I have taken out the the usual established Top 5 as well as those that were relegated or promoted, focusing on where we expect to finish – somewhere from 6th (on a good season) down to roughly 15th. It will not be a surprise to learn that Newcastle conceded at least 10 more goals last term than the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Brom, West Ham and several other mid table sides. The reason for this appears to be a deep rooted problem that links into a significant issue for us at the other end of the pitch – scoring. Outside of the 3 relegated sides, we only outscored Villa, Sunderland and West Brom.
Outside of the To 10, there are obvious failings from certain teams that explains why they finished where they did. West Ham’s Sam Allardyce you will remember, was given a mandate of having his side be more exciting. To be fair the Hammers created (367) chances at goal, more than anybody else in this group other than Spurs (407) and Southampton (382), however they struggled to keep the ball (47% average possession), whilst Villa did not create enough chances (288), explaining their poor return of 30 league goals. Crystal Palace on the other hand could only keep the ball for 45% of the time – but managed a respectable 10th place finish thanks largely to a staggering 24 goals scored from set pieces as opposed to Newcastle’s lowly 8. Palace also worked as a team to help keep the number of conceded goals down – by undertaking 56 defensive actions per game – which is the 3rd highest outside the Top 5.
I am one of many who highlighted our lack of cutting edge when it came to set pieces – and 8 goals all season is amongst the lowest in the league – but it does not paint the whole picture. Southampton for example also only managed 8, however they excelled in keeping the ball, creating chances, scoring from free play and keeping clean sheets.
If we are honest with ourselves, then we are not content sitting in the bottom haf. So lets compare notes with Spurs, Southampton, Stoke, Swansea, Palace and Everton – who were all there or thereabouts in the Top 10… The Magpies scored less than all of those teams and conceded significantly more. Almost all of those teams managed to have a speciality over their competitors; Everton (11th in the table) had the highest shot accuracy out of the group and the joint-highest passing accuracy (83%). Southampton conceded less than everybody else (30 goals less than us), Spurs created more chances (407), scored more goals (58), won more average duels for the ball (50%) and kept possession (54%) more than anybody else. Swansea were joint-top dogs at average passing accuracy (83%) and Palace knew how to score from set pieces. Stoke were impressively consistent amongst several fields, finishing in the Top 3 of this group in chances created, average duels won and goals conceded.
So we must have something we are good at, right? Erm no, not really. Granted we did not finish in the Top 10 or 11, so we are not going to compare favorably against these sides – but surely we pushed the Top 3 or 4 in some fields at least? Nope…We were poor in every field so no need to list them. I know you want a positive – so I’ll give you one. I heard many people criticise the team for playing hoof ball. However, our average length of pass was 19 meters, which is bang on average. In fact it’s slightly above average with no other team having a shorter average passing length – the biggest being 21 meters and the guilty team being Aston Villa.
In my opinion our problem comes from possession – and what we do with the ball. Its obvious to say as much but bear with me! Every team in the Top 10 had possession over 50% per game. Spurs finished 5th. Southampton 7th and they had better possession than anybody outside the usual Top 5 with 54% and 52% respectively. We managed 49% – it does not seem like a lot of difference but we are talking about fine margins at the very top of the professional game – so small margins make big differences. Once we manage to retain the ball, we need to get into key areas and start producing opportunities. We only created 332 chances last season. Again Spurs and Southampton lead the field with 407 and 382 respectively. When we create those chances, we need to execute them better. We only managed a 43% shooting accuracy which is worse than all of the other 6 sides listed above except Stoke. I suspect this is because we lacked the cutting edge in our passing game to get close enough to goal. Too often when in possession last term, we passed sideways or backwards – partly because we had no real width in our game and no real catalyst in the middle to burst forward and open up space. Sissoko is the best we currently have in that regard, but too often he did not seem to really bust a gut or show enough desire and interest. This is why I hope the Wijnaldum rumor is true – he is exactly what we need.
