The numbers don’t lie – United really need to get creative

HALF-TERM REPORT ON THE MAGPIES DOESN’T MAKE FOR

WE’RE 19 games into the season now – which is the halfway mark for Newcastle United and the rest of the Premier League.

They have played every team once and while Rafa Benitez wasn’t happy with the fixture list, the Magpies – like the rest of the division – can reflect on what needs to be addressed with January and the second half of the season to come.

Here’s the statistical lessons of the first half of the campaign – and how United can put things right.

NEWCASTLE NEED TO ADDRESS THEIR TOP

– and taken a point against Everton. That’s four points from a possible 30, which is dreadful.

Last year Newcastle performed relatively well against the big guns but whatever it is that Rafa Benitez has been doing against these sides isn’t working this year. Is it time for a change of approach against the really top sides?

With five of their next six league matches against teams in the top half, their record will have to change to avoid some serious anxiety before the end of the season.

...AND STAY AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE TEAMS A RECORD LOW SURVIVAL TOTAL?

Never mind the 40-point mark, it will be much lower this year.

With such an imbalance between sides in the Premier League, we may be looking at a record low points total to stay up this year.

Last season the third bottom side had 16 points – this year it’s only 13. Last year the points total needed to stay up was 34 so does that imply it will be even lower this year?

In 2009/10 – the first time Newcastle went down in the Premier League era – it was only 30 points required, and the side in 17th that year had 18 points after 19 games.

Unless teams in the bottom half pick up markedly, this could be the first season in which a total below 30 keeps you up.

NEWCASTLE NEED TO UP THE ENTERTAINMENT

and that has meant it has been difficult to watch for the most part.

In all the metrics you might use to define enjoyment or entertainment, Newcastle are lagging: 14 goals in 19 games (second lowest, only in front of Huddersfield), just 202 shots (third lowest in the division), fourth lowest shots on target and the second lowest cumulative possession in the division (a mere 42.7%).

Benitez said the players could feel the tensions of the fans but perhaps he needs to loosen the shackles in some games to get the crowd back involved in matches again.

NEWCASTLE’S AERIAL THREAT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED

United’s goal tally is paltry but they have at least proved themselves adept at scoring with headers.

They have scored seven times from headed goals – the third highest total in the division. Aerially, they possess a real threat with Salomon Rondon leading from the front.

NO GOALS FROM