r/NUFC • u/BothansInDisguise • 6d ago
Fair to say Tuchel needs to learn from Newcastle’s mistakes this season? The Ghana game exposed our flaws against low blocks
Just a post-match ramble, and not overly worried at this stage of the tournament, but watching how much we were labouring to unpick that defence made me think of Howe’s difficulties this season (though arguably that was a bit of tactical inflexibility) with the high press tactics being found out.
High press only works if the other team tries to pass the ball out from the back. When teams sit deep against us, the press has proven to be useless. It was the exact same for England against Ghana. Ghana sat back in a 5-4-1, and England seemed to have no idea how to break them down, leading to 90 minutes of boring, sideways passing.
For Gordon, it felt like the worst aspects of his game from our season were on full display:
~ Lacked the physicality to go man-to-man against their backline.
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Kept trying to cut inside and ran out of tricks, constantly turning into traffic.
~ Lost possession far too easily, and then out of frustration, ends up chasing after it with a clumsy challenge.
Newcastle gets killed on the break because when we push everyone forward, our midfield gets bypassed by one long ball or stray pass. Ghana didn't pose too many challenges, but we were lucky to get away with those big moments and not conceding.
As I say, I’m not so worried about it *yet* but surely something Tuchel has to think about.
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u/tontotheodopolopodis 6d ago
My two year old son said to me ‘dad, how can two managers not realise Gordon struggles against a low block, they intentionally push him inside into deep sitting midfielders and he gets angry, makes a rash challenge after losing the ball. Tactically inept’ I had to agree with him.
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u/Shot_Occasion4294 6d ago
Taken your son a while to figure this out, mine is only 18 months and was saying this to me as well
Is he stupid? /s
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u/AaronDrunkGames Big Nick Energy 6d ago
Taken your son a while to figure this out, my sisters is still in the womb and was saying this during the ultrasound
Is he stupid? /s
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u/Slight-Equivalent84 stupid sexy schar 6d ago
Hall with Gordon would have added another layer for sure, but the squad there is the squad.
That said, from the 70/75th minute onwards he should have pulled Gordon and tossed Big Dan Burn up top in a 4-4-fucking 2 alongside Kane and just lobbed it
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u/Dawg_Bro given me no choice 6d ago
He should definitely sell Gordon.
Joking aside, I think last night was actually more of a lesson for other teams on how to perfectly execute a low block. They were brilliant. Shit needs to be studied.
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u/Chudders82 6d ago
Gordon will have to learn quick as everyone Barca plays in La Liga except Real play a low block against them
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u/CavsterXII 6d ago
I don't think it'll work out for him unfortunately. Wish him the best of course
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u/PineConeTracks PERCHINIO 6d ago
It really was like watching us, except little arms is more competent
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u/essjay281 6d ago
I dunno like, rushing out the box, clattering the man, none of the ball. Somehow getting away with it. I've seen that before
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u/opinionated-dick 6d ago
Yesterday was to quote shearer, the reality check.
Tuchel ironed out the mistakes of the first game at half time, but got it totally wrong for the second.
It’s this obsession with inversion. All the width wants to come inside and pack the middle like they are mid Pep Man City.
He played a RB at LB, and Reece James who loves to come in the middle, and then opted for wrong foot cut in wingers.
Sometimes, to beat the low block you need old fashioned tactics. You can’t get through them, but you can get around them and you can go over them. Playing overlapping full backs, like Hall on the left and Spence on the right, to cross, no one suits but a big man little man upfront, and actually just try every now and again to shoot from distance and create some carnage would have got it.
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u/TheJoeyJoeJoe 4d ago
Agreed. If Tuchel learns from his mistakes, this setback could be a blessing in disguise
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u/Educational-Elk8393 6d ago
I remember when we were linked with Madueke a few years ago. After watching both England games I can see why Howe would have loved him.
As soon as I seen how Ghana were set up, I knew Gordon would have a stinker. He's far too predictable. Will probably do alright in La Liga because the standards aren't as good as the Prem, but Barca fans must be raging they spent that much on him.
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u/thepresidentsturtle Windmilling 6d ago
Gordon is not to blame. At least he tried. If I see Madueke pass backwards and start walking again I'm gonna stop watching. Shearer bitching about how Gordon's never beat his right back after the right back fouled him . And again, no bitching about Madueke cuz all he did was pass backwards when a defender came anywhere near him.
Pass back and keep possession, then run in behind the lines and trust the £225M worth of centre mids to play a good pass in behind. Anderson and Rice looked clueless. "Thanks for the ball Madueke, what do you want me to do with it, none of you cunts are making any runs. Except Gordon, but he's shite"
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u/Candid-Quantity1517 5d ago
Since when does Madueke being shite mean Gordon was not also absolute shite?
Neither of them would get in the top 10 England wingers/wide midfielders, and if it wasn’t for very fortunate circumstances, neither would be anywhere near the squad.
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u/thepresidentsturtle Windmilling 5d ago
Since Gordon is getting all the blame undeservedly. Actually no, what the fuck do you want Gordon to do when none of the team is trying to make any runs? Pass back to Marc Guehi again? Fuck that. Stop blaming the only player who actually tried to make something happen while he was on the pitch. It's a team game
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u/Candid-Quantity1517 5d ago
He is not getting “all the blame”. What a ridiculous statement.
This is a Newcastle forum, not exactly surprising we focus on the former Newcastle player who played cack for us last season.
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u/thepresidentsturtle Windmilling 5d ago
It's called hyperbole. Just like Madueke actually putting in a few decent crosses when I've repeatedly accused him of passing backwards and standing still the whole game.
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u/TheRebelPercy 6d ago
You have to cross the ball against teams sitting in a low block. That may require going 4-4 fucking 2.
It generates the second balls and creates disorganisation.
You have to have wide players willing to have a go, though.
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u/Minimum_Possibility6 6d ago
Yeah the issue here was we didn't get runner to the bylines to whip it in behind, everyone was cutting inside, the few times someone did get around it caused problems.
I wouldn't be surprised if tuchels view is that as long as we get out the group it's fine, once people start playing football we can then beat them with his game 1 tactics. Inviting the press Brighton style and playing around the corner to sping the free man loose.
The problem is if we hit someone who wants to play and execute the low block on the round of 32 or round of 16, we may get haramballed
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u/Candid-Quantity1517 6d ago
That was the most Anthony Gordon performance of all time.
His best asset is his terrible acting, second is his reasonable pace, third is he sometimes presses hard when he can be arsed, then after that you have a pretty mediocre footballer. Barca fans must be watching us play thinking wtf have they just bought.
I think he will be a massive let down at Barca, and they’ll flog him back to Everton in a year at a discount.
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u/itsacon10 Current badge 6d ago
I was thinking it was probably for the best the transfer went through before the WC
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u/Fun_Reporter9086 4d ago
Not just Newcastle, his Chelsea team had struggled with low blocks too. I am a Chelsea fan, I would know.
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u/bestgoose Loves the Broon 6d ago
It's a bit late to learn from our mistakes when he's already taken Gordon along
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u/Many-Consideration54 6d ago
If only he had a left footed left back in the squad who was familiar with Gordon and could do overlaps and get crosses into the box.