da casino： Newcastle United’s brand of “full throttle football” has taken them back to the Champions League, with statistics and science being embraced.
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Magpies boast big ambitionBack among the European eliteWorking with every tool availableSTATSportsWHAT HAS HAPPENED?
The Magpies secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season and are now rubbing shoulders with AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain in elite European competition. No stone is being left unturned in a bid to gain the upper hand on domestic and continental rivals, with Jacob Murphy epitomising the “marginal gains” philosophy that now runs throughout St James’ Park.
AdvertisementHOW DO STATISTICS HELP?
Flying winger Murphy has – speaking in association with – told GOAL of how technology and reading between the lines has helped his game and Newcastle as a whole: “I love it. STATSports, they are leading in their industry. It’s great that they are working with elite clubs, but also offering great insight to aspiring young footballers and the general public to keep track of their data. I love the data aspect, it’s huge for how I play my game anyway and also how the structure is at Newcastle – high intensity, aggressive, full throttle football. You need those numbers, you really do.
“With football now, games are won and lost on physical data – if you’re outworking an opponent, you’re more likely to win the game. That’s why it’s so important for us at Newcastle – make sure we have run harder than them, run faster than them. Those marginal gains, they end up being three points at the end of the day. It’s super important.”
GettyWILL STARS OF TOMORROW BENEFIT?
Murphy added on how the next generation also stand to benefit from the emphasis being placed on much more than ability on the ball: “Technical ability gets you so far. Technical ability gets you through the door, it’s what happens after that. You can think to yourself, I can’t leave any stone unturned here. If I have to do more high speed metre running, then that’s what you have to do. More sprints? You have to do it. Total distance? You have to do it. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to physical data.”
CAN TECH HELP WITH INJURIES?
Newcastle’s cause in 2023-24 has been hampered by a number of untimely injuries, but they are once again turning to science in a bid to ensure that no risks are taken on long-term fitness. Murphy, who is nursing a shoulder problem at present, said on how technology helps to bring players back ready to slot straight in: “I have had my markers pre-injury that I will have to hit before I start playing. Not only is that going to leave me match ready when I rejoin, it will also reduce my injury rate once I’m back in action. Sprints, high speed running, repeated running, that’s really important as a winger in our system – so that’s going to mean I tick all those boxes. We will be able to see, week by week, I will be getting stronger to be able to get to my peak and then I’ll be ready to rejoin.
“You have got the data now. You can see when you’re ready. You don’t want to be chucked into a big game in the Premier League and you can’t run! Being able to physically out work your opponent, gives you that edge. Physical output can override any sort of tactical problem. I’m a big believer in the physical aspect because it can help you out in the game.”