When the team news for Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers dropped and Jacob Murphy was named in the starting XI - it was seen as a surprise for most but not for listeners of The Everything is Black and White Podcast. Regular followers of our show will know that I'd pushed Murphy for the start having been impressed with him in his previous two substitute appearances. The reaction to my desire to see Murphy start was mixed - some praising him but feeling he's not a player to start, others shutting down the idea and in truth few agreeing with the proposal.
Our Newcastle United editor Aaron Stokes believed the idea to be so fanciful, he wagered a Nandos against it. He now knows my order is a sunset burger with chips and spicy rice.
Murphy came into the side for Miguel Almiron and for me, put in quite the shift. He started the game as I'd hoped - getting down the right and looking to put the ball into the box. It's his crossing ability that had persuaded me he was right for a start. Within the opening 10 minutes of the game, Murphy had already delivered three crosses into the Newcastle box. In the games leading up to Wolves, Murphy seemed to play without fear - and his intent was to get the ball into the box and deliver for the strikers, something Newcastle had struggled with but it was refreshing to see a winger do what a winger should do and get the ball into the danger area.
