Data experts name Newcastle United best XI of the season - look away Eddie Howe
The stats experts at WhoScored have revealed Newcastle United's most effective players and formation during the season.
It has been a frustrating season for Newcastle United and there is little to play for during the final days of what has been a long and draining campaign.
There were some positives as the Magpies reached the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and the knockout stages of the Champions League - but a desperately disappointing Premier League campaign means any thoughts of securing European football for the third time in four seasons are all but over.
The curtain comes down on United’s home fixtures when relegation threatened West Ham United visit St James Park on Sunday before the season is ended with a visit to Fulham seven days later and it feels as if Eddie Howe remains unsure what his strongest starting eleven is with just two games remaining. Who is first choice goalkeeper? Who should feature on the right hand side of the front three? And what is Nick Woltemade’s best position and how do the Magpies get the best out of their club record signing? They are all questions that feel unanswered with the final week of the season now upon us.
So what is Newcastle’s strongest starting eleven and who should have made the cut based on their performances throughout the season? The stats experts at WhoScored state Newcastle have played with a 4-3-3 formation in 28 of their 36 Premier League fixtures so far this season and have revealed which players have achieved the highest average ratings across those games. There are some notable absentees from the starting eleven and one player that has struggled to find regular game-time in recent weeks also makes the cut.
Newcastle United’s strongest starting XI - according to WhoScored
- GK: Nick Pope - 6.6
- RB: Kieran Trippier - 6.6
- CB: Malick Thiaw - 6.9
- CB: Sven Botman - 6.7
- LB: Lewis Hall - 7.0
- CM: Bruno Guimaraes - 7.2
- CM: Sandro Tonali - 6.6
- CM: Joelinton - 6.8
- RW: Anthony Elanga - 6.4
- ST: Nick Woltemade - 6.9
- LW: Anthony Gordon - 6.6
According to the WhoScored stats, £55million summer signing Anthony Elanga has statistically been the club’s best right winger this season despite generally being viewed as a flop signing so far. Howe favourites Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn are notable omissions from the side with Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw preferred at centre-back based on their stats.
Nick Woltemade also gets the nod up front despite not starting a game in that position for Newcastle since January. Since then, Newcastle’s season has derailed with the side set for their worst finish since the 2021 PIF-led takeover and Howe’s appointment as head coach.
Nick Pope is preferred over Aaron Ramsdale in goal while Kieran Trippier gets the nod over Tino Livramento at right-back. There are no real surprises in midfield with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton the preferred trio.
Guimaraes is Newcastle’s top performer this season according to the WhoScored statistics, followed by Lewis Hall.
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