The return of the press
Newcastle are famed for their press. They were even feared for it in 2022/23. This season, largely, it’s disappeared. But, even if just for half an hour, it came back - and it won Newcastle the game.
There’s a real synergy between fans and players when that style comes to fore. The people on the terraces really warm to a team getting right in the opposition’s faces. So when it went missing, it felt like a real loss.
It won’t always be possible to play like that, last season’s injuries told us that, but glimpses of it can prove deadly. And here on Tyneside, it can make for a very special sight. More of the same on Saturday again, please.
The front six decided - but in what shape?
Right, I’m now sure of what I think constitutes Newcastle’s best front six. However, I’m just not 100% sure in which order it should be played.
Alexander Isak is the main man up top and Anthony Gordon has to play up there, but who makes up the three? For me, it’s Joelinton. Even though that potentially takes something away from Gordon. The best three in midfielder for me has always been Sandro Tonali and Sean Longstaff with Bruno Guimaraes. And after watching this one, it makes some sense to try switching Tonali and Bruno around.
Mobile Kelly looks to be a solution
This is by no means a Dan Burn criticism, but wow, did Lloyd Kelly dovetail brilliantly with Fabian Schar at the back?!?
Burn is a big lad, with plenty of qualities, but has shown his limitations this season against teams who pull him out of position. In Kelly, they seem to have found a player who is comfortable being moved around, has recovery pace and nous and also is more than tidy on the ball. He has to start on Saturday, no questions aske
Some light criticism has been thrown the Italian’s way for his performances of late, especially as his £50-odd million impact has not really been felt in Newcastle’s midfield, either in an attacking or defensive sense.
But, sitting a little deeper, as part of an Eddie Howe experiment, the player looked much more at home. Was it maybe that Bruno wasn’t alongside him? I suspect it was the extra responsibility - and he rose to the occasion.
Momentum - and signs of life remain
This result did a whole lot more than secure a spot in the last eight of the Carabao Cup - which is the first time in their history they’ve reached this stage three years on the bounce.
Quite simply, in a week where pressure was building on the players and the manager after a up and down start to the campaign, this keep their season alive.
Now, it feels, even with further bumps in the road, they’ve always got the light burning for Brentford in December - and eyes for a second semi-final in three years. Confidence, too, will also flow back, after a faltering few weeks in the Premier League
0 Comments