In terms of goals conceded, it is no coincidence that Spurs top the bill again with 50% of their duels won. We only managed 47%. This means we lack bite in midfield as well as at the back. We have Anita, Colback, Sissoko etc on the books but do any of them have a specific position that they excel at? Tiote has been a big miss and if we had his influence in front of the back 4 then I believe we would have conceded far less. If he is leaving, we need to employ someone like Colback to just sit there putting the tackles in and keeping his passing game simple so that we have a foundation to work off and build up momentum. Again, take out the relegated sides and the Top 5 and Newcastle as a unit had the lowest defensive actions per game (48) than almost everybody else. Most of the Top 10 had somewhere in the mid to high 50’s – so what’s going on there?
Not only were we not attacking with any kind of purpose, we were also not chasing back or getting into defensive positions when we should have been. Is the whole squad lazy? I doubt it. I reckon it’s a case of poor coaching and players not knowing what the hell to do due to a bad system in place. A new coaching team with experience of football on the Continent combined with experience of winning things here at home should see a big improvement from our current squad. Step forwards Steve McClaren and his team. Add a couple of well planned additions to the playing staff (Matip, Austin/Mitrovic, Wijnaldum anyone?) and we should achieve a few small percentage increases in the above fields, which in turn will yield big results come the end of the season.
Toby: is that the Cisse whose goals kept Pardew his job, played with screws in his knee and kept us in the PL? And the same one who got a 7 game ban for spitting 🙂 But he did score 1/3 of our goals while playing only 1/2 of our games with no support up front.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah thtats the one Eric. What a waste of space! Haha.
Shamrock(Quote)
Lionel: Luke Edwards was the only one who knew how to write at The Chronic. He went to The Telegraph and Fatty and his cronies banned him for asking a few too may questions. He is still banned but writes better stuff than all of the current Chronicle journalists put together even though he is at a paper that don’t give a **** about NUFC and give him about half a page every 2 weeks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lionel @667: Now if you want to talk about Louise “Mackem” Taylor. That is one MF piece of horse’s ***. Her bias against NUFC is legendary. And those teeth, dobbin! Mr. Ed (rather than Dr. Ed) would kill for them (You might not get that reference, Mr. Ed was a talking horse in a ’50s TV show in the US).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think you’ll find Mr Ed was from the 60s. I should know, I’m an expert on the 60s, especially 1969. 😉
Interesting talk about getting club culture and player mentality right by wor Steve. He’s making all the right noises – even the one about words being cheap.
brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV. I have only seen the reruns and assumed it was 50s ‘cos it was in B&W.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is quite funny that nobody ever stays upset on here. Have a bit of a spat for 5 minutes, have a cup of tea and then get back to normal. I quite like it, there are enough of the flag burners and ISIS types in this world. We need more of us who have had our heart broken and live only for 1969.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I didn’t live in a house with a colour tv until 1978. In the early days, my parents couldn’t afford one, then later It wasn’t part of my consciousness 😆 and later still I wasn’t interested enough to want one – colour or B&W.
I only got one so I could watch the cricket and Match of the Day. Though I remember enjoying I, Claudius every week.
brisvegas(Quote)
I’d like to place on record how impressed I have been with McClaren and the impact he appears to be having on the club. He’s been credited with changing the clubs attitude to the press which resulted in the club inviting all the media down to training and then also lunch with the press guys too. Funny that all the press are now running with very positive articles this evening.
In fact I can’t remember when I have initially felt as positive about the club under Ashley. But then I get a reality check and think, let’s wait and see eh? Nowt a happened yet…
Stuart79(Quote)
BrisV, I tried to read I Cladius and only got 60 pages in. In this case the TV show was better than the book. Maybe it picks up after 60 pages, but it was the dullest book I have ever read for those 60 pages. I read a couple of DH Lawrence books in school so I know what dull is 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But just to put it in perspective; When he talks about NUFC signing players for £10m + it’s like we are breaking new ground but in fact the likes of West Ham, Swansea and Crystal Palace are all doing it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Now what! Super Alan Pardew (for it is he) enters the race for Austin:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/452999/Newcastle-and-Crystal-Palace-to-fight-it-out-to-land-15-rated-Chelsea-target-Austin
According to the Daily Star he is willing to let Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Reed Richards or Bruce Wayne leave in part exchange.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu @689 Good to read, pleased for ya, mate. I gotta say that is why a few of us were trying to say be patient, be a bit positive for now and let’s see, as it did seem like a shift and we just had to see if they would follow through. McClaren has basically just said what a few were saying- it takes time sometimes but let’s see. Of course, the darkness was understandable, but I and others were getting fed up with constant negativity when we just didn’t know what the results were going to be. As you say, nothing done, yet, but definitely more hope around the place, encapsulated by your comment there.
