What a year a difference makes, eh? This time last year Newcastle were re-adapting to life in the Premier League and had managed to take a decent fourteen points from a possible thirty on offer. Back then, they still had the trusty English triumvirate of Joey Barton, Andy Carroll and captain Kevin Nolan but a year later their names have disappeared from the team-sheet and instead a Frenchman, an Ivorian and a Senegalese have more than filled the void in a season which has seen the Magpies remain unbeaten after eleven Premier League games.
What’s the secret you ask? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out. Is there a certain pattern to Newcastle’s new found success or has it just been a strong case of luck? With the use of Opta’s statistics we’ll know soon enough what is in fact the secret behind their success.
First up, is the defence. At this point last season, the Magpies had already shipped a modest 13 goals, compared to this season’s 8, which is the least conceded by any Premier League team so far in this campaign.
However, that’s about the only significant difference between how the defence performed this season and last. In the 2010/11 season, Newcastle were successful with 49% of their 50-50’s on the ground – same success rate as this season – and also succeeded in 51% of their aerial 50-50’s, a stat which has seen a drop this season down to 44%. Their tackling, however, has seen a steady rise in attempted tackles per game, with the Magpies averaging 22 tackles, as opposed to last season’s 17.
Interceptions and tackle success have both dropped this season, albeit very slightly, but something worth noting is that Newcastle have made less defensive errors per minute than last season – 477 vs 200 – and also held on to possession longer, reducing the loss of possession of the ball per minute to 6 from 8 last season, which has obviously had some input on Newcastle’s defensive record so far.
In the midfield, nothing significant has changed, bar changes in successful dribbles per game. The passing has remained considerably the same, with the Magpies having completed 71.65% of their passes this season, compared to last season’s 72.51%. They’ve also managed to match last season’s rate of passes per minute, which was 4, and success in the open play passing has remained at the 76% mark.
When using the ball, Newcastle have continued as they’d done last season and played the ball most often out to the right, whilst donating only 5% of the ball out to the left-hand side. However, there has been a small drop in Newcastle players taking the ball on, as they’ve only managed quite a measly 1.52 successful dribbles per game this season as opposed to 2010/11’s 2.26. There’s also been a drop in crosses per game – 22 vs 26.92 – which has partly been down to the sale of Joey Barton to QPR who had averaged a huge 5 crosses per game last season.
Up front, new signing Demba Ba has been something of a revelation since his arrival from West Ham during the summer. The French-born Senegalese has bagged 8 in 12 – and two hat-tricks – since descending upon St James’ and has been subject of numerous praisings from manager Alan Pardrew. The offence overall however, has been disappointing. In fact, it’s been worse than last season with shooting accuracy, minutes per chances created, minutes per shots on target and crossing accuracy all suffering a dip. There have been some positives though as they’ve managed to improve some aspects, like chance conversion – albeit be it by only 1% – and chances created from open play.
It’s understandable that Newcastle have performed – well, from stats reading anyway – somehow worse than last season due to the selling of three of their key players. However, Newcastle have more than made up for these vacancies, and none more so than Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, who won the league and cup double in France last year with Lille. Having been snapped up for the relatively smallish price of £4.3 million, Newcastle have unearthed a gem in the 25-year-old.
I asked Kevin Doocey, a Newcastle fan, what he thought of Cabaye and he couldn’t help but heap praise on the Frenchman, labelling him the “buy of the season”, even at this early stage in the season. He also went on to note that “his technical ability on the ball”, and “the engine he possesses is something to behold. He’s a real quality and tactically brilliant player – and a more than suitable replacement for Kevin Nolan.”
Cabaye’s performances – and stats – have showed us that he’s adapted immediately to life in the Premier League. Known traditionally as a ‘box to box’ midfielder, the 25-year-old has kept possession incredibly well thus far, having only lost the ball 6 times in 10 games for the Magpies. He’s also been strong in ground 50-50’s, coming out with the ball 55 out of the 97 times he’s contested for it this season – which equals 57%, bettering Newcastle’s team effort of 49%. Cabaye’s also proved that he’s more than able with the ball at his feet, completing a modest 79% of his passes in open play, as well as averaging 5.8 crosses per game, a figure Joey Barton would’ve been proud of had still remained at the club.
Going forward, Cabaye has illustrated that he can be quite the creator as well as defender, having been the man behind 20 chances, boasting one of the highest in the Magpies team. He’s also managed to register quite a modest 7 of his 12 shots on target, with his sole goal against Wigan in October one to cherish.
As a friend pointed out me recently, and quite rightly, Newcastle have yet to really be tested this season. And when the international break ends and club football returns Newcastle’s first game is, quite ironically, away to Manchester City and following that away to Old Trafford to do battle with Manchester United. Then, after that, Newcastle are at home to Chelsea. One might assume that this may be the end of Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season but for Newcastle fans it was a journey well worth the wait.
