Newcastle United approach validated – Events in Germany reaffirm this

Newcastle United are on the right track.

I was sure beforehand but this summer in Germany has simply reaffirmed it.

We have seen it building in the right direction these past two seasons at St James’ Park and I have no doubt the process will continue.

I am of of course talking about front-foot football, getting on the attack, creating chances, and scoring goals.

This has been the story of the past 11 Premier League seasons, when it has come to Newcastle United scoring goals.

45 – 2012/13

43 – 2013/14

40 – 2014/15

44 – 2015/16

Championship – 2016/17

39 – 2017/18

43 – 2018/19

38 – 2019/20

46 – 2020/21

44 – 2021/22

68 – 2022/23

85 – 2023/24

Quite amazing how ‘consistent’ Newcastle United were for those nine Premier League seasons, scoring between 38 and 46 goals each campaign.

No wonder Newcastle United were fighting relegation season after season!

In the very last season that kicked off under Mike Ashey, Newcastle United scored 12 goals in the opening 11 Premier League games. Under Eddie Howe that improved to 32 goals in the final 27 PL matches of that season but only very marginally better. Faced with what looked like certain relegation when taking over mid-season, Eddie Howe forced to go with a more safety first strategy and defend from the front, with Chris Wood signed in the January of 2022. Eddie Howe made that strategy work, even though it relied mainly on the players he had inherited.

However, this always had to be a short-term ploy, that is if the Newcastle United owners and Eddie Howe had any real ambition.

Incredibly, that total of 44 goals scored in 2021/22 became 68 PL goals in 2022/23, then 85 in 2023/24.

Indeed, overall, in the entire Premier League era, last season was easily the best when it came to average goals scored in each match when including all teams.

If you look at this Premier League table at the end of the 2023/24 season, a clear picture emerges:

As you can see, all of the top seven scored 74 goals or more, only the top three scored more than Newcastle United’s 85.

There was then a massive drop, as of the other 13 clubs the highest was 60 goals.

Of course you want to try and concede as few as possible at the other as well BUT scoring goals is essential.

Actually, whilst Newcastle United conceded 62 goals last season, when you drill down you see Nick Pope only conceded 16 in his 16 Premier League starts, with 46 conceded in the other 22.

I have every confidence that with Nick Pope back for the coming season and a number of other key players such as Joelinton who are key to attack and defence, then along with new signing such as Lloyd Kelly and the likes of youngsters Hall and Tino having the extra year’s experience, Newcastle United can maintain or better their 85 PL goals scored AND concede far less as well.

A true recipe for success.

The Euros proved that attacking football was the way to go, Spain top scorers with 15, four ahead of any other club.

Despite getting such an easy run of opponents in their group and ahead of facing Spain, Southgate’s negative approach saw only seven goals scored in six games before the final.

England got very lucky, in the other half of the draw you had Spain, Germany, France and Portugal. England’s negative approach would have seen them all but certainly eliminated against any of the four.

The future is bright at Newcastle United, the future is attacking football.