Latest news with #JacobMurphy
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Anthony Elanga watches on as Newcastle dismantle Man Utd legend's non-league side in pre-season friendly
JACOB MURPHY sent a direct message to £55m new boy Anthony Elanga as Newcastle thrashed Carlisle United. The Magpies finally confirmed the arrival of the Swedish attacker this week from Nottingham Forest. 3 3 And the star watched on from the sidelines as they beat National League outfit Carlisle 4-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at their Darsley Park training ground on Saturday, with Manchester United legend Mark Hughes at the helm for the visitors. Murphy, the man who Elanga will be in direct competition with for the right-wing spot, wasted little time in showing he is up for the battle. A long-ranger from Sean Longstaff gave Toon the advantage at the break before Joelinton made it two. Murphy then got his name on the scoresheet, rounding the goalkeeper and a couple of defenders following Harvey Barnes' cutback. And not just content with a goal, the 30-year-old turned provider as his cross was backheeled home by Ben Parkinson to finish the rout. Murphy enjoyed his best campaign at the club last term, scoring seven goals and producing nine assists. Eight of them were for hotshot striker Alexander Isak - someone that his new rival Elanga cannot wait to link up with having done so already numerous times for Sweden. The 23-year-old ex-Manchester United ace said: 'It's someone I know really well on and off the pitch. 'Being able to play at club level will make things a lot better. We'll be able to improve our connection even more. So it's exciting, and not just with Alex, but all around the team. 'The likes of Harvey, of Jacob, who's done fantastic last season, everyone in midfield and defence all played a part to make sure this team got to the Champions League. Update on Kieran Trippier split from wife after being seen with Chloe Ferry 'That was the goal last season and they managed to achieve it. Each and every single one of them played a huge part and I'm just looking forward to playing with everyone.' Most of Elanga's new team-mates returned to start pre-season training on Monday. However, others such as Isak and Tino Livramento are expected to return this week having been given extra time off due to international duty. Elanga looks set to get his first run-out in black and white next weekend when Newcastle travel to Parkhead to face Celtic. They then jet out to Singapore to take on Arsenal in a friendly before flying to South Korea to take on a K-League XI and then Tottenham. Elanga should then get his first taste of St. James' Park as a home player as Toon conclude their pre-season with home matches against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid before kicking off the Premier League campaign at Aston Villa on August 16.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The Premier League's best ball carrier?
Anthony Elanga demonstrated just how good he is at moving the ball up the pitch at pace when he did so from his own half to score Nottingham Forest's winner against Manchester United in April. The average distance of his ball carries last season was 14.3 metres, the most in the Premier League among the 306 players who spent at least 1,000 minutes on the noted on this page on Tuesday, only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and-mate Jacob Murphy, who is Newcastle's current first choice on the right of their attack, provided more assists than the 11 by Elanga last was directly involved in 20 of Newcastle's 68 goals in 2024-25 but Newcastle may feel they need more options. Forest were the only side to use fewer players in the Premier League last season and the Magpies face a minimum eight additional matches after qualifying for the Champions League.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Howe finally gets his man
The attraction to Anthony Elanga for Newcastle is clear. Pace, skill and power from is a player Magpies boss Eddie Howe has tracked for 12 months and now he has successfully got his the time being, Elanga will supplement the quality Newcastle already have in that area of the field in Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Newcastle back in the Champions League next season, Howe needs quality options so he can certainly provides the Sweden international's arrival indicates anything towards a departure out wide remains to be seen, but the club have been adamant none of their top players will leave this summer.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Newcastle want Anthony Elanga: Rapid dribbling, decision-making at pace, and crossing with either foot
This piece has been updated to reflect Newcastle United's latest bid for Anthony Elanga. An important question asked during recruitment is how the profile of the player fits the team. Quality and output aren't the only measurements. How the player fits the team's style and principles is as important. Even when targeting a set of players who play in the same position, understanding their profile is vital because one player could be totally different from another. Advertisement For the past year, Newcastle United have been searching for a right-winger and that search has continued this summer, even after Jacob Murphy's excellent displays. Eddie Howe already wanted another option on the right flank following Miguel Almiron's departure in January. The additional Champions League fixtures coming next season mean a right-winger has become a necessity. This week, Newcastle have made a fresh bid worth more than £50million plus bonuses for Nottingham Forest forward Anthony Elanga, and are pushing to complete a deal. He is a logical target, registering six goals and 11 assists to help Forest finish seventh in the Premier League and reach Europe for the first time in 30 years. The 23-year-old's output and impressive displays encouraged Newcastle to return for the Sweden winger after a failed move last summer. Elanga's profile is interesting because of how it could translate to this version of Newcastle. The right-winger can play on either flank, has shown defensive discipline under Nuno Espirito Santo at Forest, and has the pace and ball-carrying ability to be a menace on attacking transitions. Under Howe, Newcastle have been a team that thrives on the transition, with the physicality of their midfielders and the speed of their front line essential. The data illustrates their focus on getting the ball forward. 