Newcastle United played out a goalless draw against Leeds United on Saturday evening. A much less encouraging result than the opening day draw against Villa; it was a tough watch, with not much of anything really working for either side.
Jacob Murphy was the only United player to have shots on target during the game as Newcastle turned in the limpest of limp performances.
Here are 2 things I liked (and 2 I didn’t) from the game:
**Didn’t Like: Changing the entire formation in response to losing one player**
There was a lot of chat post-match that the gaffer had outthought himself tactically, and it’s something I wholeheartedly agree with. Many fans thought a simple swapping of personnel (Ramsey for Joelinton, Osula/Elanga for Gordon) and maintaining the 4-3-3 shape would be enough to secure a result against newly-promoted Leeds. Instead, Howe opted to shift the entire formation to accommodate the loss of Joelinton, and it simply failed to produce much of anything.
Since the second leg against Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final last year, Howe has rolled out the 5-3-2/3-4-3 to varying degrees of success. For me, it’s a formation that works against the ‘bigger’ sides but should be binned off against the likes of Leeds and Everton, where it has been shown to be wholly ineffective.
There were many poor individual performances too (Elanga, Trippier, and Osula) but there isn’t much point in digging them out as there wasn’t much to shout about full stop (although I will comment on the midfield central midfield two below such is their usual quality). It was one of those games really where nothing works and to get out of there with a point is probably the second best outcome available.
**Liked: Sven Botman’s Return**
We all have fond memories of 2022/23; it was a hell of a ride, but one of my abiding memories was just how defensively sound United were. The joint best defence in the league, only conceding 33 goals, and only losing five league games all season. Sometimes throughout games we hardly even conceded a shot, let alone a goal, and Sven Botman was a huge part of it.
Starting the season out of the side, Botman soon forced his way in and was pretty much an ever-present playing in 36 out of 38 league games and played the entire League Cup run (only conceding two goals on the way to the final). His passing ability/timing in the tackle elevated the side, something we have been robbed of pretty much ever since.
Despite going off with a knock yesterday, Botman was one small bright spot from the game, looking defensively solid, showing a decent turn of pace, and reading the game well, making interceptions with an air of ease and confidence. (And the knock was confirmed afterwards to not be serious.)
I think Howe has got a huge decision to make. Dan Burn has been one of his stalwarts and has always stepped up, but is there an argument to be made that he is now standing in the way of the development (and the signing of a new contract: Botman only has two years left) of one of the best young centre-backs in Europe?
It’s a question that has been largely avoided until now, with Burn playing at left-back in 2022/23 and injury ruling Botman out for the majority of the last two seasons since then. But, in all honesty, it’s probably a question which gets naturally answered throughout this season with both Schär and Burn turning 34. But I’d still like to see Botman restored to one of the first names on the team sheet sooner rather than later.
**Didn’t Like: Bruno and Tonali in a ‘two’**
Whilst United were solid in the main, I didn’t like Bruno and Sandro Tonali’s performances in a ‘two’ in central midfield. They seemed to be really on top of each other and filling the same spaces. Bruno in particular was swarmed over by Leeds (Longstaff mainly), often losing possession, and Tonali looked slow, moving the ball at a snail’s pace (was he carrying more of an injury than was let on?) and they really seemed to struggle without the extra player or option to make a pass alongside them.
It’s a shame Jacob Ramsey went off with an injury because I would’ve liked to have seen the lad in the midfield three, as he was probably our best player in the first half. Lewis Miley was okay when he came on, but he was also slow and always chose the safe pass (but the lad has got to get game time to rediscover his form, and I’m just not sure he will get it here).
Thankfully, I don’t think Bruno and Tonali will be that poor again either this season, as it’s a rare event that they are both as poor as that on the same day.
**Liked: Nick Woltemade watching from the stands**
Positives were hard to come by on Saturday evening, but the new record signing, Nick Woltemade, sitting in the stands, secured, signed and delivered, was a brilliant moment. Having watched quite a bit of the U21’s Euros this summer, I was impressed by what I saw, and watching back his highlight reels, you can see the lad is an interesting prospect and has something about him— and as the German football media adage goes, ‘if Bayern want a German player, then he must be good.’
No matter what happens over the next 48 hrs in the transfer market, United have (at last) secured the much-needed attacking reinforcement (with hopefully more to come). Despite our feelings on Isak (and as the hours tick away, he looks more and more like he will be staying), we needed someone to come in up front as we all know where we have struggled so far this season.
Woltemade playing up front should see us be much less toothless as the season develops as the lad is as much a creator as he is a finisher with his ability to pick a pass and see passes other players just don’t see.
Luckily, we have a home game to welcome us back after the early season international break, and with players returning (and signed), I don’t see us being as poor as we were on Saturday again this season, and with only three games gone, there’s plenty of time to get plenty of points on the board.
Keep the faith. HWTL