortable in possession at times .As for the clean sheets after Saylor getting injured ,I wouldn’t mind betting that’s down to Kruls great keeping but the stats may indicate otherwise .
Sorry Rodz, must have mixed you up with Richie
Sorry Rodz, must have mixed you up with Richie
It posted that comment twice for some reason
Rod-That black fly will give it some body mate
you should see the stuff floating about in the vats of scrumpy on the farms near me ,yum yum great stuff ,perfect on a hot day like today ,but not if you intend to walk home mine 
Andy ,you been drinking that scrumpy I think
Wor Richie’s been getting a lot of ribbing on here lately I’ve noticed. It seems he’s become the blog teddy bear. Just like the teddy bear you used to cover in petrol as a kid, and burn inside a pentagram scrawled with your own faeces.
(or was that just me
)
Rod -Just you
Kim, I fkn love scrumpy mate.
Total cider man. You’re in Bristol I seem to remember. They know what to do with their apples doon there. Fuck this eating lark. 
ROD aye he gets a lot of stick on here just in fun,hes a top lad,and very quick witted and takes it all in fun,but we give him a day off on mondays
mind divnt get on the wrong side of him hes nee dummy
Kim
Rod, yeh I am ,it’s funny stuff as it taste so harmless and looks like cloudy squash and STINKS if it’s proper like . You feel fine whilst drinking it but when you attempt to walk out the pub your legs sort of go .
Toonsy where ever you are, we need a ‘throw-up’ icon for the comments. Would be useful as a reply to the majority of Rodz comments.
Ice, yeah mate av noticed. Me and Richie are like that man (two fingers). Top banter. Can always rely on a comeback from him, even if it takes him a little longer than others. It’s all that fucking sun he gets, and the manana attitude. Alreet for some like.
…he’s still a c*nt though (just to add to the Richie Abuse Contribution).
RAC forever
ROD aye mate you can keep it up,hes had his day off lol
Solano – I agree, defensively we weren’t terrible but against the likes of Spurs, Fulham and Wigan we just didn’t have the grit to stop the goals going in. That said I do still think we need defensive improvements this summer.
I said it all season though that my big concern was that it was only Ba getting the goals and then Cisse in the 2nd half of the season. There has not been enough goals from the rest of the team. Shola, Best, Jonas, Tiote, Cabaye, Obertan and our back 4 just have scored enough this season. I know we started the season with a very defensive formation but next season we need goals from throughout the team and any new signings.
I’m not too fussed about crosses if we play 433 but think we could use players who can cross like Matt Jarvis or Adam Johnson. Set pieces have to improve though, especially for our Europe campaign.
Ice @ 41 he’s a c@nt
but a decent one 
do people not know that Jabba doesn’t like spending money, because if he had of brought a decent CB instead of relying on Willo the wisp because we had him, we would have been in the CL.
Tell you what I had a quick read on the Simmo blog and I have came to the conclusion that there is some right fuking walters support the Toon
Like the statistics show he is one of the top rb’s in the league but he’s shite because he’s not in the England team, like it’s fuk all to do with the fact that he’s playing for the Toon, and we don’t normally get our players picked to play for the England team because its normally only for bin dippers, spuds, manure etc.
I know he’s not one of the best but he is the best we have and it’s alright saying he’ll be replaced with better
But sure Jabba will sort us all out
Rod RAC = Richies A C@nt
DAVE ive always said england managers in the past never went north of the watford gap,in fact dont think the last england dick knew which way was north,m/utd ect were normally in CL so they got seen
BD
That’s one of the main reasons(of many) that I don’t care about the national side, its too bias. Simpson is better than Johnston, Davies(mark) is better than Barry, A.Johnson/Sammy are better than Downing, and for fuck sake Forster is better than Green, he’ll they even picked that Chelsea retard GK (Turnbull) in the reserve team ahead of the SPL Champions GK with a cleansheet record to his name only conceding 24 times this season.
Wow we really are unneccesarily mean to Richie
Dave @48 spot on agen about the wankers
Good read, I used to write for this website but found I couldn’t commit to it so decided to stop and not be a liability, please checkout http://www.throughblackandwhiteeyes.com it’s about more than just Newcastle- and we’re only young so some constructive criticism would help @louistiplady1
Batts I know he isn’t the best but he’s no where near as bad as some make him out to be, Its the same as I was saying about Saylor the blog was full of ones saying he was shite a greedy bastad that was trying to screw the club, he had no loyalty etc etc oh and we should get shot because Willo was far better
Ice and Andy spot on
On the fucking button Uncle Dave. Yeah yeah SELL SIMPSON, err, wouldn’t that leave us a little short? Can we buy another RB who knows the club, the league, the game, for less than we can get for him?
…I doubt it.
….again, it’s contract negotiations. No more no less. I’ll enter my own ass, my all-singing all-dancing ass, doing the charleston whilst whistling Roger Whitaker’s version of God Save The Queen, in Britain’s Got Talent 2013 if he ain’t a Newcastle player next season.
Kids these days divnt nah thi born.
…a blame it on fucking Facebook.
fuckface
2 yellers and yer off.
book
Swansea, only team to have less possession in opponents half? I thought they we’re the next Barcelona, oh that’s right, they are shit and their defenders pass it to each other all game.
I don’t think any of these are to serious, the shots on target does not matter when you have cisse and ba at your disposal.
Be nice to stick a few crosses in, and we should be since we have “Super Jonas” in the team, who although I think is a work horse I think he is a bit over rated, i suppose it just shows how benny and ba like to cut in and take a shot, something pardew should probably stop a bit and tell them to just get a ball in the box.
And to 1-0 one does not really bother me, if you are going to take a beating, you may as well take 3-4 in one game.
