Almiron liberated by playing in the pocket in a side set up to attack

“Finally, we are getting to see the real Miguel again.” If there is one player who has categorically debunked the myth that Newcastle United simply do not possess the quality to operate in another way, it is Almiron. Now, in the more offensive 4-1-2-1-2 system fielded in the last three outings – shown in the graphic below, which depicts the average first-half position of the Newcastle players against Southampton, with Almiron the No 24 – he has shone back in a “free role”. Miguel Almiron in the Premier League Stat 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 Total Appearances 15 35 9 59 Minutes played 1,371 3,033 763 5,167 Goals 4 4 0 8 Goals per 90 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 xG 1.6 6.9 1.5 10.0 xG per 90 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 Assists 1 2 0 3 Chances created per 90 1.4 0.9 1.5 1.13 Shots per 90 1.31 1.7 2.2 1.7 Shots on target per 90 0.7 0.5 0.9 0.6 Touches per 90 50.6 42.4 48.2 45.4 Touches in attacking third per 90 18.8 17.4 22.3 18.5 Passes per 90 32.6 24.6 28.4 27.3 Passes in attacking third per 90 12.2 9.8 11.3 10.7 That is why it jarred so much when Almiron’s representative, Daniel Campos, claimed in November that Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and “big English clubs” were courting the Paraguayan. During the opening 45 minutes of each of the last three matches – such a metric has been chosen because Newcastle played most of the second half against Southampton at least one man down – the percentage of touches and passes Almiron makes in the opposition third have increased substantially. How Almiron has thrived as a No 10 Metric 2020-21 average Past three games average Goals per 90 0.2 0.7 Shots per 90 0.7 1.3 Shots on target per 90 0.5 0.7 Chances created per 90 0.5 1.0 Touches per 90 25.1 26 Touches in opposition third per 90 9.3 16 % of touches in opposition third 37% 62% Passes per 90 15.8 18.3 Passes in opposition third per 90 6 12.3 % of passes in opposition third 38% 67% Obviously, this is only a small snapshot of three games and those statistics will almost certainly decline over the coming weeks.