And also, this is where having McClaren on the board could have been a bit of a master stroke, as was said, in football terms. He is there in a formal setting, not just in track suit down at the training ground, explaining why it is not a good idea to exclude the media, and then he must have a vote or a serious say on the decisions the football board make on different aspects, including media appearances and access.
But be sure, I don’t really care about all the negative/ positive bollocks, everyone has their own perspective, it was just getting wearing, the point is, we all want the club to do well and we show that in different ways. Let us bloody hope this is really a new chapter, it does sound like it, but, as you rightly point out, it is still all just words for now. A pleasure to read your previous comment, though, mate. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
wow, let’s all pat Stuart on the back for making a positive statement! 😳
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Here is one of those articles Stu was referring to:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/09/newcastle-united-steve-mcclaren-psv-eindhoven-georginio-wijnaldum
Lionel Speed(Quote)
It is not a pat on the back, Aussie, just good to read. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
I was the first to say to Stu, stop being such a negative, depressing f-cker. It is only fair that I acknowledge my pleasure in seeing a strain of positivity running through his veins. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
fair call, it can’t be easy for him… i did notice his slightly negative post right after his slightly positive post.. the balance must be maintained! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@Aussie 693 we can hope for worldly miracles, other worldly ones maybe a step too far!! 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Shamrock: i am going to the match on Tuesday and can do a match report if you want. Would you want pictures?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s my fashion update for the game in Milwaukee. I will not be wearing a traditional Toon top as whenever I did I was asked if I was an American Football referee? Instead, I have an old second team strip with the blue star and iconic images of Newcastle. I am taking a scarf, even though it is forecast to be 80 degrees F, that’s 27 degrees C. Of course I will be taking the toon top off at about half time and bearing my totally white torso. No tattoos I am afraid girls, I knew you were waiting to see the sea horses!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AMF: say something about football and not just a comment on a comment. You are an amusing guy and I really would like to see more of your opinions on NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
* baring. I always make mistakes like that which is why I usually don’t correct other people. Usually 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sounds like it is about time you moved home, Eric. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
**** off Eric!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sorry, Eric, just seen your comments about Edwards and Louise Taylor. I know about Edwards’ background and Ashley story, I still think he is a **** journalist and to be honest I would have a mind to ban him. Louise Taylor, I actually wrote a formal letter of complaint once, my cousin used to write for the Independent and got me the contact details of the Sports editor and so I wrote to him. I am not joking, and I am sure it is unrelated really, but her articles in recent times did get a bit more balanced. 😆 😆
LionelSpeed(Quote)
I know that doesn’t seem to make sense, he was mates with the sports editor of the Independent, who in turn was mates with the guardian sports editor.
LionelSpeed(Quote)
Come on, Aussie, and Eric, it doesn’t matter. NUFC are on their way to 21st Century Total Football, that is enough to even keep Rockey Surgeons happy!!!
LionelSpeed(Quote)
Rocket Surgeons!!
LionelSpeed(Quote)
Cheers AMF. I am serious, you should say more about NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
so am I…. I find it funny that after reading the dribble at 696, you then turn around ask for some one else to keep their comments about football… the mind boggles…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
The news around Mitrovic is really crazy….
Some reports says he is not willingly to come, Some news article say transfer is done…
Are we chasing a player that is not real interest in NUFC??
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
@Angel of Death: Yes, we are, it seems. They must have their reasoning, I guess.
LionelSpeed(Quote)
OK AMF; I don’t know what your problem is but you never talk about NUFC, ever. Just a bit of criticism of other posters on here. So, I give up.
