If Villa are going to become more difficult to beat (especially Away) they need to improve on these areas (summed up by this early chance for Wilson):
• Winning physical duels (Dendoncker) #1
• Tracking full backs (Bailey) #2
• Marking in the box (mix up w/ Konsa & Cash) #3/4
#NUFC’s press reminds me of peak Liverpool under Klopp. They always have at least 2 players around the ball.
Their team is very nicely balanced.
Their front 3 work hard (especially their Wide FWds) whilst their 8s are very athletic. And Guimaraes is super smart tactically.
When you watch NUFC the lack of technical quality (compared to the Champions League sides) is still evident.
What Eddie Howe is getting out of these players is amazing.
They each know their role within the formation, work extremely hard & react quickly on transition.
Doing the basics well (plus +’ve results) really has given confidence to the likes of Longstaff/Almiron.
The team run & cover for each other + they are solid/a threat from set pieces. The individual quality they do have (Guimaraes/Wilson/Tripper) then helps make the difference.
The playing style, philosophy & principles are now in place for NUFC to have a successful season whilst slowly increasing the technical quality in key positions.
With the resources they now have this should be a worry for the rest of the Champions League teams..
This is a nice shot of how NUFC play - and how they drag the opposition towards their LHS.
• Burn plays deep alongside Botman/Schar. This means the opposition winger generally plays high.
•Joelinton/Willock rotate & the 8 plays higher than Longstaff.
• Longstaff drops closer to Guimaraes which allows Trippier to push on with Almiron moving inside (forcing the opposition’s LB to come narrow).
NUFC had 2v1 against Ings. Botman stepping forwards dragged out Dendoncker, creating space for Joelinton (Burn attracting Watkins).
Joelinton receives between the lines, passes to Willock & then attacks the space between CB & RB. This forces Dendoncker into Villa’s back line (creating a back 5 & isolating Luiz in Midfield).
Bailey then comes narrow to offer support. This frees up Tripper and NUFC are in.
This is how NUFC pressed high (GKs). Wilson dropped onto Luiz with Joelinton & Almiron narrow.
Willock & Longstaff cover the oppos full backs.
You can see why having athletic, hard working Wide FWDs & CMs is key to Newcastle’s tactical approach. They cover a lot of ground.
It’s so interesting when you compare Aston Villa to Newcastle Utd. There are lots of similarities. The money they have spent in recent windows, recently appointing DoFs, trying to break into the top 6 (at least) etc.
Even down to the captaincy. Lascelles is still club captain but doesn’t start. Look how Eddie Howe handled that situation in comparison to Steven Gerrard & Mings.
Newcastle Utd’s recruitment has focused on their defence & spine (Guimaraes/Isak). They have added Size & quality.
Another nice illustration of NUFC’s shape.
Trippier high with Almiron inside. They now have a front 2 which can occupy a back 4 (if they play between CB & FB). Joelinton stays wide & is found by an excellent pass from Schär (whose distribution is very good).
To hurt NUFC teams need to attack the space in front of their back 4 (as Guimaraes presses forwards) & around Trippier (in behind him or on his inside, from crosses).
Villa do that nicely in this example. Bailey runs in behind & Buendia finds the space. Poor/overhit pass from LB
Villa caused NUFC some problems (good chances for Buendia/Watkins missed kick) but NUFC were the better team.
The best teams make this run ⬇️
This run between CB & FB causes a 4-2-3-1 big problems. Luiz goes out & now Villa have little protection on the edge of the box.
For NUFC’s opening goal the run from Joelinton (between CB & FB) drags Dendoncker into the back line. Luiz is now isolated & Newcastle eventually find their way through & out to Almiron on the opposite side.
Hand ball. 1-0.
That run between CB & FB = most effective run in ⚽️
Nice corner routine for NUFC’s second goal.
Almiron runs short, dragging 2 Villa players with him. He delays & back heels for Trippier.
Wilson & Burn started around the GK & have a 2v1 in the centre of the 6 yard box.
Poor from a Villa perspective..leaving their CF unmarked
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Arsenal vs Villa was an interesting tactical battle because:
Arsenal force the oppo to build down their LHS. Odegaard is one of their better pressers & - on regains - the ball is close to their 2 playmakers (Saka/Odegaard) w/ their transition winger free (Martinelli/Trossard)
And Villa prefer to build down their LHS through Pau Torres (and in this game Tielemans & Digne).
Two styles collide.
And as the match progressed it was Aston Villa who came out on top - in part - due to the constant decision making that was required of Odegaard & Saka.
Aston Villa displayed:
- excellent on ball structure
- patience/bravery to persist with their plan
- high technical quality
- high physical quality
All aspects needed for a positive away performance against one of the top sides in the division.
Man Utd’s defensive shape/tactics meant it was fairly straight forward for Bayern to open them up & penetrate the spaces in behind, especially on Bayern’s RHS.
Man U were 4-1-4-1 out of possession with both CBs asked to follow Kane/Musiala deep into Midfield.
Amrabat was free
I was surprised at this defensive shape as Amrabat didn’t drop into the back line to make a 5.
As Bayern form a box with Kane/Musiala/Kimmich & Goretzka there were rarely players in his zone.
He could’ve been the one to press in those spaces like what Alvarez did vs Brighton
McTominay & Bruno also found it difficult to go man for man in midfield as Man United’s wide players defended too wide.
A narrow 4-4-2 or a different type of press may have made more sense.
There were gaps like this throughout the first half.
I keep getting DMs about how to analyse football so this is what I do:
(This will focus on one team but you can do it for both)
Identify how a team plays:
• in possession
• out of possession
• How they attack & defend transitions
• How they attack & defend set pieces
What I look for In possession:
• Shape from GKs (dead ball).
Who do they look to get the ball into? Who comes short vs who stays long? What sides does the GK prefer to kick too? Which side do they build down?
• Shape from Gk (open play). Similar questions to above. Does the GK stay central or push to 1 side? What do they do under little pressure vs high pressure?
• Shape during controlled possessions (little pressure w/ ball around half way line). How many lines & players in each?
- There are question marks around Onana. Inter’s 5-3-2 helped cover some of his deficiencies whilst his ball playing stood out. With less tactical structure (simple options) even this is becoming a concern.
- Martinez, I imagine, is first choice CB yet his profile (small CB) affects the rest of the back 4 & Midfield. Ideally his partner is tall/dominant in the air, plus at least one full back & midfielder - otherwise the team will struggle when defending set pieces.
- In midfield they lack positional discipline & athleticism. Plus someone comfortable receiving & progressing the ball from the defensive third. Mainoo should help with this but will need help. Eriksen/Fernandes/Mount - Only need 1 in the team IMO.