Tuesday night time supplied 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 facet 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 night time 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 received the primary leg of a League Cup semi-final away from dwelling, 29 of them have reached the ultimate, suggesting they’ve a superb probability.
It was a very emotional night time for one Newcastle participant specifically, on condition that it could 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 facet Al-Shabab.
The White Lions are at the moment sixth within the Saudi Arabian top-flight and are managed by Turkish legend Fatih Terim, whereas their squad options acquainted faces comparable 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 beneath a yr, doing so throughout a current victory over Al-Orobah, therefore why they’re available in the market this month.
Martin Hardy of the Occasions hails Dúbravaka as a “improbable 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 direct impression, a key determine as they prevented relegation.

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In 2019/20, he was named Newcastle United Participant of the Yr 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 Ultimate, having been cup-tied for the 2023 ultimate, after enjoying two video games on mortgage for opponents Manchester United earlier within the competitors, that means, uniquely, regardless of the actual fact his staff 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 ultimate.
Why now could be the appropriate time for Dúbravka to depart Tyneside
Newcastle are beneath stress to promote gamers with a purpose 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 pressured to [sell players in June]… I feel 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 actual fact the Slovakian has began every of Newcastle’s final seven matches, all wins wherein he is stored 5 clear sheets, whereas Nick Pope has been nursing a knee ligament difficulty 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 date, arrived from Nottingham Forest for £20m, with Elliot Anderson going the opposite manner for £30m, as each golf equipment skirted round PSR breaches.
Additionally 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”, could be the plain 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 |
Submit-shot xG – targets allowed |
+2.4 |
-4 |
Go completion % |
78.2% |
81.2% |
As outlined by the info above, for the reason that begin of the 2022/23 season, Dúbravka has been a extra dependable goalkeeper than Vlachodimos, regardless of the actual fact the Greek goalkeeper spent the primary of those campaigns with Benfica, successful the Primeira Liga title.
Submit-shot anticipated targets (PSxG) is a metric used to find out how probably a goalkeeper is to save lots of a shot.
Nonetheless, Vlachodimos will not be considerably worse sufficient that Dúbravka could be a significant loss.
In any case, we’re solely speaking about who can 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 towards AFC Wimbledon that he is featured in to date.
It’s going to be telling who’s donning the gloves for Sunday’s FA Cup tie towards Bromley at St James’ Park.

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