The Mag
·3 novembre 2024
The Mag
·3 novembre 2024
A fine performance all round yesterday, ending Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0.
A massive and well deserved win over the Gunners.
A Newcastle United team well balanced, full of cohesion, on the same page, tactically spot on. Everything fitted perfectly.
I’ve talked previously about the balance of the midfield and what I think works best for Newcastle United.
Best team and best players are separate things.
The midfield for me has been our biggest issue since we confirmed fourth place and qualified for the Champions League.
We’ve had all sorts of combinations over the past 18 months.
Injuries, suspensions, work load, have all contributed to a lack of continuity to what was once a settled team.
The midfield unit that in the main achieved the top four finish in 2022/23 was Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock. Joelinton played his share in the LCM that season as well, but the three in midfield generally, was Bruno, Willock and Longstaff, with Joelinton in the LW spot – linking with Willock .
A lot has happened since then.
Joe Willock a terrible time with injuries.
Joelinton himself missed a lot of games with problems of his own.
The two Joes didn’t play on the left once together last season.
The trio of Bruno, Willock and Longstaff only started eight times together.
The Arsenal match on Saturday was the first time in 53 Premier League matches that Willock, Bruno, Longstaff and Joelinton started a match together.
The record with Longstaff, Bruno and Willock as a three is truly remarkable overall in all competitions ). This season two matches and two wins. Last season four wins, one draw, three losses.
The 2022/2023 campaign? It was 16 wins and four draws.
So in total it is 22 wins, five draws and three losses in 30 starts together. That’s a title fighting record.
Are Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff the best individual midfielders at the club?
No, they’re not.
Is Joelinton the best left winger at the club?
Again, no.
If anyone though can show me a team that has bettered that record, then I’m all ears.
Results are what defines a football team, not the individual players.
Comments welcome.
Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0 – Saturday 2 November 12.30pm
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Isak 12
Arsenal:
Possession was Newcastle 36% Arsenal 64%
Total shots were Newcastle 9 Arsenal 10
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Arsenal 1
Corners were Newcastle 4 Arsenal 6
Touches in the box Newcastle 17 Arsenal 32
Newcastle United team v Arsenal:
Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Bruno (Kelly 90+5), Willock (Tonali 65); Gordon (Barnes 85), Isak, Joelinton
Unused Subs:
Dubravka, Miley, Almiron, Alex Murphy, Krafth, Osula
(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after win v Arsenal – Read HERE)
(What a stunning Alexander Isak stat! What an even better Alexander Isak winner!! Read and watch HERE)
Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:
Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Wednesday 4 December – Newcastle v Liverpool (7.30pm) Amazon
Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)
W/C Monday 16 December – Newcastle v Brentford – Carabao Cup Quarter-Final
Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)
Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon
Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)