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Here’s What Newcastle United Needs to Address

ByBryan Nelson|

There are multiple things that Newcastle United have done right. But even more so, they’ve done most of it wrong. The Premier League season is underway, and not only have Newcastle not yet won a game, but they’ve set themselves so far back that even winning won will not be enough to boost player or fan morale.

So, being the writer that I am. I came up with a few things that Newcastle United can work on to prepare for their next match. And hopefully, if they stumble upon this site, they’ll take into account what I write.

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Tighten Up The Defense

The defense right now is what has stopped Newcastle United from getting thrashed. Even then, the defense needs assistance. The midfield needs to begin dropping back and providing help to the centre-backs create almost a diamond.

This enables to give the centre-backs room to attack the front of the other team’s offense, while the midfield can drop back and essentially perform a flank. It’s not fool-proof, but it’s something different, and at this point, Newcastle United needs something different.

If Newcastle United isn’t going to sign any new defenders before the window closes — which has become quite obvious at this point — then they’re going to have to find other ways to play defensively. If they don’t manage to get defensive, then we’re in for an extremely rough season.

Boost That Offense

Newcastle United has firepower. The sad thing is that is hasn’t yet shown itself. Aleksandar Mitrovic is now sitting out a game due to his disciplinary issues. Papiss Cisse is likely going to be starting the next game. What Newcastle have to do is manage to create plays which an exploit the abilities of players like Mitrovic and Cisse.

These guys can score, but if the creativity isn’t there, goals will not be scored. Wijnaldum and Thauvin both are some of the most creative players that Newcastle has its disposal right now. Thauvin had a part in every single goal scored against Northampton Town. We had a chance to see his creativity.

Wijnaldum is an attacking midfielder, and he has the ability to jump up front in order to help the offense put some pressure on the opposing defense. But we’re not seeing it enough, and if he jumps up front, then someone needs to be prepared to drop back and do it quickly if the other team gets on the counter attack.

Ball Control/Possession

If I had a dollar for every percentage of possession the other team had the ball, I’d be a very wealthy man. That’s how bad Newcastle’s possession is. They always fail to hold onto the ball and they’re suffering because of it. The other team controls the tempo of the game because Newcastle Untied doesn’t have the ball long enough to do anything with it. It’s why they lack shots and corner kicks.

They need to play a possession based game. Practically keep away from the other team. They’ll be successful if they work on their passing game, and looking for offensive lanes and defensive gaps in the other team. I’m seeing a scattered Magpie squad, giving up the ball, and wasting opportunities. This needs to change if they have any hopes of winning crucial matches.

Take The Damn Shot

Their shot numbers are more abysmal than my high school grades. Newcastle United had only a single shot against Arsenal, and guess what, the shot was off target. We need to see Newcastle stop waiting for the right moment, and start making their own moments. When shot numbers go up, so do goal numbers. As soon as you see that opening, or opportunity, don’t waste it, take it.

If you have any other ideas on what Newcastle United should work on, let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.

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