My heartfelt apologies in advance. I regret to inform the media of the use of FACTS
If you are somebody who never watches Newcastle United play,
in the flesh and/or on TV, somebody who solely relies on what the media tells you.
Then, I may assume what you’re going to be considering.
What is said about the media, anyway?
Yes, always let the facts serve as a backdrop for a compelling narrative.
Right now, it seems like that news is all negative,
about anything and everything having to do with Newcastle United.
I won’t waste time discussing every off-field bullshit here.
Rather, I would like to focus on the news stories I am reading about
Newcastle United’s performance on the field.
In other words, game after game,
Newcastle United has been utterly awful and has had unbelievable luck.
This was evident on Sunday at Wolves as well;
there was hardly any recognition at all for Newcastle United’s victory.
According to what I’ve read in the papers, Newcastle United appeared to be under siege
for the whole of the game until making a few late-game runs up the field
and pulling off a few long-range potshots like a magician.
I wanted to examine the three Newcastle United away games this season to see if the facts
supported the media’s reporting (all figures courtesy of BBC Sport) as a counter to this coverage.
Possession: Bournemouth 39% Newcastle 61%
Shots: Bournemouth 16 Newcastle 14
Shots on target: Bournemouth 4, Newcastle 5
Corners: Bournemouth 8 Newcastle 9
Touches in opposition box: Bournemouth 27 Newcastle 32
Possession: Forest 41%, Newcastle 58%
Shots: Forest 12; Newcastle 14
Shots on target: Forest 3, Newcastle 7
Corners: Forest 3 Newcastle 5
Touches in opposition box: Forest 19 Newcastle 19
Possession: Wolves 49%, Newcastle 51%
Shots: Wolves 12; Newcastle 14
Shots on target: Wolves 5 Newcastle 6,
Corners: Wolves 4 Newcastle 7
Touches in opposition box: Wolves 27 Newcastle 23
Conclusions:
Considering these three away Newcastle United games.
Newcastle United has had more possession, more shots on goal,
and more corners in all three of them.
I just don’t think what has transpired in these Newcastle United
away games has been fairly covered by the media.
In fact, only two of the eighteen statistics—which include the final scores of the games—
are in the opposition’s favor over the course of the three away games.
Despite having two more shots (16 vs. 14) than Newcastle United,
Eddie Howe’s team still had more shots on goal (6 vs. 5).
Then, Wolves outplayed Newcastle by five touches (32 vs. 27) in the opposition box,
but Eddie Howe’s team still outperformed Wolves in every other category.
While they haven’t been particularly good,
Newcastle United hasn’t been bad either on the road this season.
It is true that you would often anticipate the home club to outperform
the away team in all statistical categories, yet in each of these three away games,
Newcastle United has outperformed.
Newcastle United has been the superior team in all three of their road games,
but they have faded in the middle of the game before returning in the last twenty-five minutes or
so to claim victory once more.
According to what I’ve seen in the media, the focus seems to be entirely on what transpired
during the midst of these three away games for Newcastle United,
to the complete detriment of how United began and concluded the three matches.
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