Tuesday evening offered Newcastle United supporters with a outcome they are going to cherish for a really very long time.
Targets from Alexander Isak after which Anthony Gordon both aspect of half time noticed the Magpies beat Arsenal 2-0 in North London within the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
The 6,000 Geordie who packed out the Clock Finish concluded the evening by singing their very own distinctive rendition of “Que Sera, Sera” and, whereas they haven’t rubber-stamped their place at Wembley simply but, as famous by Tom Ede on Twitter, of the earlier 31 groups who’ve gained the primary leg of a League Cup semi-final away from house, 29 of them have reached the ultimate, suggesting they’ve a great probability.
It was a very emotional evening for one Newcastle participant particularly, on condition that it might effectively have been his 171st and final look for the membership.
Newcastle star on his manner out
As reported by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Newcastle have agreed a deal “in precept” to promote Martin Dúbravka to Saudi Professional League aspect Al-Shabab.
The White Lions are presently sixth within the Saudi Arabian top-flight and are managed by Turkish legend Fatih Terim, whereas their squad options acquainted faces corresponding to Yannick Carrasco, Giacomo Bonaventura, Wesley Hoedt as soon as of Southampton and former Wolves winger Daniel Podence.
As famous by Simo Frigolé on Twitter, Al-Shabab’s first-choice goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has ruptured his ACL for the second time in underneath a yr, doing so throughout a latest victory over Al-Orobah, therefore why they’re out there this month.
Martin Hardy of the Occasions hails Dúbravaka as a “implausible servant” to Newcastle, reporting that the Magpies will obtain round £4.5m for his signature, ought to the deal be finalised.
When the Slovakian shot-stopper arrived within the North East from Sparta Prague for £4.3m in January 2018, he had a right away influence, a key determine as they prevented relegation.
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In 2019/20, he was named Newcastle United Participant of the 12 months and has been a followers’ favorite from day one.
With the Toon Military on the cusp of Wembley, Dúbravka seems destined to by no means play in a League Cup Remaining, having been cup-tied for the 2023 last, after enjoying two video games on mortgage for opponents Manchester United earlier within the competitors, which means, uniquely, regardless of the very fact his workforce misplaced that day, he earned a winners’ medal.
Now, he seems set to depart earlier than the Magpies will certainly face both Liverpool or Tottenham in March’s last.
Why now’s the precise time for Dúbravka to depart Tyneside
Newcastle are underneath strain to promote gamers in an effort to adjust to the Premier League’s Revenue & Sustainability guidelines, with Eddie Howe stating “enterprise logic is taking up from soccer logic…we had been compelled to [sell players in June]… I believe we’re nonetheless in that place”.
Provided that Dúbravka is 35-years-old, and is out of contract in June, he’s an apparent participant to money in on.
What makes the timing awkward is the very fact the Slovakian has began every of Newcastle’s final seven matches, all wins through which he is stored 5 clear sheets, whereas Nick Pope has been nursing a knee ligament problem suffered at Brentford.
Nonetheless, the Magpies even have 5 senior goalkeepers on their books.
Odysseas Vlachodimos, who’s seen simply 45 minutes of motion to this point, arrived from Nottingham Forest for £20m, with Elliot Anderson going the opposite manner for £30m, as each golf equipment skirted round PSR breaches.
In addition they have senior goalkeepers Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy, in case of emergencies, however Vlachodimos, who Chris Waugh and George Caulkin of the Athletic described because the “£20m goalkeeper they didn’t need”, can be the apparent deputy for Pope, however how does Greece’s primary evaluate to Dúbravka?
Dúbravka vs Vlachodimos (22/23-24/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistic | Dúbravka | Vlachodimos |
Appearances | 61 | 78 |
Minutes | 5,427 | 7,019 |
Saves | 180 | 125 |
Save % | 74.9% | 69.5% |
Targets conceded | 69 | 66 |
Clear sheets | 25 | 39 |
Publish-shot xG – targets allowed | +2.4 | -4 |
Cross completion % | 78.2% | 81.2% |
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com | ||
As outlined by the info above, because the begin of the 2022/23 season, Dúbravka has been a extra dependable goalkeeper than Vlachodimos, regardless of the very fact the Greek goalkeeper spent the primary of those campaigns with Benfica, profitable the Primeira Liga title.
Publish-shot anticipated targets (PSxG) is a metric used to find out how possible a goalkeeper is to avoid wasting a shot.
Nonetheless, Vlachodimos is just not considerably worse sufficient that Dúbravka can be a serious loss.
In spite of everything, we’re solely speaking about who might be Nick Pope’s back-up, and on condition that Newcastle look like caught with Vlachodimos, they could as effectively use him greater than the second half of an EFL Cup tie in opposition to AFC Wimbledon that he is featured in to this point.
It’s going to be telling who’s donning the gloves for Sunday’s FA Cup tie in opposition to Bromley at St James’ Park.
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