The damning Newcastle United stats which underline fans' Premier League fears

For every Morecambe cup win, or Burnley demolition, there’s been a Manchester United capitulation or Brighton embarrassment just around the corner.

So how do you judge the Magpies’ start to 2020/21? Well, a look at the statistics behind the opening few weeks is certainly enlightening – and it’s easy to see why the United faithful have concerns about their team this campaign...

Touches – 15th – 2,726

Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Everton lead the way in the Premier League when it comes to touches of the ball this season - Newcastle United languish in 15th.

Is this a stat that really matters? Well, kinda yes and kinda no.

Bruce's tactic - most of the time - seems to be to allow the opposition to have the lion's share of possession in games, so you'd expect United to rank lower down that most in this department. Interestingly, though, the team at the bottom of this particular table, find themselves second in the actual standings - Aston Villa.

So that proves giving the opposition the ball does not always mean you're conceding the opportunity to win - BUT, and that's key, you have to be set up to counter and be clinical. United DO have the players to do this, but Bruce is yet to really find the right combination to produce consistent results or performances in this particular style and system.

Passes – 15th – 1,821

Again it is Liverpool and Chelsea who top the pile on this one, unsurprisingly.

Newcastle United are one of seven in the Premier League who are yet to hit 2,000 passes this season - they have, however, played more than 450 more passes than bottom side Crystal Palace. Aston Villa and Burnley make up the rest of the bottom three, with Dean Smith's side again proving it is not necessarily about how many passes, but what you do with them that counts.

Shots – 15th – 44

Shots on target have been hard to come by for Newcastle United this season but actual shots - any kind, even the ones which hit the corner flag - less so.

The Magpies again rank 15th in the division - there's a theme here - just 12 ahead of bottom placed Crystal Palace (32) and a remarkable 53 behind top placed Liverpool (97). In fairness, Liverpool are 22 ahead of any other side, with Brighton - 3-0 victors at St James's Park this season - in second (75).

Hit woodwork – 20th – ZERO

Newcastle United are yet to hit the post or the bar this season - but anyone who has watched Bruce's Magpies will not be at all surprised by that statistic. They've struggled to get anywhere near enough shots on goal to even trouble the woodwork.

Big chances missed – 16th – three

These three opportunities missed - classed as 'big chances' by the Premier League in their statistics - are hard to remember, but a header from Callum Wilson earlier in the season springs to mind.

In truth, while quality in the final third does exist within the United ranks, it is yet to be translated onto the pitch, as yet.

Tackles – 15th – 62

This is another statistic which is subjective and can be taken as a positive or a negative.

At the top are Leeds United (110) ahead of Everton (96) and Crystal Palace (94). At the other end of the spectrum sit Arsenal (52), Burnley (53) and Manchester City (56). I'll let you make your own minds up on this one.

Clearances – 1st – 125

At last. Newcastle United are top of the table... well, sort of.

The United backline have made the most clearances in the Premier League. Again, this is no surprise.

They already have the busiest goalkeeper, no shock they have the most active defenders, too.

This is a statistic which is particularly damning, with United leading the way by some distance ahead of Sheffield United (115).

Teams playing well, defending well and working to a solid system with organisation don't leak like Newcastle United have in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Clearances off the line – 1st – two

And again! Top of the pile.

Only nine teams in the Premier League have cleared the ball off the line this season - only one team has done it twice.

Saves – 1st – 28

The teams at the top of this table tells the story - Newcastle United, West Brom, Sheffield United, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Whether it is Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow, or anyone else for that matter, the United goalkeeper, under Bruce, with this system, will be the busiest in the division.

That doesn't make them good, by the way, just busy. Overly busy.

Punches – 1st – 8

Darlow has made the most punches - by two - in the Premier League.

It's been a very busy start to life back between the sticks for the former Nottingham Forest keeper.

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