ASM wasted, Willock fitness & Murphy question marks - Liam Kennedy’s FIVE Newcastle United takeaways

Let’s talk about Jacob Murphy

The winger turned full-back was one of the key breakout stars of 2020/21. But, after two games, looks to struggling on the right-hand side.

It was clear from minute one Aston Villa targeted the former West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday man, who Anwar El Ghazi and Ashley Young doubling up on Murphy at will early doors.

Helped by Fabian Schar, Murphy got to grips with the duo in the second half, but even his attacking prowess deserted him in the Midlands. Murphy was guilty of countless poor crosses and gifted possession away after running down blind an alley on more than one occasion.

The answer to the ‘pivot’ question?

Just when I’ve made my mind up, seemingly, on Sean Longstaff, he keeps pulling me back in.

Resigned to losing a player who’ve got no doubt would turn into a success elsewhere, the Geordie then shows flashes of why Rafa Benitez was so keen to coach him into a deep-lying midfielder, and wash away those No.8 tendencies.

Could Longstaff prove the answer to Newcastle’s problem in the pivot of the 5-3-2 formation? He needs to add consistency to his game, something he’s struggled for ever since he breakthrough few weeks.

Is fitness an issue?

Newcastle United were the best team on the park for 30 or so minutes but then something changed.

Was it the Murphy ‘dive’ incident, as that certainly got the hordes fired up on the terraces, or was it something deeper than that?

At times last season United could be out-worked and out-run by their opponents - and the dropping off of a cliff again in this encounter, as they did in the second half against West Ham, has done little to put an end to the ‘lack of fitness’ suggestions.

Joe Willock - the lack of pre-season

Joe Willock looked like a player who’d only managed 48 minutes, the last of which was on August 1, under his belt in pre-season.

After 20 minutes, he was clearly tired. And while he did grow into the game, and improved as it went on, he didn’t provide the legs he was bought to deliver. That’ll come though, of that there is no doubt.

Plan A, B & C - so why not use him?

Allan Saint-Maximin is the man who holds the key to Newcastle United’s attacking unit.

On his day he care shock any backline in the top flight into submission. But in order to do that, he needs the ball. It took United more than 15 minutes to find him in space in the game - and his waits for an opportunity to do what he does didn’t become any more frequent.

This needs to change. United need to find their talismanic Frenchman more often, and in dangerous areas, as his talents are completely wasted.