Newcastle United have not found themselves struggling to score goals this season.
The side and in particular Dwight Gayle, have been extremely efficient in front of goal, which is part of the reason that they find themselves top of the league this Christmas.
However, 65%* of their efforts have come from the middle of the pitch this season. Something that is strange, considering that 45% of their touches have come down the right hand side of the pitch.
This may sound like a very uninteresting statistic, however, it could well explain Newcastle’s ruthlessness in front of goal. Last season, for example, it seemed as though Daryl Janmaat, Moussa Sissoko and Andros Townsend were forever trying their luck from the right hand side of the pitch, with limited success.
In the case of Sissoko, a lot is usually put down to his attitude and rightly so, but it is also interesting to remember that in the final few games of last season, Sissoko was a far better player playing centrally.
Perhaps the key to Newcastle’s goal-scoring is that they are far more patient with their build up and conservative of where they shoot from.
*all stats are taken from WhoScored.com
Sham: I take your points mate. It is called preponderance of evidence over here. From what I have read it doesn’t even meet that test. It really is a he said/he said with the Wolves players not even getting their stories straight.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So the game for next Friday sold out today as well. I wonder how our attendance compares to last time in the championship? It’s almost impossible to get an away ticket, unless you have lots of loyalty points, there were tickets for Wigan on a Wednesday night, on TV and we took nearly a whole end based on the TV pictures. Last time in the championship I got tickets for Blackburn and Barnsley quite easily and I don’t think SJP sold out very often. Interesting as we have more or less the same points. Must be the Rafa effect!
DJG(Quote)
DJG: could be the Rafa effect. Last time we had the same bunch of players who took us down and an inexperienced manager. It probably took a while to get on board. Now we have a lot of new players and a manager who very few blame for relegation and who has won many trophies. Ashley was also trying to sell NUFC last time whereas this feels like he is behind the club for almost the first time since he stopped drinking beer on the terraces. It almost feels like a new beginning which could explain what you are saying.
Hughton turned out to be a very good manager and a very good man but we didn’t know that at this time in his stint at SJP.
I think the Boxing Day and Friday games are on live in the USA so I will be able to see the bloody games for once.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m still not getting the Shelvey thing. Even the alleged insult. Is it really an insult? The guy IS an Arab. Would it be an insult to say smelly Indian? Or smelly Jew? Or smelly African?
Indians, jews, africans AND arabs are happy to be named as such. What’s the real problem? Over officious judgements? PC gone mad? Don’t get anything about the case.
georgio(Quote)
we will never understand the game mate while these old farts are running things for their own ego
icedog(Quote)
I have a new thread on the Shelvey topic going up at midday GMT
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
And it’s liiiive
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/12/22/jonjo-shelvey-a-questionable-morality/
Andy the Magpie(Quote)