If you asked Newcastle fans to name our best dribbler, I’d expect almost 100% of responses to be Allan Saint-Maximin.
However, according to the statisticians at The Other 14, in-form winger Jacob Murphy has actually had a better dribble success rate this season.
They reveal that the former Norwich star has a 65% success rate when he attempts to take on his man, completing 31 of his 48 dribbles.
As their updated table shows, the only wingers outside the ‘big six’ who’ve outperformed him in this department are Wolves’ Adama Traore (71%), Burnley’s Dwight McNeil (66%), Everton’s Alex Iwobi (66%) and Aston Villa star Jack Grealish (66%):
It’s not surprise that Allan Saint-Maximin features in the top 20, however it highlights just how effective Murphy has been that he’s actually outperformed our explosive Frenchman in the dribbling department.
Considering he has often played as a right wing-back this season, this is all the more impressive, with him showing his frightening pace and direct running when regularly leaving Sergio Reguilon for dead in that 2-2 draw with Spurs.
He’s come back from a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday with newfound confidence and now looks every bit a Premier League player – not a deer in the headlights scared to get on the ball and have a go.
Let’s hope he can keep it up and be rewarded with a well deserved new deal as a result!
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I know we don’t have a MANAGER…
…but what happened to TEAM?????
We win ONE game in 22 and suddenly Bruce’s bar fly’s are out feeding on the Sh!te!
I’m sick and tired of this lack of direction and it will ONLY by luck if we stay in the Premiership = look at what we’ve seen in the past 2 years with Bruce at the bar = SHAMBLES without direction – players holding their arms in the air at the lack of management and tactics (!?)
I’ve had enough = wake me when we have new ownership
KK(Quote)