Say something about NUFC man or what you are doing. Say something man. Or just criticise as that seems to be what you like to do.
Maybe I do go on a bit like at 696, but at least I say something and not nothing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Be fair to Oz, he has written articles.
Ok that’s enough being fair.
They weren’t any good.
That better? 😀
Premandup(Quote)
get matip signed and test Vlaar with a nice little earner.
We need to decide whether we want Saylor hanging around as a sicknote / substitute or buy another. I’d sell Willo and bring in the two above..
Is Lascelles ready for the bench in the prem?
Gashley(Quote)
why don’t you worry about what you are posting mate…. ffs, you don’t half bang on about something once some one gets the better of you… you spent weeks going at Troy in a **** weak one-up-manship show and now because you seemingly have nothing better to do, you have latched on to me.. get over it!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Prem 😆
I stopped writing them because half the crew on here weren’t reading them because they were is such a rush to get straight to the comment/complaint section.. 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I know that one.
Premandup(Quote)
@Aussie. you have that affect on us Geordie men, I think Eric’s envious of your beige clobber and cork hat 😆
Gashley(Quote)
AMF: who has got the better of me? Certainly not you.
Troy doesn’t give a **** about anything. He is like a 5 year old.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
sorry Eric *effect 😳 😆
Gashley(Quote)
Mark 😆
I have some footage of Eric lurking around my place… check it out… 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_zWD6DPcns
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I am not saying anything to antagonize AMF. He is off on his own nasty little rant against me. Shows what he is about really.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric. are you sure youre not Troys brother? Ive always had this sneaky feeling with your obsession with the troyster
Gashley(Quote)
Nah Mark, I am also not related to AMF either. Only the oz lot wear pink vests/tank tops like his vid @718.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
@Aussie. 😆 nah mate that was me 😆
Gashley(Quote)
As I have said before – so, what is thet steeng rey over theere. Ow, heez steenger stabbed me in the cheest and now I am ded.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mark: I call him Troysta.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So McClaren has banned the players from swearing, using their mobile phones at work and sent 2 players home for turning up 5mins late for training.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mark…well stop it please. .ya freaking the kids out! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
PSV have confirmed GW on his way for a medical today at NUFC.
Stuart79(Quote)
Seeing as it’s ok to talk about anything but NUFC … Brisbane Roar are getting new owners. Thank christ for that. The last lot were a bunch of *****.
Maybe next season might not be so bad after all – for both my teams (oops, sorry for almost mentioning Newcastle)
brisvegas(Quote)
£14.5m for GW! Didn’t think I’d see those days again, but having said tags it’s **** all these days. Ridiculous really.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’d be quite happy with Mitrovic, Perez LDJ and Cisse as our main strikers
with GW also used in attack.. i reckon we’ll end the Austin chase
Gashley(Quote)
That is a tangible development, Stu, he really would be a bloody good signing. Get that season ticket before they are all sold out!! 😆
LionelSpeed(Quote)
That is still a lot of money for a midfielder, the whole world hasn’t gone mad, just The Prem and the top 1 or 2 clubs in their respective leagues. There is no way to cut it than bloody positive and a big step in the right direction.
LionelSpeed(Quote)
Lionel, Steady on son! I’ve laid my marker down as to what I want to see. I want to see Matip, 2 strikers and 1 more centre back at least.
Stuart79(Quote)
Ma tip and I more centre back at least, does that you mean you ideally want 3 CBs this window? That is quite the marker. I’d take 1 decent striker, GW, 1 decent CB and whatever else is going. Call me mad, but I still want to see S. Taylor have a miraculous season alongside a decent CB!!!! Just love the blokes on pitch passion!! I can’t stop dreaming. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
No just 2, Lionel. At the start of the summer I said I would have liked 2 x centre backs, 2 x strikers, and a creative midfielder.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s a start. But a lot more needs to be done and just because we make a few signings thjs summer does not mean a corner had been turned. We won’t know if the club try intends to maintain a good squad and push for honours yet for a good couple of seasons. So I won’t be getting mega excited over one good transfer window (which was absolutely neccesssry if we want to stay in the PL), but I will acknowledge it as a good positive start.
