🚨 Big Newcastle wins in years gone by have been down to physicality...
EBL@EBL2017
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Sep 03, 2026
~7 min read
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🚨 Big Newcastle wins in years gone by have been down to physicality and defensive nous.
That was definitely present against Spurs, but Matthias Jaissle and his team controlled the game with AND without the ball.
It was a COMPLETE tactical MASTERCLASS! ⚫️⚪️
Full breakdown 👇
That was definitely present against Spurs, but Matthias Jaissle and his team controlled the game with AND without the ball.
It was a COMPLETE tactical MASTERCLASS! ⚫️⚪️
Full breakdown 👇
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Eddie Howe did a great job at Newcastle (bar last season), but one major criticism of his team was that Newcastle rarely built out from the back and exclusively played direct in the build-up.
This was definitely not the case vs Spurs and was a huge reason why Jaissle's team won.
This was definitely not the case vs Spurs and was a huge reason why Jaissle's team won.
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Spurs pressed man-to-man and Newcastle had two different solutions to bypass the press, both of which centred around using Horníček to attract pressure before deciding which option was optimal.
His calmness, poise, bravery, and technical quality was key to Newcastle's success.
His calmness, poise, bravery, and technical quality was key to Newcastle's success.
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First, Newcastle had the long option.
With Spurs pressing man-to-man, it makes sense to lure pressure on to create space high before playing direct into 1v1's in attack.
This is what Horníček judged well and it gave Newcastle some big opportunities in open spaces.
With Spurs pressing man-to-man, it makes sense to lure pressure on to create space high before playing direct into 1v1's in attack.
This is what Horníček judged well and it gave Newcastle some big opportunities in open spaces.
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But, like I said, Newcastle teams of yesteryear would have been overly reliant on this option.
Not this team.
Here, Horníček attracts pressure from Marmoush which means Thiaw becomes the spare man.
Willock (the situational #6 with Miley high) arrives to bounce the ball out to that spare man.
The calmness and poise of Horníček combined with the understanding of his teammates creates a 3v2 and Spurs find Thiaw.
Not this team.
Here, Horníček attracts pressure from Marmoush which means Thiaw becomes the spare man.
Willock (the situational #6 with Miley high) arrives to bounce the ball out to that spare man.
The calmness and poise of Horníček combined with the understanding of his teammates creates a 3v2 and Spurs find Thiaw.
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From here, Thiaw can step into the space ahead of him.
Seconds later, Spurs are defending at the edge of their own box as Newcastle sustain an attack high.
So, in less than 20 seconds, Newcastle have gone from their own box to Spurs' box.
THAT is a consequence of TOP coaching!
Seconds later, Spurs are defending at the edge of their own box as Newcastle sustain an attack high.
So, in less than 20 seconds, Newcastle have gone from their own box to Spurs' box.
THAT is a consequence of TOP coaching!
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Higher up the pitch, Newcastle were also immaculately drilled with the ball.
Spurs struggled to apply reliable pressure because of how unpredictable and dynamic Newcastle were.
This was down to the unique positioning of the fullbacks who constantly played high along with Miley + Gonzalez having the license to manage the build-up with the centre backs, thus creating either a 3-1 shape or a 2-2 shape (depending on where the midfield 2 were).
Spurs struggled to apply reliable pressure because of how unpredictable and dynamic Newcastle were.
This was down to the unique positioning of the fullbacks who constantly played high along with Miley + Gonzalez having the license to manage the build-up with the centre backs, thus creating either a 3-1 shape or a 2-2 shape (depending on where the midfield 2 were).
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You can see the collective intention below.
With the fullbacks high, Newcastle attacked with 6 bodies on the top line, all evenly spaced out with excellent positional play.
The idea is simple, yet extremely effective.
Centre backs + midfield 2 manage the build-up, fullbacks and wingers on different lines, #9 and #10 close together.
With the fullbacks high, Newcastle attacked with 6 bodies on the top line, all evenly spaced out with excellent positional play.
The idea is simple, yet extremely effective.
Centre backs + midfield 2 manage the build-up, fullbacks and wingers on different lines, #9 and #10 close together.
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What this gives Newcastle is plenty of options to hit between the lines because they have so many bodies high.
Oftentimes we see so many players positioned low that not only does it result in teams lacking bodies high, but it also results in the team blocking their own passing lanes.
Not Newcastle.
There were clear spaces to exploit.