Everyone who thinks simpson is gone said the same thing about Jonas and collo when they were re-negitating their contracts.
Simspon will stay as i doubt anyone in England pay him more than 25K- certainly not a blub that can offer Eruopean footy.
That being said, I’d like a RB upgrade please…
Rods I agree with you @ 56 – 59
Spence Jonas is another that I think gets a lot of stick for having no end product, and I would agree if he was a winger but this season 80% of his job was covering for the defence, which IMO isn’t his job, Raylor was getting lots of plaudits for doing so well in the 1st dozen game but most forgot that Jonas was doing half the work, and thats from a fan that likes Raylor
Dave, you’re so obviously Spencer
…marksman spencer that is
eh
I am posting comments too quickly. Slow dooooooooon.
fuck it, whatever
Dave, you hated Raylor, infact ALL THE FUCKERS ON HERE DID. Remember my Raylor article, when I said he was going to be a good player, well yeah, you all mocked me and said he was shit.
And I just don’t like Jonas, I don’t feel he has a role, I feel he gives to much space when he plays full back, he can not really play CM in the 4-3-3 formation, and when we play 4-4-2 I would rather have attacking wingers with a midfielder that drops off the cover the full backs, imo if we want a better XI he is going to be one of the first to replace, with only simmo and a new CB in front of him.
Rodzilla, some of what you are smoking please?
Spence @ 69 i’ll have some of what your smoking Lad, you find one post from me not backing Raylor
Fuck off Spencer, get yer own ye pikey twat.
…and Ryan Taylor IS shit by the way. If anyone’s rode the fucking crest of the wave it’s him.
CRAP Midfielder
…errr…
….AVERAGE utility player, who only happens to still be here cos he’s willing to play in any position.
We only bought the cunt cos he scored a few free kicks against us, now he’s the new fucking messiah.
Stick Ryan Taylor up your arse.
nee picking on dave mind,hes in the 500 club
Surely having GOOD utility players at your disposal is good? You are hardly going to get players like Messi happy to sit on the bench are you?
Dave, I do apologise, it was a out rage of anger, everyone but you abused him.
Rod, any need to resort to the personal abuse?
We might not have scored enough set pieces but I don’t think we conceded that many from set pieces either this season which is an interesting thing. Do we really lack finishers and headerers of the ball (and set piece takers) or have we just not done enough to try and score from set plays? Next season I think we will see Willo out and either Taylor or another CB in that will score but also I think we need to have more of a strategy to score from set plays rather than someone just blasting it over the bar.
Spence you were lucky you realised your erros’s there as I was going to slap you about the heed with a kipper
Kenny Rogers is my Dad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pGcBDitXc
Dave; Try it lad.
Spence I would find it a struggle smacking a yougun but in your case I would make an exception
but I would need to makesure ther was someone around to stop me from going to far 
Thought you would need back up mate, I would drag you across the floor pal.
Narr I am not a keyboard warrior like.
DAVE have we got trouble on our hands here mate
…if a man’s gonna eat fraaad chikkin eez gonna get greeEEee
ZAAAAAY!
Spence it would be you on the floor with me kicking the fuking lights outta ye lad
Rodz I see the bee gees are re releasing one of their hits, how deep is your bruv
Ice nah mate no trouble from Spence I would just use him as a stress ball, I just wish he had of took the apprentice job on for us as I would enjoy having him as a studio bitch
Who does ice think he is, your bouncer?
Looks like I will never learn to respect my elders.
Spence Ice is the god father
Big dave- You just made me spit my coffee out mate, cheers.
Dave, apparently staying alive wasn’t good enough for the ungrateful cunt.
Reet Lads thats me outta here catch you’s tomorrow sometime
Rod @ 85
$$$$$JACKPOT$$$$$££££
…..
(haha)
(apparently)
Dave @89 I am going on run for 5 month again.
Nicely sliced
Rodz @91
Is that not city’s XI/formation for next year
Indeed it’s what they’ll be left with
Fuck off Rodz you cunt. Thats my contribution. Oh and I stand by the Simmo is over rated statement. Bleeding useless in possession and needs more influence. Would still keep him for the squad mind, so he can clean Shane Ferguson’s boots next season
good night.
haaaaaaaaaaaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
….you think you
can take me Shamrock 
… 
..what was the question again?
note to future Fatties:
Fuck the government warnings, Eat crisps, smerk tarbs, nek kebabs, chocolate and cheese. Please,
fuck everyone
(it’s easier)
…apparently we’re after Shane Richie from Eastenders.
…nee end product like
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/amalfitano-is-latest-french-connection-for-newcastle-7778785.html
DJG
Aye I saw that link just before, seems that we’ve got a good chance of getting M’biwa and that despite what the Lille coach said Debuchy is leaving, probably to us.
If we somehow ended up with debauchy and mbiwa that would be immensel
Interesting read @103. Based on that article, it looks like we are going to see Xisco at SJP more often as well…maybe a contender for Europa League games. 2.5M GBP is a shed load of money…no wonder no one is taking him.
Lose Demba Ba, Lovenkrands and Best(maybe) and get Xisco and Yet-to-be-named striker. Hmmmm.
Gotta love the transfer season.
I’d say.
…if debauchy moved to us I would maximise the cheese breeze, if I pleased.
…and I deed.
eh
No worries if we lose ba now since xisco is set to return
sinister words seem less troublesome after FUN TIME
Shaking Steevins
‘Shaking Private Stevens’ has got to be my favourite pre war comedy war film like.
…it’s BOSS like
..1…..2……….3……….
…you’re back in the room.
We’d be better of paying up Xisco’s contract than letting the fecker back here, he really is garbage and it’s not worth letting him take up a space in the 25 man squad.
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