It is a great time to be a Newcastle United fan. We could be writing this article about nearly any player in the current squad, as everyone has played their part. However, we believe it is time to give Joe Willock his flowers.
The midfielder will go down in the history books as the last ever signing made in the Mike Ashley era. In fact, he was the final two signings made, as he was brought in on loan before joining permanently. He could also go down as one of the best signings made in the Mike Ashley era.
Willock is a player that divides the fan base. Some believe he is a great talent who could be a member of the first eleven for years to come. Others don’t see the value he offers and think he wouldn’t even make our team when all players are fit.
To clarify my bias, I place myself firmly in the first camp. Although there are some rough edges to Willock’s game, he is already a very good Premier League midfielder, in and out of possession. If he is to keep his place, he will need to continue developing. At the age of 23, he still has a lot of time to grow, and he is at the right club to do that. His blend of physical and technical attributes makes him a good fit for Eddie Howe’s style.
There will be frustration for Willock, as he hasn’t scored a goal this season. He went on an extraordinary goal-scoring streak when he was here on loan. It would be unfair to hold him to those standards, but he will know that he can contribute more than he has been.
That said, it feels like a run of bad luck mixed with low confidence rather than any issues in performance. He is averaging 0.24 expected goals (xG) and 2.16 shots per ninety minutes. Both are good levels. His shot volume is at its highest since he joined the club.
In the squad, he is third for total xG, while his average places him 6th. He is averaging more than Allan Saint-Maximin (0.21), Joelinton (0.2) and Bruno Guimaraes (0.06). Those three players have scored this season, but Willock is providing a bigger goal threat in terms of chances. If he maintains this, goals should follow.
The most impressive jump that Willock has made is in the creative department. Few would view him as a creator. There are six Newcastle players with two assists and Willock is one of them. Both came in the game against Fulham.
Willock is averaging 0.27 expected assisted goals (xAG) per ninety minutes. Only Elliot Anderson (0.49) and Allan Saint-Maximin (0.29) average more in the squad, both of whom have played fewer minutes. This reduces the reliability of their data.
Last season, Willock averaged 0.07 xAG per ninety minutes. This is a big jump and underlines one of the big improvements in his game. His biggest threat is his pace in transition, as he can quickly carry the ball from defence to attack.
It is a common move from him, as seen at the weekend against Aston Villa. In the build-up to the third goal, he picks up the ball just outside our area, plays a great one-two with Callum Wilson. Just second later, he is inches away from playing Joelinton through on goal. Eventually, the ball fell to Wilson and it led to Joelinton scoring an open goal.
The reason that the chance was created was Willock’s energy and movement, as he managed to get the attack launched from his own defensive third. It is this value in transition that makes him a perfect fit for Eddie Howe.
A pass accuracy of 81.5% places him sixth in the squad and shows that he is reliable in possession. Howe needs his midfield players to maintain the ball and Willock can do that.
Out of possession, Willock is full of energy and a great fit for the pressing game we are utilising. He has completed 33 tackles and interceptions this season, placing him 5th in the current squad. This shows he does have tenacity and can win the ball back.
The competition for places means that Willock needs to maintain his high level of performances and ensure his numbers remain at a good level. If he maintains his underlying numbers in the final third, the chances will become goals and assists. There were similar good trends with Miguel Almiron this time last month. Once one goes in, it can lead to a flood of goals.
In certain games, he may not be the right player in midfield. This is particularly against teams that sit deep, but there are few better players in transition.
Willock has a big part to play in the future of the club. At the age of 23, he remains a player with huge potential.
Stats taken from fbref (powered by Stats Perform)
