Our best central midfield pairing?

Saw this cracking article analysing the options.

http://www.eplindex.com/35034/central-midfield-combination-newcastle-united.html

With the increasing number of teams playing with formations that include a three man central midfield, whether it’d be 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 or even a false 9, it is near impossible to play the 4-4-2 formation, which served Newcastle well in the first part of the 2011/12 season. During that season, an inform Tiote and Cabaye built a formidable partnership and were able to control games against other teams who played two in central midfield, for example our away game versus Aston Villa. However, up against a three man central midfield, whenever Tiote and Cabaye were on the ball, they were either quickly closed down or their passing options would be closed down. Whenever they did not have possession, they would be chasing shadows being outnumbered and Newcastle would lose the impetus to control the game. Our opening game last season against Spurs was a perfect example. Newcastle started with 4-4-2, but Pardew changed it to a 4-3-3 at half time after a poor first half performance. The second half saw more possession for Newcastle and the tactic to change formation helped to win the game 2-1.

The recent sale of utility man James Perch and the impending departure of non-utility man, Dan Gosling, it leaves five central midfielders fighting for the three central midfield berths; Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Moussa Sissoko, Gael Bigirimana and Vernon Anita. It could even be six, if you include Jonas Gutierrez, who has filled the defensive midfield position on a number of occasions. Using the EPL Index Stats Centre, we can see what strengths and weaknesses, each player brings.

Defending

In a recent interview, Sissoko stated that his preferred role was in defensive midfield, but looking at his ground and aerial 50-50s, his statistics look poor. Sissoko won 39% of his ground duels last season and despite his 6’2 frame, he only won 35% of his aerial duels. Perhaps, this is an unfair criticism being his first season in a more competitive league compared to Ligue 1 – only time will tell. Unsurprisingly, Cabaye and Anita also lose out on the majority of their aerial battles due to their lack of height. One popular criticism of Vernon Anita, is that with his slight frame, whether he can impose himself in a midfield battle – although arguably this hasn’t stopped Jack Wilshere being influential in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.

19 year old Gael Bigirimana fairs well in this section – winning 4 out of every 5 tackles he makes and also performing well in ground and aerial 50-50s. An encouraging start to his career at Newcastle United. It was disappointing to see that he got very few minutes at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup, even though he’s had more experience in the Premiership and the Europa League last season than the rest of his midfield squad members put together.

I think it’s a general consensus amongst Newcastle supporters that Tiote hasn’t been performing to the high standards that he set on his debut season, which brought rumours of Chelsea and Manchester United forming bids of excess of £20 million for the Ivorian. Despite being a stop-start season with disruptions due to international duty and injuries, some of his defending statistics look good – 75% tackling success and the most interceptions of the group, even though he’s played less minutes than Cabaye and Gutierrez. However, the four defensive errors last season epitomises his form last season. He can perform well one minute, but with a lapse of concentration in the next, the mistake could prove to be costly.

The possession table below emphasises the type of season that Tiote had. He won more possessions in the defensive and midfield third than Cabaye and Gutierrez, who played more minutes than Tiote; a minutes per possession won rate of 10 minutes and yet his dispossession rate is high in relation to the minutes played on the pitch. Vernon Anita, playing roughly the same amount of time as Tiote, was only dispossessed 16 times compared to Tiote’s 40. If Tiote can regain his confidence and concentration for the forthcoming season, an area that Pardew will have to address, it will help Newcastle in improving on their torrid performance last season.

Passing

Looking at the passing statistics, Bigirimana completion rates look very promising. He plays less of his passes forward, opting to choose to play it either side. Playing as a defensive midfielder, this could be viewed a positive by keeping it simple and keeping the ball ticking over. It also allows other more attacking players to do their business and lets the defensive midfielder to continue to keep the shape of the team and protect the defence – more renowned as the ‘Makelele role’ or the ‘water-carrier’ as Eric Cantona once called Didier Deschamps. But that’s not to say, Bigirimana isn’t able to pick out an attacking pass. His passing zone statistics show that he has a greater success rate of passes in the attacking zone (82%) and in the final third (78%) compared to the others.

Cabaye’s passing statistics look disappointing and below the standards that is expected of the French international. He has one of the lowest pass completion rates compared to his teammates (80%) and this decreases further when corner kicks and free kicks are taken into account. A 7% drop confirms Cabaye’s poor distribution that frustrated supporters have witnessed from free kicks and especially from corners. Again, his attacking (63%) and final third phase passes (60%) look poor, but this will be affected by the set-piece issues.

Similarly to the point made earlier, Sissoko’s passing rate in the defensive zone (87%) is the lowest from the group – another reason to discount him playing a defensive midfielder role next season? Further upfront, his statistics look better – only second best to Bigirimana with passes made in the final third (72%).

Creativity

With this in mind and only two assists all season, is this a fault of the player, the lack of options to upfront to aim for or match tactics – or perhaps a bit of all three? One redeeming point is that Cabaye had created 9 clear cut chances last season, which could have brought more assists if all were finished.

On a side note, Gutierrez’s statistics are incredibly poor for a player who has played on the wing for the majority of the season. The much maligned pair, Stewart Downing and James Milner created more chances that Gutierrez has.

Goal Attempts

With six goals last season, five from open play and one penalty, Cabaye tops the list from the group. Evidently he has played twice as many minutes as January signing, Moussa Sissoko, but looking at analysis per minute, their statistics are quite similar. Where before Sissoko seemed lacking in defensive duties, he looks better offensively. Along with Cabaye, he has finished his two clear cut chances and has an overall similar chance conversion rate to Cabaye. On the other hand, Vernon Anita has missed both of his clear cut chances, but has scored for Newcastle when he a scored a sweet volley with the outside of his boot against Brugge in the Europa League. From a similar position, Bigirimana scored his first goal in a Newcastle shirt against Wigan.