'Direct attacks' are defined as possessions that start in a team's own half and result in a shot or a touch inside the opposition penalty area within 15 seconds — in other words, a counter-attack. Newcastle's rate of 3.9 direct attacks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season was only second to Liverpool, and was the team's highest rate under Howe. Newcastle's tendency to attack quickly on the transition plays to Elanga's strengths. The right-winger's ability to dribble at a high speed while making wise decisions means he is a threat when his team wins the ball and attacks an unstructured defence. Elanga's prowess on the transition was visible in Forest's winner against Manchester United in April, when he collected Ryan Yates' clearance and carried the ball forward from his own half and scored past Andre Onana. Anthony Elanga's goal against Manchester United has been voted Sweetest Strike for April! 🍬 — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 2, 2025 If you watch the goal again, you can spot Elanga using both feet to dribble forward. When he is near the opponent's penalty area, Elanga pushes the ball with his right foot… … and because he is proficient in using his left, he can quickly strike the ball into the bottom corner without needing to adjust his body shape. In another example, from the 7-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion in February, Forest are attacking on the transition and Elanga uses his left foot to dribble past Lewis Dunk… … before using his right on the next action. This allows Elanga to carry the ball faster — using the same foot twice would have delayed him for a fraction of a second. Elanga's pace and comfort with both feet allow him to speed past Dunk… … and set up Chris Wood for another Forest goal. Elanga's other valuable asset on counter-attacks is his decision-making at high speed, usually taking the right amount of time to choose the best option. In this example, against Tottenham Hotspur in December, Forest are attacking on the transition when Morgan Gibbs-White puts Elanga through on goal. Elanga doesn't rush and shoot with his right foot. Instead, he waits until goalkeeper Fraser Forster commits and curls the ball into the far bottom corner with his left. A different example is his assist to Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 1-0 victory against Liverpool in September. Here, Elanga is carrying the ball forward on the counter, and there's space to test himself against Virgil van Dijk. However, Elanga sees that Hudson-Odoi is in a better position and switches the play towards the other side… … putting his team-mate in a position to dribble inside and curl the ball into the back of the net. Another part of Elanga's game that fits Newcastle's attack is his crossing ability. In the past couple of seasons, Howe's side has focused on attacking the wide areas. Having a winger who can cross with either foot is an advantage. Even if Elanga is playing on the right side, he can cut inside and deliver an in-swinging cross using his left foot. 'It's important to be able to go both ways,' Elanga told the BBC in April. 'During lockdown, I trained a lot on my left foot.' Advertisement His proficiency with either foot allows him to open up different crossing angles and become more unpredictable. In Forest's FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town in March, Elanga realised that the crossing angle was narrow and shifted the ball to his left foot to curl an in-swinging cross onto Yates' head in the penalty area (cued up in the video below). Elanga's ability to dribble with one foot and strike with the other also allows him to capitalise on the small crossing angle that opens up before the defender closes down. Alternating his moves between his right and left feet speeds up his second action, as illustrated below in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City in May. Last season, Elanga had the most assists from crosses (six) in the Premier League, and he only drops to second place when the stats are adjusted to a per-game basis for players who played at least 900 minutes. Meanwhile, his expected assists (xA) from crosses per 90 (0.12) was the 12th highest in the league in 2024-25, suggesting he overperformed his data slightly, but that he was still one of the league's leading threats. Those numbers are influenced by set pieces, which are usually disregarded when measuring creativity. In our context, they are important to include because they showcase Elanga's excellent delivery from dead-ball situations, another area where his skills align with Newcastle's strengths. In the wide areas, Newcastle's passing combinations have been a staple of their attack in recent seasons, and despite Forest not using it as frequently, Elanga has a profile that fits this attacking method. His pace and off-ball runs are transferable to Newcastle's wide combinations, especially with Bruno Guimaraes operating as the right-sided midfielder. Elanga's rapid acceleration in one-two passes, illustrated below from Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 win against Forest in April 2024, suits Newcastle's wide combinations. Defensively, Elanga showed discipline and understanding of his positioning when Forest defended in medium and low blocks. However, the unanswered question is about how he will fare in the high-press phase. His pace and acceleration will help, but adapting to Newcastle's front-line pressing also requires an understanding of the timing and angles of the runs. All in all, it's understandable why Newcastle want to sign Elanga. His profile suits the team's style and his strengths are transferable to Newcastle's principles.
