⚪️⚫️ Team analysis
How does Eddie Howe articulate his midfield : distances, positioning , how many midfielders in offensive phase…
Example vs West Ham
[THREAD] 🧵⤵️
How does Eddie Howe articulate his midfield : distances, positioning , how many midfielders in offensive phase…
Example vs West Ham
[THREAD] 🧵⤵️
Newcastle midfield has many similarities with Napoli’s midfield : the role is more important than the position. Every midfielder can step up in offensive phase. Yet Joelinton is more likely to run behind and Guimaraes holding back pressure.
There is only one rule Howe wants to implement : as much as possible, one midfielder at least participates in offensive transitions. The role is to support lone forward and pin back central defenders, to ease out wide passes.
We regularly see Guimaraes dropping on the right flank, his favorite zone in offensive phase. Joelinton’s role to stay close from central defenders prevents West Ham central defense to jump on Bruno’s switches of play.
Longstaff shows his attacking spaces qualities, he has this ability to spot the right space to attack. This behavior is more fluid when you have Guimaraes and Joelinton behind you to cover the spaces and rest defense.
In offensive phase, we know Guimaraes tends to control the edges of penalty box, and I think Howe wants that for many reasons :
it allows wingers to withdraw and have more space (St Maximin)
Overload flanks
it allows wingers to withdraw and have more space (St Maximin)
Overload flanks
Eddie Howe has a vertical philosophy in build up. that’s why you will see 3 midfielders in different lines of midfield. This is risky but it relies on the way Guimaraes hold distances with his opponents.
In final third, Guimaraes dropping on wide channels, Joelinton moving as the second striker alongside Wilson or Isak, and Longstaff in possession. That’s the regular pattern when Newcastle has the ball in the last 30 meters.
On the contrary to the first phase of build-up, where Guimaraes has to move cleverly to receive the ball, moving around opponent’s structure.
But the most impressive aspect concerning Newcastle’s midfield is the athletic impact they have on the opponent. To bypass counter pressing, they drag opponents in the center…
Then, they suddenly accelerate and frequently create a big gap with the other midfield, so they can attack central spaces. The opponent’s defense is consequently forced to retreat.
His pressing structure and his midfield are the two main assets for Eddie Howe in Newcastle. We have seen the very positive effects it has on opponent’s chance creation, because they frequently won the battle of midfield.
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