Talk about lies, damned lies, and statistics eh? Newcastle United sit in exactly the same eighth-placed slot in the Premier League as 12 months ago.
They have lost less games and have just one less point with 12 in the bag so far. Before a ball had been kicked, Newcastle’s start to the season was hailed as the joint best since 2011/12 when the Magpies had 15 points and went on to finish fifth.
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Well that’s the good news over, the more negative side of the story is Newcastle have scored just eight goals (compared to 20 at this point last year) and have gone 6 hours and 44 minutes without a goal from open play in all competitions. Defensively they have conceded eight times, three in one game at Fulham, and they are in a better state than last year (nine conceded after eight games).
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Yes, they are still moving forward well but as I stated in Sunday’s column on Chronicle Live, there is a big difference between clear-cut chances and openings in a game.
Down a chilly corridor once after a Newcastle reserve game I once ended up in a debate with Peter Beardsley what should be considered a “chance”. In trying to put a positive spin on a second string match, one of the chief Entertainers quickly underlined what should be deemed a good opportunity and what shouldn’t.
Beardsley would know having created chances galore for Andy Cole and others during his time at St James’ Park and the truth is Newcastle are severely lacking a player like Beardsley who can create those golden opportunities. Another interested spectator in the crowd on Saturday was Keith Gillespie one of the finest crossers of a ball to wear a black and white shirt.
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As he watched on against Brighton, Gillespie would have felt the pain of Alexander Isak who asked for precision from those around him but eventually got so tired he ended up crossing the ball in himself. On the surface, Newcastle’s start to the season looks solid enough but those watching closely can see some worrying trends in Eddie Howe’s team.
In the world of artificial intelligence it was enough for X to pick up on the trends and serve up a dramatic headline on the head coach on Monday morning reading: “Newcastle Fans Debate Howe’s Future”
Whatever your take is on Howe, Paul Mitchell or anybody else, Newcastle need solutions on the training fields of Benton this week. The players are the only ones who can do anything about improving fortunes between now and January.
Newcastle face a Chelsea side who lost narrowly to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and as we know it’s never easy for United for some reason at Stamford Bridge. Both good and bad Newcastle teams have been turned over there down the years.
Take away Papiss Cisse’s magical double strike in 2012 and Newcastle have failed in the Premier League at the Bridge. After failing to take advantage when on top against Brighton, something United can’t afford to do against the Blues this weekend, Howe said: “I’m really frustrated because I thought our general performance today for 65 minutes was really good.
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“I think that’s the best we’ve looked, the most dominant we’ve been in a game and low and behold, we have plenty of chances, don’t take them and concede a poor goal from our perspective from Brighton’s first real meaningful attack.
“Of course, we only have ourselves to blame for that. We need to look at that and analyse that, but the majority of the performance, especially in the early stages of the game, was very, very strong.”
It felt like Howe’s coaching team were taking the blame for the defeat during his Press conference but Howe will always shield his players publicly. One thing is for sure, Newcastle stars won’t need to be told that they need to emerge with something at Chelsea this weekend.
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