OPINION
After four games of the new Premier League season, Newcastle United have four points. It’s not a bad tally all things considered, but there are frustrating aspects to the Magpies’ campaign already shining through.
Chief amongst those is the form of big money January signing Miguel Almiron, who still can’t seem to put it all together on Tyneside since his move from Atlanta United. A Major League Soccer star, the Paraguay international isn’t yet off the mark in front of goal for his new club.
After Saturday’s 1-1 stalemate with Watford, concern over Almiron’s play is really starting to ferment for the first time. Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie summed up the mood at St James’ Park after the game: “Almiron? He needs to stop running – even just for a second – and think!,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account.
Downie has got it absolutely spot on, there. The problem with Almiron at the minute seems to be that he is all industry, but very little tangible production. Plus, his decision making is becoming more and more worrying.
As per WhoScored.com, against Watford Almiron made one key pass, embarked upon two successful dribbles and was fouled a whopping three times.
That’s all well and good, but there are further statistics which fit a little bit better in the context of his overall performance. The 25-year-old was caught offside five times – FIVE TIMES, in one match! Furthermore, he was dispossessed twice and had three unsuccessful touches.
Those are harrowing statistics for a man who is supposed to be a mercurial playmaker, while his WhoScored match rating of 6.65 does him no favours either.
Clearly the adaptation to the Premier League has been a tough one for him. But, as Downie says, if he calmed down for a moment and thought about what he was doing a bit more, he might find things a tad easier than they have been.
