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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Dean Henderson has conceded numerous goals from outside of the box this season and a few that seem to almost go through him. Like this Odegaard goal…
One of the reasons for this is that he swings his arms behind his back just as shots are taken (reducing his reaction time)
He also crouches low in the goal, almost collapsing as the shot is struck (reducing his size).
Compare his arm position (& height) w/ Ederson, who - like Henderson - is 6ft 2.
Ederson stays bigger & keeps his arms close to his body around knee height. He can save low or high.
Or Lloris (also 6ft 2)
Lloris has his hands by his sides, knee height. He is ready to save both low & high shots. He also crouches down but his hand position enables him to have quicker reactions.
By the time Henderson has his hands in the right place the shot is past him.
Something simple but - when under little pressure - the top teams want their CBs to play close together. This means there is space to drop a full back down (make back 3) & move the ball quickly (+ secure rest defence).
Next time you watch your team see how far apart the CBs are
Saliba actively carries the ball into a central area rather than moving in ‘his lane’. This is something Manchester City CBs also do.
A possession based team will split their CBs when the GK has the ball but look to bring them in narrow was they advance towards the half way line
The narrow CBs make it harder for the opposition’s wide players to press from the sides (as it takes them away from their flank, freeing the full back).
It also means the CBs can bounce the ball between each other without encouraging a press (short passing distance).
Some thoughts after watching the 1st half of Brighton vs Chelsea:
• Sanchez is one of the best GKs in the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea/Spurs/Man Utd come in for him in the summer.
• Dunk should be in the England squad. Probably Webster too.
• BHA were 4-2-3-1
• Groß has been vital to Brighton this season. Very versatile. He played RB against Chelsea. But he did take up midfield positions when BHA had controlled possession around the half way line.
• The gaps between Chelsea defence & midfield were huge. Trossard/Lallana found space
• Estupinan looks like he has settled into the team. This was probably his most attacking performance.
• March had the beating of Cucurella every time he received possession.
• Trossard is playing with such confidence. He could have had a hat-trick in the 1st half.
Gerrard had a successful spell at Rangers playing with attacking full backs & a narrow front three. This style led him to the league title (undefeated).
His narrow, defensive mid block (flat 4-3-3) also proved effective in Europe.
As his spell at Rangers was successful, I assume he tried to replicate that at Aston Villa.
He first game - up against a Brighton team who look to dominate the ball - was the perfect opponent for Gerrard to implement his defensive shape, whilst offering a threat on transition.
This positive result combined w/ the new Manager bounce led to 4 wins in his first 6 games.
Results became slightly more inconsistent and it became apparent that the full backs did not have the creativity required to execute the game plan. The tactical role of the midfielders