‘Any coach would want him’ – Newcastle’s £3m masterstroke makes mockery of Crystal Palace demand

‘Any coach would want him’ – Newcastle’s £3m masterstroke makes mockery of Crystal Palace demand.

These days, what can you acquire for £3m? As it stands, not much. During a brutal transfer window, Newcastle United was really quoted more than twenty-three times that amount for Marc Guehi.

Should you ever need a reminder, Fabian Schar is perhaps one of the best purchases the club has ever made in terms of value for money. ‘Any coach would be pleased to have’ is how Switzerland manager Murat Yakin described this defender.

What can you get these days for £3 million? Not much as of yet. Newcastle United was actually quoted more than twenty-three times that price for Marc Guehi during a cruel transfer window.In case you needed a reminder, Fabian Schar is perhaps one of the best purchases the club has ever made in terms of value for money. ‘Any coach would be pleased to have’ is how Switzerland manager Murat Yakin described this defender.

Schar’s ball-playing ability was definitely missed by Newcastle during his three-match suspension, a period in which no Premier League team completed less passes or had worse passing accuracy. Schar’s absence did not lead Newcastle to suddenly become wasteful in possession, but it is important to note that Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier.

This is a very striking stat for a centre-back, without getting too technical, because in the last six passes, the ball has either been completed into the penalty area or moved at least ten yards closer to the opponent’s goal line. Passes from the defensive 40% of the pitch are likewise not included in this metric.

In the last third of the match against Wolves on Sunday, Schar gave fans a preview of his poised play when he played one-twos with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes before cutting the ball across the box. Anthony Gordon’s last-ditch tackle by Yerson Mosquera was the only thing that stopped him.

Schar’s burst forward brought back one or two memories for Jamie Carragher in Newcastle’s Entertainers’-inspired away kit. “It’s like watching Philippe Albert all those years ago,” the Liverpool legend remarked on co-commentary.

Although Schar has long been an important member of this team under Eddie Howe, it is great praise indeed. Just as Albert was important when Newcastle previously started a season so successfully, at least on paper. No Newcastle player came close to Schar’s total of 14,874 yards in the top division last year when it came to progressive passing distance, for example, or the amount of yards completed passes have moved towards an opponent’s goal. Nobody else’s long passes (261), medium passes (894), or switches (41), in black and white, were made. It won’t have surprised Yakin, who had previously collaborated with Schar at Basel.

“His lateral moves and long balls are simply outstanding,” the manager of Switzerland remarked. “He also has a fantastic shot and is a goal threat.”

Schar scored five goals in the previous season on that particular moment, and on Sunday, when Newcastle needed someone to seize control of the game, the defender delivered his first of the current campaign against Wolves. Although Schar’s long-range equaliser deflected off Craig Dawson’s head, the 32-year-old is one of the few league centre backs who can justify attempting a shot at such a pivotal point in a game.

Schar, though, wouldn’t be on the squad if he couldn’t handle the unpleasant aspects of the game as well. Against Wolves, Schar won the most aerial duels (four) at Molineux and made the most clearances (seven) of any player on the pitch. In the 97th minute, he also hooked away Matheus Cunha’s cross at the near post.

Schar demonstrated his ability to dig in during the previous season as well. Only defensive partner Dan Burn made more interceptions and won more aerial duels, while the Swiss player led Newcastle in clearances made in the top flight with 133. Only Bruno Guimaraes and Burn produced more blocks.