Oftentimes we see so many players positioned low that not only does it result in teams lacking bodies high, but it also results in the team blocking their own passing lanes.
Not Newcastle.
There were clear spaces to exploit.
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Then, when the ball was advanced into these areas, the fullback and winger being on a different line of grass made it difficult for Spurs to defend.
Sometimes Dedić played high and inside, sometimes he was high and wide.
Either way, the diagonal positioning let him + Elanga combine effectively and consistently.
Sometimes Dedić played high and inside, sometimes he was high and wide.
Either way, the diagonal positioning let him + Elanga combine effectively and consistently.
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You can also see the benefits of the attacking idea in this moment.
As Lewis Hall drives forwards from the left, Elanga is positioned in between the fullback and the centre back instead of being stuck out wide and no goal threat.
Hall serves from deep, Elanga attacks the space.
The runs in behind were relentless which highlights the culture Jaissle is creating.
As Lewis Hall drives forwards from the left, Elanga is positioned in between the fullback and the centre back instead of being stuck out wide and no goal threat.
Hall serves from deep, Elanga attacks the space.
The runs in behind were relentless which highlights the culture Jaissle is creating.
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Now let's look at the goal as we see the team in their collective entirety.
Miley + Gonzalez managing the build-up, fullbacks and wingers on different lines, #9 and #10 close together.
Spurs lack pressure on the ball, Gonzalez finds Dedić beyond, he finds Elanga on a different line, GOAL…
It's a simple concept, but the winger and fullback are always working off the back of each other.
When one is wide, the other is inside.
When one is showing to feet, the other runs in behind.
Those double movements are VERY difficult to defend.
Miley + Gonzalez managing the build-up, fullbacks and wingers on different lines, #9 and #10 close together.
Spurs lack pressure on the ball, Gonzalez finds Dedić beyond, he finds Elanga on a different line, GOAL…
It's a simple concept, but the winger and fullback are always working off the back of each other.
When one is wide, the other is inside.
When one is showing to feet, the other runs in behind.
Those double movements are VERY difficult to defend.
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To play with 6 players on the top line you need a very special midfield, though, because you essentially leave 2 players to manage it.
But when your midfield is Lewis Miley + Nico Gonzalez, that duo is amongst the best in the league with AND without the ball.
They are both exceptional and complement each other VERY well!
But when your midfield is Lewis Miley + Nico Gonzalez, that duo is amongst the best in the league with AND without the ball.
They are both exceptional and complement each other VERY well!
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But, like I said above, Newcastle were COMPLETE tactically, so we must assess their defensive approach.
Towards the end of Eddie Howe's tenure, Newcastle were too reliant on man-to-man defending.
Jaissle strikes the perfect balance philosophically as he combines man-to-man defending with a zonal approach.
Towards the end of Eddie Howe's tenure, Newcastle were too reliant on man-to-man defending.
Jaissle strikes the perfect balance philosophically as he combines man-to-man defending with a zonal approach.
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We see that here as Spurs have a 5v3 in the build-up (Kinsky included) with Nico Gonzalez positioned half way between Marmoush and Tonali.
Miley and Wissa lock on to Bentancur + van Hecke because Jaissle wants to force Spurs to their left and Newcastle's right.
Why?
van de Ven is worse on the ball than van Hecke.
Miley and Wissa lock on to Bentancur + van Hecke because Jaissle wants to force Spurs to their left and Newcastle's right.
Why?
van de Ven is worse on the ball than van Hecke.
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When play is forced to Newcastle's right, Willock releases from the line of Tonali in the #6 which then creates a decision for Newcastle's support cast.
If Thiaw jumps to Marmoush, Gonzalez can release and press Tonali.
But that's a risk as it leaves a 1v1 in the defensive line.
Gonzalez stays to screen, Miley splits the #6's to press the ball-side #6, and Wissa digs back in to manage Bentancur.
Newcastle trap Spurs on this side of the pitch and because their far-side defenders dug inside defensively, there are now diagonal options in transition in open spaces close to the opposition's goal (a key hallmark of the Red Bull identity is to play diagonal passes on the turnover).
If Thiaw jumps to Marmoush, Gonzalez can release and press Tonali.
But that's a risk as it leaves a 1v1 in the defensive line.
Gonzalez stays to screen, Miley splits the #6's to press the ball-side #6, and Wissa digs back in to manage Bentancur.
