Goals & Creativity

[Happy Face 29]

I thought this was a great read, especially part 2. It followed the Wolves game...

 

 

 

Newcastle United | Goals & creativity

 

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! A first half that promised so much against Wolves on Saturday, was shortly followed by a frustrating and lacklustre effort to sit on the lead. Newcastle proved yet again that they just do not have the ability & power to see off teams, even at home.

 

Wolves were there for the taking. 2-0 down, unknown managerial territory and away from home. But, Newcastle United came out thinking the game was already won. And, when you consider Pardew’s distorted substitutions and at the point in the game where he made them (during a free kick), Newcastle did nothing to help themselves.

 

Yet again, Newcastle looked short of ideas and innovation in a bid to break Wolves down. 13 chances created, leading to 15 attempts at goal, just 5 on target leading to 2 goals – but, neither goal was credited with an actual assist. The introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa gave Newcastle an extra dimension on their play, although he still had that vexing edge to his game where the ball is lost at crucial times far too easily.

 

This lack of creativity has been a regular feature of Newcastle United’s play this season, especially at home. With the quality they have in midfield this season, getting to the final 3rd is not a problem, but once there, Newcastle seem to struggle to fashion clear-cut chances.

 

In two parts, NUFC_Stats looked at where Newcastle United’s Premier League goals this season had come from, who was creating them and how they fared against others in the division.

 

Who’s scored them?

 

Everyone knows of Demba Ba’s season thus far. The Senegalese forward has smashed in 16 goals from 72 shots; a 62% shot accuracy, and a 29% chance conversion rate. After him though, the numbers seem pretty bleak – Leon Best is the next highest Premier League scorer with 4, alongside A.N Own Goal. Then, comes Cabaye, Jonas, Raylor and Ben Arfa, who each have 2.

 

So too does new no.9 Papiss Cisse, who has been very impressive at the start of his Newcastle United career. 2 goals in 3 games from 9 shots for Newcastle United’s other Senegalese forward, a 43% shot accuracy and a 29% chance conversion, the same as Ba. After that, Danny Guthrie, Shola Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan and Dan Gosling have each chipped in with 1 goal

 

Where they’ve come from

 

 

 

Newcastle United’s 25 goals from open play is the 6th highest in the Premier League, obviously reflected by the league position. Consider though, that 13 of them have come from Demba Ba and the thought of playing this season without him really stings the senses!

 

Only 4 teams have scored less than Newcastle United’s from ‘fast breaks’ (Arsenal are the current title–holders with eight) and only 4 teams (QPR, Arsenal, Fulham & Villa) have scored less than Newcastle from set plays in the division this season.

 

No team in the league however, has been the beneficiary of more own goals than Newcastle, equalled by Fulham and Blackburn.

 

Who’s creating them?

 

 

 

It won’t come as a great surprise to most black & white fans that Cabaye is up there as top creator, but most of them come from set plays. It is Ryan Taylor and Jonas who are creating consistently from open play, as well as Obertan, who despite his recent exclusion from the first team is only 1 chance behind the Englishman and the Argentinian and level with the Frenchman.Leon Best has been pretty essential in terms of ‘setting up’ in the games he has featured in this season, so too Danny Guthrie, who produces more key passes per game at home than any other Newcastle United player.

 

In the good, old-fashioned, English 4-4-2 Newcastle United insist on playing though, flank players have to be doing the business for a team to be successful in scoring adequate goals. And, in flank players, reference is not made to just the wide midfield players. In a team with as a good a holding midfielder as Cheik Tiote, the players in the full back position have to be positive and attacking minded.

 

Between Danny Simpson and Davide Santon, just 19 chances have been created. Simpson in particular, having played every Premier League so far, not as providing as he should with just 13 and neither of the two have a single assist.

 

Further to that ‘flank’ notion, it is Yohan Cabaye, a centre midfielder, that has produced the most crosses for Newcastle United in the top flight this season and Ryan Taylor, who has played at full back, centre midfield and wide who features second. Surprisingly, Danny Simpson has had a good assemblage of crosses and is the most accurate after Papiss Cisse, but from much more.

