Worse than Murphy: Howe must ditch out 5/10 Newcastle dud who lost 100% of his duels, 90% possession lost
Newcastle United secured a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, making it three wins out of four in the Premier League. Despite the positive result, it was far from a straightforward match for Eddie Howe’s side, as they initially struggled after Wolves’ Mario Lemina opened the scoring.
However, Newcastle’s resilience in the second half saw them turn the game around, with Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes scoring in quick succession to give the Magpies the win.
Howe’s team selection raised some questions, as it became clear that his starting lineup may not have been the best choice for the match.
Both Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock, who came off the bench, were instrumental in Newcastle’s comeback. Willock provided the assist for Barnes’ winning goal, highlighting the impact of Howe’s halftime adjustments.
Despite the success of these changes, one player, Jacob Murphy, endured a difficult afternoon but remained on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.
Murphy’s performance against Wolves was largely ineffective. While Barnes made a noticeable impact with three shots on goal and constant pressure, Murphy only managed a single attempt on target.
His inability to influence the game was further underscored by his failure to win any of the nine duels he contested, and he also lost possession 16 times.
His lack of sharpness and consistency left him fortunate to avoid being substituted, especially given the more impressive performances from the likes of Barnes.
Sean Longstaff, another player who struggled, was not as lucky as Murphy. Howe substituted Longstaff at halftime after a disappointing first half. One of Longstaff’s misplaced passes led directly to Wolves’ opening goal, with Lemina capitalizing on the error.
The midfielder’s performance was passive, winning none of his duels and registering just 22 touches in a lackluster display. In contrast, Willock and Sandro Tonali provided far more dynamism in the center of the park after their introductions.
The table below compares the performances of Longstaff, Tonali, and Willock, showing how the substitutes changed the game:
| Stat | Tonali | Willock | Longstaff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| Goals Scored | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shots on Goal | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Touches | 24 | 23 | 22 |
| Accurate Passes | 14/15 (93%) | 12/13 (92%) | 19/21 (90%) |
| Key Passes | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Total Duels Won | 3/4 | 6/7 | 0/4 |
As the table demonstrates, both Tonali and Willock were far more influential in their 45 minutes on the pitch. Willock, in particular, stood out with five key passes, a crucial assist, and a high success rate in duels.
His creativity and energy were key in helping Newcastle turn the game in their favor. In contrast, Longstaff’s contribution was minimal, and his first-half error played a significant role in Wolves taking the lead.
Dominic Scurr, a journalist from the Shields Gazette, reflected Longstaff’s poor performance with a 5/10 rating, highlighting the midfielder’s “loose” pass that led to Lemina’s goal.
Longstaff’s underwhelming display will likely give Howe reason to reconsider his place in the starting XI for future matches. Tonali’s steadiness and Willock’s creativity may have made a strong case for them to feature more prominently in Newcastle’s next Premier League match against Fulham.
Looking ahead, Howe faces important decisions regarding his team selection. While Newcastle showed resilience and earned a crucial win, the performance at Molineux exposed some vulnerabilities.
Howe’s ability to make effective substitutions played a critical role in securing the three points, but the initial team setup left much to be desired. Players like Murphy and Longstaff will need to step up their game or risk losing their spots in the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, the impact of Barnes, Willock, and Tonali suggests they deserve more significant roles in the upcoming fixtures.
In the end, Newcastle’s victory over Wolves came down to tactical adjustments and the strength of their squad depth. With players like Barnes and Willock stepping up when needed, the Magpies demonstrated their capacity to grind out results even when not at their best. The challenge for Howe now is to build on this momentum and ensure that the team remains competitive as the season progresses.
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