Eric, I will email you unless you already have my e-mail address ‘re: your match report? Photos would be great if you get them close enough!
Shamrock(Quote)
I knew what you meant. I reckon we’ll get 1 CB, 1 Striker, CW, 1 squad player, and maybe another Striker.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Agree Shamrock.
Stuart79(Quote)
@Shamrock. Up to you, I, for one, will be getting excited. The other windows can wait for now, if they are planning for them, great, I couldn’t give a monkey’s for now, though. Just on the basis of GW I am pretty excited. Push for honors, whatever, if we play decent, pressing and attacking football and we are up in and around the top 6-8 over the next few seasons, fine by me. We ain’t going to be challenging Chelsea, Arsenal, Man. city and , I guess, a rejuvenated Man. U any time soon. So, it should be about enjoying the football again, and getting some decent play and passion on the pitch. And, if that means a decent enough team to take a run at the CL great, and if we won the FA Cup 3 years in a row, great.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
My point is, there is no right or wrong. The club HAD to invest this summer, so I expected it to happen. We have a track record of having splurged in one window then going quiet for several other Windows, so whilst I will join you in hopefully enjoying a better playing squad with performances to match this season – I will also be mindful of our track record of selling off key players and not replacing them. Or not signing anybody at all. We need to crack on this summer then maintain it over a few Windows. IF we do that, then I will be just as blindly optimistic as you, but not before. Instead, I will just be hopeful for a better future for the club and fans. It’s all the ‘I was right and you was wrong’ nonsense that gets me. Nobody is neccessaruly right or wrong because nobody has seen the long term results that Asey has promised. All we are seeing so far is indicators – and I am happy to see those positive indicators, but they are not proof of a new era just yet. We shall see but if they carry on in this direction, then fantastic and about time too!
Shamrock(Quote)
I agree, Shamrock. I am not really blindly optimistic. I just have learnt over many years to enjoy the moment to the full, because I am actually blindly realistic, and know that **** can come out of nowhere, anytime. And, that is why I am positive. I can take a spark and light a bloody fire, but I am well aware that a bloody great tsunami could come out of nowhere and put out a lot more than that fire.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Nice image Lionel – maybe you should knock up an article or two!
georgio(Quote)
Nice words Lionel 🙂
Anyone fancy doing a write up on Wijnaldum seeing as he looks like a dead cert to come in today or tomorrow? I am off to work at 16:00 but can get a post up before that if anyone has time to write an article before then.. It’s 11:00 now here in UK..
Shamrock(Quote)
Lionel – excellent summary mate, I think you and I have a very similar outlook.
McClaren was saying yesterday that he’s hopeful 4-5 players in this summer. Well if we can get GW, Mitrovic or Austin and Matip that would be great. I would want the other 1 or 2 to be defensive – a CB & RB or CB that could cover RB for me. That is our weakest area that needs addressing most IMO. We have Cabella, SDJ, Aarons and Riviere who are in the squad – 4 players who either hardly played or contributed to the team at all. I would like to see how these players do with our new attacking style.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well the technical manager at psv has said that GW is on his way to the toon… massive signing if it all comes off (medical) happy days.. 😀
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Lots of positive news coming from the club today. McClaren’s new regime, new signings (of quality), open day for training. Definitely eases the nerves 😛
georgio(Quote)
Some of us weren’t stressing at all.. once Mike sets his mind to something, he makes it happen! 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
——————- Krul ——————
Janmaat – Matip – Colo – Dummett
—— Sissoko ——– Colback ——-
— Wjinaldum – De Jong – Perez —
—————– Mitrovic —————
Sharpy17(Quote)
Colo and Dummet weak links tgere
Stuart79(Quote)
—————— Darlow —————–
Need — Lascelles – Saylor – Haidara
———– Tiote ——- Anita ————-
—– Cabella — Abied — Aarons —–
——————- Cisse —————–
We need a right back for our back 11 in my opinion. Then we also have other players available that I haven’t mentioned too.
Sharpy17(Quote)