 

 

Part 2

 

 

That uninspiring, innovation-lacking second half on Saturday at home to Wolves left a string of Newcastle United fans scratching their heads at the team’s ability to punish ‘lesser’ opposition and finish them off.

 

The further question of, ‘why and how often does this happen’ led NUFC_Stats to take a deeper glance into the current production line at Newcastle United in the Premier League this season.

 

In case you missed it, yesterday’s Part 1, which looked at who has scored NUFC’s goals, where they’ve come from and who is creating them, can be accessed here. Part 2 will take a closer look into Newcastle United’s creative ability in terms of creating chances, scoring goals and working in the final third.

 

 

A look at the chances created by Newcastle United in the last 6 Premier League games make very interesting reading.

 

Firstly, you’ll notice a much loftier amount of chances are created from the right hand side compared to the left. Having said, there hasn’t been a single assist in those games from the right hand side, although it hasn’t been a very fruitful 6 games with just 9 goals.

 

You’ll also notice that about the crossing, there aren’t a great deal coming from the byline. Newcastle United’s wide players are not ‘beating’ the full back often enough and the majority of play from wide positions is coming infield or being crossed too early from deep.

 

Finally, the play in the most important area of the pitch for goal scoring (Zone 14 – central edge of box) is pretty none existent. Newcastle United do not have that player that is consistently clever and manipulative around the penalty area; just one chance has been created by ‘sliding’ in an attacking from Zone 14 and that turned into an assist (Best v QPR).

 

Against the others

 

 

 

Starting on the positive, Newcastle have scored the 6th most Premier League goals in this season’s campaign. However, that positive soon fades when looking at the other data. Only 3 teams have had less shots than Newcastle and only 61% (5th lowest) of those 38 goals have been via an assist.

 

A glance further right, and only 4 teams are creating less chances per game than Newcastle United, although only Blackburn from those teams presently live in the bottom three. Looking at the teams around us and thinking about European qualification of some sort, it’s easy to see why Arsenal & Chelsea got the results they did at the weekend and it’s also clear why Liverpool are where they are.

 

Possession

 

 

A quick look at the possession numbers show Newcastle working below average in terms of general ball retention – at 47.3% general possession, Newcastle United don’t have it their way on average in games.

 

But, a deeper look into the thirds identifies bigger deficiencies. In the final third, only Blackburn and Swansea spend less time on the ball, highlighting yet again that when Newcastle United get the ball there, it doesn’t stay. Furthermore, only 4 teams sit with the ball more than Newcastle in their defensive third.

 

In the final third

 

 

 

A more significant look into that final third possession shows that only 3 teams make less passes in the final third than Newcastle United and only 2 produce less successive ones.

 

A look at those teams around us again, and Newcastle have it all to do in the final 12 games of the season to compete and make sure a high place is achieved as they all work the ball well up field and with good success.

 

 

 

More depth about who produces the final third passes at Newcastle identifies Cabaye, Jonas & Taylor as the ones working it most up field, reflecting the earlier chance creation stats.

 

But accuracy wise, it is Davide Santon and Hatem Ben Arfa who are the coolest in the final third. The figures don’t make good reading for Danny Simpson and Demba Ba in particular.

 

To wrap this box of numbers up, Newcastle are screaming out for a more creative player to make sure the rest of the season doesn’t fizzle out. The second half against Wolves was simply not good enough for a team with European ambitions, but that was not an isolated incident.

 

The new-look Newcastle United are as good as they have been for a several years at working the ball into the final third, but when there, very rarely does something seem to happen.

 

Hatem Ben Arfa has the creativity and invention that Newcastle need but until Alan Pardew is 100% confident in his contribution and finds his best role, his game time and appearances will continue to suffer. As good a signing as Papiss Cisse has been, he plays the game very similar to Demba Ba and is not a forward that likes to work between the opposition’s midfield and defensive units.

