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Newcastle supporters will journey to St James’ Park on Sunday stuffed with optimism {that a} brighter future awaits underneath their new Saudi-backed homeowners, following the departure of Mike Ashley.
Nonetheless, regardless of the end result towards Tottenham within the curtain-raiser to the brand new period, one factor is for certain: it is going to take time, funding and lots of arduous work to maneuver Newcastle up the Premier League desk and right into a place to compete with the very best sides within the nation.
Right here, Sky Sports activities statistician Sven Alexis takes a take a look at the numbers round Newcastle’s present scenario to disclose the work that must be carried out on the pitch to take the workforce to the following stage…
A well-known, gradual begin to the season
Newcastle are nonetheless on the lookout for their first win of the season after choosing up simply three factors from a doable 21. Solely as soon as have they made a worse begin this century: in 2018/19 Rafa Benitez’s facet picked up simply three factors from their opening 10 video games, happening to complete thirteenth.
Sadly for the Geordie trustworthy, a gradual begin has been a typical theme in latest seasons. Newcastle have did not win any of their opening seven video games in 4 of their final seven Premier League campaigns.
It stays to be seen what uplift the takeover could have on this squad – and what affect any new arrivals in January could have – however Newcastle, as soon as once more, are already taking part in catch-up.
Sunday seventeenth October 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Defensive points
Newcastle’s defensive stats are among the many worst within the Premier League this season
No facet has conceded extra Premier League targets than Newcastle this season. They’ve shipped 16 of their opening seven video games and solely as soon as earlier than have they conceded extra Premier League targets at this stage. They conceded 19 of their opening seven in 1999/00 underneath Ruud Gullit and Bobby Robson.
In reality, solely Southampton have conceded extra Premier League targets than Newcastle since Steve Bruce’s appointment in July 2019. They’ve additionally confronted essentially the most pictures per recreation of any Premier League facet.
Bruce has at occasions been criticised for the model of soccer his Newcastle groups have performed however it definitely hasn’t led to good defensive numbers.
Since mid-December, Newcastle have conceded 62 targets in 34 league video games, essentially the most conceded by any Premier League facet within the final 10 months.
This season, whereas Newcastle rank round mid-table for his or her attacking output, their defensive stats are among the many worst – if not the worst – within the division.
Two-man workforce?
Newcastle’s outcomes have suffered when Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin have been unavailable
One factor that has gone towards Bruce within the final yr is the shortage of begins that Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson have had collectively. They’ve each been within the beginning line-up in solely 13 of Newcastle’s 45 Premier League video games for the reason that begin of final season.
If you embrace sub appearances, they’ve each featured in 20 Premier League video games collectively, with Newcastle successful 40 per cent of these video games. Nonetheless Newcastle’s win charge drops to 16 per cent when one or each are lacking.
Wilson has missed the final 4 video games with a thigh harm however may return this weekend. He has began solely 58 per cent of Newcastle’s Premier League video games since becoming a member of (26 begins from 45 video games). The Magpies have did not win 14 of the 16 Premier League video games Wilson has missed (W2, D6, L8).
Not solely was he Newcastle’s prime scorer final season with 12 Premier League targets, he additionally recorded essentially the most assists (5).
The significance of Saint-Maximin taking part in can also be evident with the truth that Newcastle haven’t received any of the final 12 video games the Frenchman has missed in all competitions.
Saint-Maximin or Wilson have been concerned in six of Newcastle’s eight Premier League targets scored this season, with the winger recording two targets and three assists, and the striker notching two targets.
Turnaround will not be straightforward
Bruce was the final of eight everlasting managers in the course of the 14 years of Ashley’s tenure and it’s clear that to enhance the membership’s fortunes from their present place will not be a straightforward process.
Underneath Ashley, Newcastle have been relegated twice and had simply three top-10 PL finishes in his 12 full PL seasons – the earlier 14 PL seasons noticed eight top-10 finishes and 5 top-4 finishes.
Their general win share and factors per recreation have additionally dropped considerably throughout his possession.
Their struggles to kick on have been happening for a while.
Steve Bruce and Rafa Benitez have comparable information throughout their two full Premier League seasons with Newcastle
The Magpies have received solely three of their final 16 PL dwelling video games and a worrying statistic is that St James’ Park has not seen back-to-back PL dwelling wins since December 2019. They’ve additionally stored simply two clear sheets of their final 26 PL dwelling video games.
Curiously Steve Bruce received precisely the identical variety of factors as Rafa Benitez did in every of their two full Premier League seasons on the membership. Bruce’s facet scored three extra targets however conceded 25 extra targets when in comparison with Benitez.
That means it’ll take a significant shake-up to get the membership transferring in the correct course once more – and you may see what Newcastle followers hope would be the first step in direction of that once they host Tottenham, stay on Sky Sports activities on Sunday.
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