The last few weeks have been fantastic, as we have got our Champions League challenge back on track with three successive victories. One of the surprise beneficiaries of the recent form has been Jacob Murphy. The Englishman has started the last three Premier League games and he has certainly added something to the attack.
Eddie Howe has always trusted Murphy and that is shown by the amount of game time the winger has been given. Although he has only started eight times, he has featured in every Premier League game. The Norwich City academy graduate is reliable and can carry out the tactical instructions that Howe gives out. His off the ball work both in the forward press and in supporting his full back are both great.
One goal and one assist isn’t the best return, but Murphy is trusted for other reasons. Howe will ideally want more from his winger and there may be some signs that more contributions are coming.
For a period around the cup final, the team became very predictable in attack. Due to Miguel Almiron’s preference to cut inside, opposition teams knew they didn’t need to commit as many players to defend the right flank. During the early part of the season, the right wing was out most productive area, as there was often space for Almiron to dart in between left back and left centre back.
In 2023, that space wasn’t there and the Paraguayan was often crowded out of matches. The decision to bring Murphy into the team against Wolves was the right one, as the 28-year-old is a more classic winger. He likes to run towards the byline and get crosses into the box. It would be unfair to say this is the only way he goes, as he does also like to come inside and get shots on goal. However, his preference is the former.
In the last three games, we have seen the benefit of this, as the team have become a lot less predictable and have created far better chances as a result. During this period, the team have created 8.29 expected goals (xG).
Incredibly, this is the same number that we had created in the previous six Premier League matches. We haven’t had the same predictability down the right wing, which has created space for the central midfielders and Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing.
It would be too simplistic to suggest Murphy’s introduction to the team has fixed the attack, but it has had a big impact. A similarly large impact has been provided by Alexander Isak’s selection, as he offers more than Callum Wilson in the build-up play. That was clear again yesterday, with his great footwork in the build-up to the first goal.
Murphy’s individual performance over these three games has been good and he has been unlucky not to have a goal or an assist. He is averaging 1.85 shots and 2.96 key passes per ninety minutes. The winger has had an xG of 0.35 and 0.78 expected assists (xA). He ranks 7th for the former and 4th for the latter.
These aren’t outstanding numbers and there will always be weaknesses to Murphy’s game. However, it speaks volumes of his work rate and tactical understanding that he is playing his role in a team that is in 3rd position.
His time as a starter is likely to be short, especially with another summer transfer window approaching, but he is showing that he is a valuable squad member. It is likely that Howe will want to keep him for next season. That said, if we did choose to sell him, we would likely make a profit on him.
That is a huge credit to Eddie Howe and Murphy himself.
Stats taken from understat