Conclusion

Assuming that Pardew does opt to play with a three man central midfield, it would be nice to see a formation and more importantly, tactics that help the team as a whole. In a private meeting with fans last year, Pardew stated ‘if you control the midfield, you control the game’. With this in mind, why have been hoofing the ball from back to front? On average last season, Newcastle played the most long balls per game.

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

Their ideal line up....

please log in to view this image

 

Doesn't look too bad at all. Just need to sign some competition for Cisse and someone who can challenge Gouff and cover HBA when he gets injured. And probably a Cabaye replacement when he sods off to PSG/Monaco.

I'm looking forward to seeing a fully fit Ben Arfa again at last, and what Sissoko, Gouffran, Mbiwa and Debuchy are like with 6 months experience, a full pre-season and playing without the pressure of a relegation battle. Hopefully Pardew can get the team playing the fast, flowing football that the players are individually capable of.

Oh, and hopefully he tells Tiote to cut out the nonsense and stick to what he does best - breaking up opposition attacks and passing the ball out quickly to someone who knows what to do with it. No trying to burst forward in possession , no attempted hollywood passes straight to the opposition, no dwelling on the ball.

 

Missing a critical name......
Jonas the everpresent

 

Jonas the ever ready.

 

3-4-2-1.

........Saylor..Colo..Mym......
Debuchy.............................Santon
.............Sissoko...Tiote.........
.......Cabaye.................Benny....
......................Cisse.......................

 

Debuchy and Santon would love that formation. Think it would play to Cabaye and HBA strengths too. It's another good option

 

This

 

I like that team save Tiote, I just find the guy too reckless and a liability quite frankly.

 

assuming all of the above improve and/or return to some kind of form that team is good enough for a top 8 finish.
It's all about if's and but's though.

 

This for me but I'd want better quality than The Gouf preferably.

 

I think Gouff might prove himself to be a valuable player for us next season but it would be good to get another option for that position. Gouff would make excellent cover for the left or the right and might be a dangerous sub, coming on with his pace whilst opposition legs are getting tired.

 

See my problem with OUR 4-3-3 is that we don't have the quality to keep the ball up the field. Cisse's not reliable, Gouffran doesn't add too much, and we're often left a bit short.

I hark back to our best season, when although we would tinker with the tactics, we'd still usually play a 4-5-1 counter attacking formation. Many of our breaks would be at pace up the field. I still believe that's not a bad way to go, but think we'd do well to line up with 3 and sometimes 5 at the back. Last season we were woefully exposed defensively and I don't think ONE DM cuts it anymore, not when you've now got at least one if not two players "in the hole". The formation above has literally 5 players far forward, with the full backs attacking as well. I just don't see it, outside of a game of FIFA.

MYM is one of the most highly regarded CB's in Europe, Colo is top-4 quality and Steven Taylor's....ok. I don't see why the three can't play together. If we're also after a 4th choice, plus Streete/Good in reserve then it stands to reason we should be playing them all - particularly when you consider in my formation above the 'victim' is Gouffran, easily the weakest link in that team (assuming Tiote works out how to play again). Sissoko is also a DM/Box to box midfielder, he's not as effective up top, or in the hole, or out wide. He's better as a foil for a true destroyer, as he can beat a man and carry the ball at pace. I also don't subscribe to the stats above - many of Sissoko's challenges will have been happening against CB's and not other midfielders, a battle he has every right to lost most of the time. If we deploy him further back and free up Cabaye to roam, then he'd win quite a significant number of headers. Sissoko vs Oscar/Mata/Rooney and so on, stats would be a little different. I also think our two finest footballing brains, Cabaye and Ben Arfa, should be working in tandem. Pardew needs to get his head out of his ar$e when it comes to getting players to be more "rounded". He fcked around with Tiote too much, stifled Ben Arfa, stifled Cabaye. He needs to play quite large defensive contingent so that the like of Benny and Yohan don't have to sit back, cover, track, etc. By employing 3 CB's and allowing Santon/Debuchy the wing, it nullifies the need for "wingers. I loathe wingers anyway - we have NO-ONE in the box to benefit, so why the fck we play them is beyond me. Added bonus is that Santon and Debuchy are fit enough to do these jobs, plus both will have slight defensive tendencies, rather than playing, say, Jonas or Ben Arfa out wide which leaves you exposed. Jonas then has an important sqaud job to do, as a sub for that left hand side. Able he would be as well, as he likes to track back. And I reckon Anita would be quite an asset at RWB too - good engine, good hit, good tackle, could work well for him, though he could replace Tiote or Sissoko, or even Cabaye, so useful to have. Bigi covers as well at DM, then up top we could go to 2 strikers and one "No10" with either Cabs or Benny dropping down (assuming we buy one), Campbell could get some runs out up top as well.

If we don't at least LOOK LIKE we're trying this (or a similar, clear) formation I'll be staggered and utterly disappointed. Appreciate it's only pre-season, but I'll still be watching for Alan "Utility" Pardew playing the right players in the right position.

 

I will discuss this when all the top players are sold

 

We haven't really been playing with a pair of centerbacks recently though.

We've been playing 4-2-3-1.

If we're going to switch back to 4-4-2 with a player up front with Cisse, then it would be in our best interest it get Cabaye and Tiote playing like these used to.

But right now, If we were to play 4-4-2 in the first game of the season, I'd play Cabaye and Sissoko. Both CM's can go forward and defend.