Newcastle United golden boy’s shock as two new undroppables emerge
John Gibson
5 – 6 minutes
Alf Ramsey famously created a new tactical formation, the ‘wingless wonders,’ to brilliantly win England their one and only World Cup and himself a knighthood.
Well Newcastle United of recent times have invented their own ‘wing wonders’ to fly third top of the Premier League and stand on the cusp of a return to the Champions League. Who would have though it, especially without Anthony Gordon being centre piece of the jigsaw.
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No, the twin terrors once again as United stormed to a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace were Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes, once bit players on Tyneside.
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Football has become stats dominated like so many sports so let me serve up a couple to back up the emergence of the Unlikely Lads: Murphy has been involved in 18 goals across his last 19 PL games – nine goals and nine assists while Harvey has four goals and two assists from his last five appearances as well as seeing his shot flick off Marc Guehi for an own goal.
Overall Barnes has nine goals this season, Murphy eight. Wonderful wingers. The transformation of them both has been electrifying leaving Gordon, the golden boy and current England international, reduced to getting on second-half as a sub.
In fairness it must be pointed out that Kieran Trippier on Murphy’s side and Tino Livramento behind Barnes are extremely supportive with their runs while the passing out of midfield is excellent. Murphy and Barnes are lightning quick while Tripps and Tino are always ready to run beyond. Those in tandem right and left are winning the bike ride!
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Thankfully too Alexander Isak scored United’s fifth against Palace after missing a hatful to give his confidence a significant boost. All top scorers have a lean spell, hopefully short, but they still need the next one and then normal service resumes.
United are sensational – since December 14 they have won more games than any other Premier League side (19 of 24) and their tally of 58 goals is only behind Liverpool (61)in that time.
At Wembley and ever since they have been pitch perfect. Now comes a stiff test against another quality side Aston Villa that plays a similar style of football – .high press, intensity, pace and power.
For Villa it is all about how they react to their night of dripping emotion, pride, defiance but eventually bitter disappointment at their Champions League exit. They left the arena on their shield having given every drop of blood but however impressive it wasn’t enough.
Now it is all about domestic success.. . . qualification for another go at the Champions League and trying to win the FA Cup.
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We stand in the way of the first so what will confront United? Once the dust settled and weary bones were rested Villa must be proud at taking Paris Saint-Germain, the best side in Europe, all the way to the wire. But at what cost? While elated on Tuesday night will they be deflated on Saturday teatime? No one will know, including them, until Newcastle confront them at kick off and then much will depend on the type of challenge the Magpies provide. Let it be full frontal yet again.
Unai Emery has juggled a full dance card magnificently over many months to emphasise his squad’s strengths. Villa reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with every chance of winning the trophy, and in their last seven PL games have won five, drawn one and lost only one to haul themselves up to seventh within three points of fourth top Nottingham Forest when they ought to be exhausted.
It means United have to jump Becher’s Brook once again as they did when beating Arsenal and Forest three times, defeating Liverpool at Wembley, doing the double over Man U, and smashing Palace 5-0. They can do it all right and while Villa is a big test, just about the toughest left, United will travel with huge confidence if without Eddie for the first time on the road.
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