Newcastle trap Spurs on this side of the pitch and because their far-side defenders dug inside defensively, there are now diagonal options in transition in open spaces close to the opposition's goal (a key hallmark of the Red Bull identity is to play diagonal passes on the turnover).
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However, as is the case with any defensive idea, sometimes it can be exploited.
We see that here as Miley sticks with Bentancur, Wissa comes across to manage Tonali, and Spurs can switch around to the spare man in van Hecke because Newcastle lack pressure on the ball and they have over-covered in midfield.
Miley was a little too glued to Bentancur throughout the game which did see Newcastle lack pressure on the ball AT TIMES, but ultimately their pressing and defensive play was excellent outside of this issue.
We see that here as Miley sticks with Bentancur, Wissa comes across to manage Tonali, and Spurs can switch around to the spare man in van Hecke because Newcastle lack pressure on the ball and they have over-covered in midfield.
Miley was a little too glued to Bentancur throughout the game which did see Newcastle lack pressure on the ball AT TIMES, but ultimately their pressing and defensive play was excellent outside of this issue.
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The most positive thing about the Jaissle defensive approach in comparison to the Howe defensive approach is how the team defended zonally in the mid and low block but tried to transition into a man-to-man press where suitable high.
Here we see the front 2 manage Spurs' centre backs and #6 in a standard way.
Spurs pass backwards and you can see Nico Gonzalez check his shoulder to ensure the centre backs are backing up the press behind him so that he can release to lock onto Tonali.
They back up the press and Newcastle go from a zonal press into a man-to-man one.
Synergy!
Here we see the front 2 manage Spurs' centre backs and #6 in a standard way.
Spurs pass backwards and you can see Nico Gonzalez check his shoulder to ensure the centre backs are backing up the press behind him so that he can release to lock onto Tonali.
They back up the press and Newcastle go from a zonal press into a man-to-man one.
Synergy!
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When Newcastle didn't have pressure on the ball, they defended in an incredibly tight, compact, and well-drilled 4-4-2.
Look at the distances from back to front here.
There was no space for Spurs to exploit.
Plus, any time the ball entered the block, Newcastle's intensity was FEROCIOUS!
Look at the distances from back to front here.
There was no space for Spurs to exploit.
Plus, any time the ball entered the block, Newcastle's intensity was FEROCIOUS!
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Spurs attack with wide triangles as they use their #8, fullback, and winger to rotate positionally.
Against a man-to-man defensive scheme, this can cause all sorts of problems when the fullback, for example, plays high with a #10 low.
This can often drag a winger back behind the defensive midfielder which creates imbalance.
But Newcastle defended zonally and communicated to manage those rotations. Here, Hall marks the winger, Miley tracks the runner from the fullback after him and Barnes communicate well, and Barnes stays high to press the #8 who is low.
Against a man-to-man defensive scheme, this can cause all sorts of problems when the fullback, for example, plays high with a #10 low.
This can often drag a winger back behind the defensive midfielder which creates imbalance.
But Newcastle defended zonally and communicated to manage those rotations. Here, Hall marks the winger, Miley tracks the runner from the fullback after him and Barnes communicate well, and Barnes stays high to press the #8 who is low.
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The Matthias Jaissle game-plan was nothing short of incredible.
Newcastle had two exceptional build-up solutions, a very balanced, dynamic and brave attacking idea, AND a team which pressed man-to-man, zonally, transitioned from a mid-block into a high press, and defended the edge of their box well.
Newcastle had two exceptional build-up solutions, a very balanced, dynamic and brave attacking idea, AND a team which pressed man-to-man, zonally, transitioned from a mid-block into a high press, and defended the edge of their box well.
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Talk of Newcastle and relegation has already proven to be extremely premature.
Horníček has been started very well in every regard, Dedić is relentless, the centre backs are beast, Lewis Hall is special, the midfield two are up there with the best in the league, and the attack are starting to find their feet with some exciting young players sprinkled across the squad.
But the man that has everyone excited is Matthias Jaissle, and rightly so… he is infectious in every sense!
He looks to be a very exciting manager ⚫️⚪️
Horníček has been started very well in every regard, Dedić is relentless, the centre backs are beast, Lewis Hall is special, the midfield two are up there with the best in the league, and the attack are starting to find their feet with some exciting young players sprinkled across the squad.
But the man that has everyone excited is Matthias Jaissle, and rightly so… he is infectious in every sense!
He looks to be a very exciting manager ⚫️⚪️
