A Great Performance...finally!
After struggling to play well all season Newcastle hit back at their critics with a superb display against Manchester City, drawing the game 1-1 to take another valuable point.
Moving On
Last week’s 3-1 loss away to Fulham was not only hugely disappointing, but it was the embodiment of exactly how Newcastle had been playing so far this season - very poorly. Both the result and the way the team played at Craven Cottage seemed inevitable. The result was one thing - losses will always happen throughout a season - but the manner of the performance was extremely disappointing, and somewhat concerning, if not outright alarming.
When choosing the perfect follow up fixture to provide the opportunity to turn around your fortunes - and improve your overall level of play - not many supporters will have chosen Manchester City, the reigning champions who have dominated English football for the best part of a decade.
But, that is who was on the cards for The Magpies after their trip to AFC Wimbledon for a Carabao Cup tie was postponed midweek following flood damage at Wimbledon’s stadium.
A Huge Improvement
Going into this match it always felt as though it was to be the performance that would be scrutinised more so than any eventual result.
Most supporters are realistic when playing a team like City - knowing you have to be close to your best to gain any sort of positive result. Losing to them is rarely disgraceful, so long as you put up a fight and give them a game.
And over recent years - at St James’ Park at least - that is exactly what Newcastle United have been able to do against Pep Guardiola’s team. Under Eddie Howe Newcastle have now played City 5 times at home, including one Carabao Cup tie, with a record of P5 W1 D2 L2.
Apart from Howe’s first match against them, which resulted in a 4-0 loss just a couple of months into Howe’s reign as manager, the performances have been good. The team has been able to go toe-to-toe on each occasion with Man City and have given them close games every time.
On paper the 1-1 draw that Newcastle were able to achieve yesterday was an excellent result and one which most supporters would have bitten your hand off for before kick off, especially given the poor nature of performances so far this season.
Yet that result doesn't tell you the whole story. Not even close.
Newcastle were excellent.
This was their best performance of the season so far and it is not even close. The team were energetic, the high press was back, they were much more solid and compact in midfield and despite not playing a recognised striker, due to Isak being out injured with a broken toe, the team created lots of pressure and several chances too.
There wasn’t a player who you could really criticise for their overall input into the game but there were a few stand outs.
Kieran Trippier: Written off by a section of fans, Trippier proved what a class act he is with a stellar performance at right back. Apart from playing well, Trippier lead by example too. For example, late in the second half with the game on the line the players around him were losing their heads after a strange refereeing decision which resulted in a Man City corner. Trippier made it his job to rally around the team, reminding them all to remain focussed.
Bruno Guimarães: The weight of the captain’s armband has seemingly weighed heavy on Bruno at times this season. Yet he put in an excellent personal performance in midfield with exceptional tackling and often great vision with his passing too. Bruno is the master of close control, and in a packed midfield, on several occasions was somehow able to wriggle his way out and find space.
Lewis Hall: Although the whole defence played well up against some of the best attacking players in world football, it was pleasing to see Lewis Hall have his best game for the club so far. Left back has been a worrying position this season, often exposed against the opposition’s right wingers. But not in this game. Hall was (finally) aided in this match by a midfield who were more compact and who actually provided protection for him so he was able to thrive. Something that hasn’t always been the case this season.
If Lewis Hall can find consistency in his own personal performances (he is still incredibly young remember) then the future is bright for him and Newcastle.
There were others of course. The quality in his vision, passing and tackling was there for all to see with Sandro Tonali starting his first league game since his ban. Anthony Gordon resembled the player we knew and loved last season, at least for a large chunk of the game before fatigue kicked in.
How Gordon was still on the field at the full time whistle was incredible and of course he won and scored the penalty which secured the team a valuable point.
Finding Balance
Although Anthony Gordon’s herculean effort is commendable and impressive it does beg the question - “Can Newcastle play at this intensity every week?”
Whilst it was brilliant to see the team intensely press Manchester City from the kick off, making them feel uncomfortable and forcing turnovers in possession, a dose of realism needs to be expected.
This style of play yesterday is exactly how Howe lead the team to survival in his first season and to the Champions League in his second. It is fantastic to watch and as the record shows, gets results.
However, there is a reason why no team plays like this all the time as Newcastle United found out themselves the hard way. Asking players to ‘empty the tanks’ game after game is not sustainable in the long run.
Newcastle United’s 2023/24 campaign was ruined by injuries that decimated the playing the squad during last autumn and winter from this intense style of play.
Howe himself had subsequently adapted Newcastle’s style to rely less on a high press. And the results, particularly away from home, unfortunately speak for themselves. Additionally, the poor performances in matches, that many have been concerned about so far this season, actually has roots going back several months and can be traced to this switch of style away from the intense press.
So far, the Manchester City performance is the outlier this season with the team playing in a different way. Obviously (and thankfully) we don’t have to play teams the calibre of City every week. But can Newcastle return to the high intensity pressing game to ensure they remain competitive at the top end of the Premier League?
The fact of the matter is that it’s already been proven not to a sustainable approach in the long term. Perhaps, in the odd match here and there against higher quality opponents it may be utilised. But, every match? That would likely lead to an increase in injuries once again which would have a detrimental effect on the season.
The Solution
Howe will be pleased with both the result and performance against Man City. He will also be thinking hard about how he approaches the Everton game next weekend too.
Perhaps Howe will get the team to go all out again in the next game, after all the team has no European distraction and a full week to recover and prepare. So it is possible.
Or, perhaps more likely, Howe will consider a hybrid approach.
For most of 2024 Newcastle have not been an intense pressing team. That hasn’t stopped them scoring a lot of goals, Howe has been able to keep his attack minded philosophy which has been exciting at times.
When taking away the press, Newcastle have issues when they don’t have the ball, with a midfield unable to protect the defence properly. Subsequently, this lead to a huge increase in goals conceded which is problematic for any team. For Newcastle, this had a devastating impact on away form with the team losing 11 out of 18 games away from home last season.
It seems clear that in the absence of having a true defensive midfielder, which Howe shows no sign of wanting, the players at his disposal must provide more protection for the defence. Howe must find a way of making the team more compact, like they were against City, when they don’t have the ball.
Whilst supporters can be rightly pleased with the performance and result against Manchester City this weekend, the real test starts now and being able to prove this level of play is repeatable.
Newcastle have had a superb start to the season in terms of points collected. If the team are able to build on the very solid 11 points collected up to now by playing well consistently, dominating midfield battles and protecting the defence then this season could turn into a very exciting one.
