How Newcastle exposed Kyle Walker
Words on Eddie Howe's plan and execution in exposing Manchester City's RB
The game between Newcastle and Man City was a spectacle from a neutral stance with Newcastle showing how well they can compete with the top sides in the division.
From an analytical point of view, one particular point stood out: How much Kyle Walker struggled throughout the match. In this analysis, I delve into the reasons why.
The man to man approach
The first bit of action seen on Walker was the first City goal inside five minutes. I picked up the action where Walker’s run from deep was developing below. The important opposition player to note is Joelinton:
The reasoning behind keeping an eye on Joelinton is explained further later on in this piece, but in short, he was the man deployed by Howe to virtually man-mark all-game. The separation between the two above, causes havoc to Newcastle’s backline.
However, among the developing attack in front of Joelinton, he tracks Walker’s run:
This, however, opens up space inside for Bernardo Silva to get his head up and pick out Gundogan for the opening goal:
Full move:
As shown above, Joelinton going man for man with Walker did in part lead to the goal Newcastle conceded but Howe didn’t change approach, as seen below.
Howe deployed a high press which had a man for man orientated approach. Bruno G seen with Rodri and Joelinton seen with Walker. The main idea being stunting Man City’s build-up through central zones.
Walker in City’s 235
City’s 235 shape in possession is seen below. The intentional approach of more bodies centrally helps territorial control with more passing options inside from out wide but is also in place to help City defend transitions:
City commonly invert in possession and while this leads to central control primarily, when scenarios like below happen, it shows the flaws of his approach. Below, City’s inverted FBs are ruthlessly exposed. Newcastle turn over the ball high in City’s half:
And because of the nature of the inversions at fullback, as the fullbacks drop to the CB line, Saint-Maximin can pick up a wider position and expose City down the sides:
The exact same scenario plays out 20 seconds later. As Cancelo clears the ball up-field, Walker is advancing inside to occupy his natural inverted position:
But Newcastle win the ball Cancelo plays out. This leads to a pass inside to Wilson with his back to goal. The important point to notice here is Walker’s positioning — in “no man’s land”. He is neither affecting the man on the ball (Wilson) nor the man who is set to receive the ball (Joelinton).
This leads to Newcastle manoevring the ball out wide to Saint-Maximin whose cutback to Almiron is hit over the goal.
The consequence of playing as a FB in a Guardiola 235, is the narrowness at which the FB is playing. In this analysis, Walker playing inverted means that the outside ball around the side to the flanks is always on in transition for an opposition team (highlighted in white):
In the scenario below Walker is inverted, once again, but picked up by Joelinton — this man for man marking approach was a constant theme throughout the game. Another player to take note of is Saint-Maximin — who is playing on the outside of Walker:
Newcastle turn the ball over and causes problems for City: in particular for Walker. Saint-Maximin’s anticipation of the move, allows him territory ahead of Walker and due to the forwards burst of pace, Walker can’t catch up. The move results in Saint-Maximin forcing Ederson into a save:
Full move:
These actions led to a more passive and pragmatic approach from Walker thereon in. An example to highlight this is shown below. As Willock advances, Walker backs off to get a bit closer to Saint-Maximin when he receives the ball:
But Newcastle exploit this as well, and exploit Walker’s tentativeness when defending with Willock continuing his advancements on the outside:
Duality of Joelinton/Saint-Maximin
Throughout the game, Joelinton and Saint-Maximin worked in tandem with one another and this led to the exposure of Walker in many situations.
In the scenario below, a City high press leads to a long ball being played by Schar to Joelinton up-field. This long pass is challenged by Walker:
The duality point comes across here. While Joelinton challenges Walker for the ball, Saint-Maximum stays very wide to receive a flick-on in the duel or if the ball passes straight over Walker/Joelinton.
The ball is flicked on by Walker, but reaches Saint-Maximin who utilises his burst of pace and acceleration to run at an uncomfortable Stones who has two decisions to make: back off and off or foul early and take a yellow:
Full move:
The duality point comes to the forth here again. You can see the positioning of Joelinton who is ready to press Walker should be receive the short pass and Saint-Maximin’s positioning means that the ball along the ground to the City playing occupying the flank is cut off too:
The trap laid by Joelinton and Saint-Maximin is successful as Joelinton poaches the ball ahead of Walker:
This piece of analysis was a mere snippet on the tactical showcase both Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola put on, on Sunday.
We have seen from time to time how Walker has been exploited defensively, but this game in particular widened the scope on ways teams could look at challenged City down the left side of the pitch.
With an unnatural FB on the opposite side in Cancelo, this approach from Howe can be taken and tailored in ways that teams could adopt a blueprint to attack both City FBs which could be the path to victory.
— H23Football