Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion produced an underwhelming Saturday evening fixture in front of the cameras which finished a scoreless draw.
However, it is the Seagulls who will consider the result unfortunate as they dominated possession at St James’ Park. Fabian Schar was the only thing stopping Graeme Potter’s side taking the lead after Aaron Connolly chipped Martin Dubravka – the Swiss defender had to produce acrobatic heroics to prevent to visitors going ahead.
Andy Carroll’s reintroduction to a noticeably reduced number of spectators at St James’ Park with ten minutes to go failed to produce a fairy-tale ending.
Newcastle lack bite
Newcastle have now scored just four goals in six matches this season, the joint lowest total along with Crystal Palace and Watford. They currently sit one point and one place above the relegation places.
Joelinton was acquired for almost double the previous record fee paid for Miguel Almiron and between them, the pair have managed just one goal. However, the issue does not lie with either player. Unlike Salomon Rondon, who led the line for the Magpies last season, neither of the latest South American imports are natural finishers.
During 29 Bundesliga games for Hoffenheim, the Brazilian striker scored on just seven occasions. Whereas Almiron has a paltry goal-scoring record aside from his two-year spell with Atlanta United, suggesting that the 21 goals in 62 MLS appearances may have been an outlier.
The lack of firepower instead should be attributed to poor recruitment on Newcastle’s behalf. Both Rondon and Ayoze Perez left the club in the summer as the two highest scorers. While Joelinton directly replaced Rondon’s physical threat, there is nobody who has shown the capability to make up for the 23 goals that departed.
Striker shortage in Brighton
There can be no doubt that “Potterball”, as it has been dubbed, is effective as 71 percent possession away from home tells a story of its own. But to outlast “Sarriball” he must find a way to get his side producing chances with a high potential of finding the target. Brighton were completely wayward at the weekend, 16 shots yielded three on target and other than being chipped, Dubravka probably had the easiest afternoon of any Newcastle player.
This season may finally be the one where Glen Murray reverts back to the player everyone thought he was before he joined the Seagulls. The Englishman has been single-handedly providing the goals at the Amex for too long, and though many have been tried, no adequate replacement has yet been found.
From his time at Swansea, it is obvious that Potter is adept at working with a less than perfect squad. On the South Coast, he has significantly better resources and a scouting network which is unafraid to take an educated gamble on players you’ve never heard of, which is quite a feat post FIFA and Football Manager. Expect Potter to attempt to utilise what’s available to him, but if the goals haven’t arrived by January he may be shrewdly dipping into the market.
Seagulls must amend dreadful form
In their last 15 Premier League games, Brighton have won just one – the opening game of the season. That one was a three-nil spanking of Watford, but the Hornets have unexpectedly made a torrid start to the campaign. As well as this, Brighton have only managed to score in two other matches, both draws. The run they are on must be having an effect on the team, but if there is any manager equipped to address the slide, it is Potter.
The manager took over a decimated Swansea City side who had been on the brink of Premier League relegation for years before they were finally tipped over the edge. You only have to see Youtube highlights of Renato Sanches before and during his time at the Liberty to know how desolate the mood must have been.
To top that off, once they were relegated, Swansea had to let their top scorer go along with 19 other players. However, even in such a bleak scenario, Potter was able to instill hope, they finished fractionally outside the play-off’s and Daniel James was a breakout star who has since been a beacon of hope at Old Trafford.
Brighton are in nowhere near the position Swansea were in, and if Potter can rescue Swansea, he can surely keep Brighton afloat before they sink.
Next Up
Newcastle visit Leicester City on Sunday, while Brighton travel to Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.