New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Newcastle want Anthony Elanga: Rapid dribbling, decision-making at pace and crossing with either foot
An important question asked during recruitment is how the profile of the player fits the team. Quality and output aren't the only measurements. How the player fits the team's style and principles is as important. Even when targeting a set of players who play in the same position, understanding their profile is vital because one player could be totally different from another. Advertisement For the last year, Newcastle United have been searching for a right-winger and that search has continued this summer, even after Jacob Murphy's excellent displays. Eddie Howe already wanted another option on the right flank following Miguel Almiron's departure in January. The additional Champions League fixtures coming next season mean a right-winger has become a necessity. This week, Newcastle had a bid of approximately £45million ($62m) for Anthony Elanga rejected by Nottingham Forest. He is a logical target, registering six goals and 11 assists to help Forest finish seventh in the Premier League and reach Europe for the first time in 30 years. The 23-year-old's output and impressive displays encouraged Newcastle to return for the Sweden winger after a failed move last summer. Elanga's profile is interesting because of how it could translate to this version of Newcastle. The right-winger can play on either flank, has shown defensive discipline under Nuno Espirito Santo at Forest, and has the pace and ball-carrying ability to be a menace on attacking transitions. Under Howe, Newcastle have been a team who thrive on the transition, with the physicality of their midfielders and the speed of their front line essential. The data illustrates their focus on getting the ball forward. 'Direct attacks' are defined as possessions that start in a team's own half and result in a shot or a touch inside the opposition penalty area within 15 seconds — in other words, a counter-attack. Newcastle's rate of 3.9 direct attacks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season was only second to Liverpool, and was the team's highest rate under Howe. Newcastle's tendency to attack quickly on the transition plays to Elanga's strengths. The right-winger's ability to dribble at a high speed while making wise decisions makes him a threat when his team wins the ball and attacks an unstructured defence. Elanga's prowess on the transition was visible in Forest's winner against Manchester United in April, when he collected Ryan Yates' clearance and carried the ball forward from his own half and score past Andre Onana. Anthony Elanga's sensational goal against Manchester United is up for the @PremierLeague Goal of the Month award. 👏 Vote below. ⬇️ — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 1, 2025 If you watch the goal again, you can spot Elanga using both feet to dribble forward. When he is near the opponent's penalty area, Elanga pushes the ball with his right foot… … and because he is proficient in using the left, he can quickly strike the ball into the bottom corner without needing to adjust his body shape. In another example, from the 7-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion in February, Forest are attacking on the transition and Elanga uses his left foot to dribble past Lewis Dunk… … before using the right on the next action. This allows Elanga to carry the ball faster — using the same foot twice would have delayed him for a fraction of a second. Elanga's pace and comfort with both feet allow him to speed past Dunk… … and set up Chris Wood on another Forest goal. Elanga's other valuable asset on counter-attacks is his decision-making at high speed, usually taking the right amount of time to choose the best option. In this example, against Tottenham Hotspur in December, Forest are attacking on the transition when Morgan Gibbs-White puts Elanga through on goal. Elanga doesn't rush and shoot with his right foot. Instead, he waits until goalkeeper Fraser Forster commits and curls the ball into the far bottom corner with his left. A different example is his assist to Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 1-0 victory against Liverpool in September. Here, Elanga is carrying the ball forward on the counter, and there's space to test himself against Virgil van Dijk. However, Elanga sees that Hudson-Odoi is in a better position and switches the play towards the other side… … putting his team-mate in a position to dribble inside and curl the ball into the back of the net. Another part of Elanga's game that fits Newcastle's attack is his crossing ability. In the last couple of seasons, Howe's side has focused on attacking the wide areas. Having a winger who can cross with either foot is an advantage. Even if Elanga is playing on the right side, he can cut inside and deliver an in-swinging cross using his left foot. 'It's important to be able to go both ways,' Elanga told the BBC in April. 'During lockdown, I trained a lot on my left foot.' Advertisement His proficiency with either foot allows him to open up different crossing angles and become more unpredictable. In Forest's FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town in March, Elanga realised that the crossing angle was narrow and shifted the ball to his left foot to curl an in-swinging cross onto Yates' head in the penalty area (cued up in the video below). Elanga's ability to dribble with one foot and strike with the other also allows him to capitalise on the small crossing angle that opens up before the defender closes down. Alternating his moves between his right and left feet speeds up his second action, as illustrated below in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City in May. Last season, Elanga had the most assists from crosses (six) in the Premier League, and he only drops to second place when the stats are adjusted to a per-game basis for players who played at least 900 minutes. Meanwhile, his expected assists (xA) from crosses per 90 (0.12) was the 12th highest in the league in 2024-25, suggesting he overperformed his data slightly but that he was still one of the league's leading threats. Those numbers are influenced by set pieces, which are usually disregarded when measuring creativity. In our context, they are important to include because they showcase Elanga's excellent delivery from dead-ball situations, another area where his skills align with Newcastle's strengths. In the wide areas, Newcastle's passing combinations have been a staple of their attack in recent seasons, and despite Forest not using it as frequently, Elanga has a profile that fits this attacking method. His pace and off-ball runs are transferable to Newcastle's wide combinations, especially with Bruno Guimaraes operating as the right-sided midfielder. Elanga's rapid acceleration in one-two passes, illustrated below from Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 win against Forest in April 2024, suits Newcastle's wide combinations. Defensively, Elanga showed discipline and understanding of his positioning when Forest defended in medium and low blocks. However, the unanswered question is about how he will fare in the high-press phase. His pace and acceleration will help, but adapting to Newcastle's front-line pressing also requires an understanding of the timing and angles of the runs. All in all, it's understandable why Newcastle want to sign Elanga. His profile suits the team's style and his strengths are transferable to Newcastle's principles.
