Newcastle’s Midfield Challenges Persist: Here’s How They Can Address the Issue
The plastic sheeting trembled violently as a frustrated fist slammed against it. A stormy-faced Joelinton had just meandered around the arena’s outskirts, an evening’s effort seemingly ending in vain. He averted his gaze from everyone as he settled into his seat. Bang. Clenched fists crashed into the ceiling of the Newcastle United dugout.
However, Joelinton’s midfield counterpart, his close friend, and captain, Bruno Guimaraes, was about to change his outlook. With the clock nearing 90 minutes, Newcastle had one last opportunity. Guimaraes stood over the dead ball, chatted with Lewis Hall, and then looked toward Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall, seemingly seeking managerial approval.
But Guimaraes is far from timid. In a dramatic fashion—an adjective apt even for describing the Brazilian’s wake-up routine—he pointed to his chest with both hands. “Me,” he mouthed. Then he sent in a far-post cross from which Newcastle secured the point they rightfully earned in a frantic contest against Liverpool.
Newcastle need more control in the middle
For nearly three years, Joelinton and Guimaraes have patrolled Newcastle’s midfield together, yet they seldom function as a duo of No.8s. Instead, Bruno has frequently assumed the role of Howe’s makeshift No.6. While he might lack certain traditional attributes—such as recovery speed and tackling strength—his capability to navigate through tight spaces and pass his way out of hassle with ease has established him as Howe’s favored choice.
However, against Liverpool, as in the match against Crystal Palace last Saturday, Sandro Tonali separated the duo, pushing Guimaraes forward. And once again, Tonali illustrated exactly why Howe was enamored the moment he first laid eyes on him.
The Italian showcased his best performance yet for Newcastle, darting across the field like a Scalextric car. He won duels, consistently demanded the ball, and passed with precision and speed. Yet he also demonstrated the wisdom of holding onto the ball, taking a moment to compose himself.
Guimaraes relished his advanced position, threading several penetrating passes to Alexander Isak. He tallied two assists and even won his first coin toss of the season at St James’ Park. Joelinton, as always, bashed, pestered, and disrupted in his inimitable style.
As a cohesive unit, they outshone their competitors Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister, two of whom received yellow cards before halftime for lagging behind the pace set by Newcastle’s midfield.
This brings to light the midfield conundrum Howe has wrestled with all season—how to incorporate both Tonali and Guimaraes on the pitch simultaneously. However, a solution seems to have emerged.
“I understand the debate about the midfield,” Howe said with a smile during his post-match session with reporters. “It’s fascinating because we have three impressive players. From my perspective, with our midfield, we actually have six exceptional midfielders to choose from, and finding the right balance among them is quite a challenge due to their varying skill sets.”
The other three midfielders Howe mentions are Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Lewis Miley. While Miley, at just 18, is on the path to becoming a Premier League standout, there’s a trio among the six whose talent and technical proficiency demand selection. However, Howe hasn’t consistently opted for them.
“I’ve returned to [Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Tonali together] because I believe the three of them can function well together,” he added. “We’ve changed how it’s structured, and while there are strengths and weaknesses to this approach, we need to make the most out of these three outstanding players.”
Their best efforts on Wednesday posed a significant challenge for Liverpool, who had faced both Real Madrid and Manchester City in the previous week, leading to an increasingly exasperated presence on the touchline from Arne Slot. Initially a friendly figure, smiling and chummy with the fourth official, he became visibly unsettled when a late penalty was denied when the ball struck Dan Burn’s arm near his body, exclaiming “oh my God” in exasperation. It was clear Liverpool had encountered a formidable opponent.
History indicates that even during tougher times, Howe is unlikely to stray from his established methods. In other words, his 4-3-3 formation will remain unchanged. Appeals for a shift to a double pivot or some alternative arrangement will likely go unheard. He has discovered the means to make his desired midfield trio function effectively, but consistency from his players is now essential.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur have all visited Tyneside this season, yet none have emerged victorious. However, the source of Newcastle’s frustrations doesn’t lie in matches against teams vying for the top four. Howe requires his midfield trio to assert control in games where they are anticipated to dominate possession. Only by doing so can they aspire to return to European competition.