 

Could it be that a different system of play, a one incorporating both Demba’s and Ben Arfa, be employed from now in a bid to change Newcastle United’s fortunes for the good for the final 12 games?

 

4-3-1-2 anyone?!

 

 

 

http://www.eplindex....astle-united-fc

Edited March 6, 2012 by Happy Face

[Christmas Tree 4005]

Wingers are shite. Its simple.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Wingers are shite. Its simple.

 

You're almost as tedious as Leazes. Congrats.

[Christmas Tree 4005]

Wingers are shite. Its simple.

 

You're almost as tedious as Leazes. Congrats.

 

Honestly you are becoming a right nitpicking forum bore. If you dont have an opinion on the topic, best to just stay quiet.

 

All you seem to do lately is roam the boards sniping away.

[RobH 0]

I think we look so much better when we look to get it out wide from the back. I actually thought the thing that changed the game at the weekend was the fact that we started getting the ball to our wingers rather than bypassing them, admittedly this was made easier by their incredibly negative tactics and the sending off of sessegnon but nonetheless Jonas and HBA were key in us looking much better.

[Park Life 71]

What does it al mean HF?

[StoneColdStephenIreland 74]

[The Fish 9365]

I'll be keen to see how we set up after the Arsenal game as we should have our first choice team. I'd expect HBA to supplant R.Taylor on the right and I'd imagine Ba, Cisse, and Jonas to reap the benefits.

 

Cabaye often looks for a ball over the last line and I think with a player like HBA pulling defenders out of position when they're having to double up (or cover their comrade who's just been turned inside out so often he'll be shitting curly wurlys for weeks) springing the offside trap will get easier.

[Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1]

Pretty clear to see against Sunderland the lack of creativity/quality in the final 3rd. All that possession and so few clear chances created. Not good!

[Kitman 2188]

Sorry but I can't be arsed to read the OP. Maybe if I have a spare half hour.....

 

Can someone summarise it for me?

Edited March 7, 2012 by Kitman

[OTF 6465]

I'll be keen to see how we set up after the Arsenal game as we should have our first choice team. I'd expect HBA to supplant R.Taylor on the right and I'd imagine Ba, Cisse, and Jonas to reap the benefits.

 

Cabaye often looks for a ball over the last line and I think with a player like HBA pulling defenders out of position when they're having to double up (or cover their comrade who's just been turned inside out so often he'll be shitting curly wurlys for weeks) springing the offside trap will get easier.

 

Papis Cisse I think in particular could benefit from Ben Arfa's inclusion. Very early to say it, but he likes to play into space and Ben Arfa has the ability and vision to pick out the right sort of pass to find him.

 

Jonas will drift across from his side towards the middle and will provide a nice short pass option for Ben Arfa, with Cabaye and Tiote the out ball options behind. Jonas is at his best IMO making short sharp passes as his crosses from the left don't have enough movement or pace and consequently are too often picked off by the defense. He does hav ethe ability to get in behind which is where Ben Arfa's instinct and touch could serve them both well.

 

Arsenal are a good side, in good form but their defense is nothing special. If we can maintain enough posession to build some attacking impetus any result is possible. I do worry about marshalling van Persie, particularly if they're able to isolate him against Danny Simpson or worse Mike Williamson. Tiote should be tasked with protecting the defense... but alas I have gone way off topic.

[Happy Face 29]

What does it al mean HF?

 

It basically says Ben Arfa needs to start

[tinofbeans 91]

it also means that our full backs need to practise their crossing. santon needs to go to right back and we need to find a good all rounder at left back. ben arfa needs to be included more and should have freedom down the right to cause havoc.

 

thats at home.

 

away we need more solidity... so ryan taylor or the mekon down the right, each has their virtues, taylor has decent but not great dead ball delivery, obertan has speed....

[Brock Manson 0]

Get Ben Arfa playing, tell him to keep his head up and the Dembas will run riot.

 

Although the fact that RVP will be up against Willo isn't filling me full of confidence as to getting something from this game...

[LeazesMag 0]

What does it al mean HF?

 

it means that your man ie HBA, has to play basically. Good insight.