MANCHESTER UNITED are set to visit high-flying Newcastle in one of their toughest tests of the season.
The Toon Army have shown no signs of letting up with two wins out of two since they lifted the Carabao Cup to win their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
Ruben Amorim will need to get his tactics right if United are to be successful at St James’ Park[/caption]
Alexander Isak headed home as Newcastle eased to a 2-0 win at Old Trafford[/caption]
And Ruben Amorim knows he will have to get his tactics spot on after being outwitted by Eddie Howe in a comfortable Newcastle win at Old Trafford back in December.
In the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our expert Dean Scoggins looks ahead to the big game…
TOON OF SPACE
NEWCASTLE are very, very brave in the press and will try to turn the game into a midfield battle which they are confident of winning.
Brazilian duo Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton will be asked to press high and ensure the majority of the game is played in the final Man Utd third.
But, unlike a lot of teams, the Magpies’ back four will continue to occupy deeper positions so as not to be beaten by a ball over the top.
This could leave up to 60 yards of space to be patrolled by Sandro Tonali alone, which is where Bruno Fernandes comes into the picture.
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton will press high for Newcastle[/caption]
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
IF Bruno Fernandes can occupy the space between the Newcastle midfield and defence, I don’t think the back four will follow him in.
They would rather risk having space in front than behind.
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You could then end up with a split defence with the two players on the left sticking back while those on the right come forward.
If that happens, there will be a little offside line for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho to exploit.
Bruno Fernandes should have plenty of space to operate in[/caption]
GARNA GO FOR IT
THERE has been a lot of talk about Man Utd dropping out-of-form Garnacho, but I can’t see it happening in this game.
Amad Diallo is still injured and they have nobody else with the pace Ruben Amorim is looking for.
And if United get things spot on, I can see Garnacho having a lot of success in this game.
It will be up to Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee to keep the Newcastle defenders occupied and, from there, the team will need to get the ball to Garnacho quickly.
If that happens, he will be able to do a lot of damage in a one-on-one battle with Kieran Trippier.
But if the build-up is slower and involves a lot of passes, Fabian Schar or Jacob Murphy will be able to quickly double up on Garnacho to cover 34-year-old Trippier.
Many are expecting Garnacho to be dropped, but I think he could turn his form around in this game[/caption]
FLICKING THE SWITCH
ONE card Newcastle could play is to switch the full-backs around, with Livramento a natural right-back and Trippier having played for England on the left.
This would allow the 22-year-old ex-Southampton star to deal with the pacey threat of Garnacho and Dorgu, and Trippier to use his experience to keep his eye on the crafty Fernandes and the more defensive-minded right-back Noussair Mazraoui.
It would also give Newcastle the chance to fire in-swinging crosses towards a Man Utd defence that has struggled in the air.
Kieran Trippier (above) could move to the left to allow Tino Livramento to deal with the threat of Garnacho[/caption]
HEADS, YOU WIN
NEWCASTLE eased to victory at Old Trafford with two early headers from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, so the Man Utd defence will have to be on its toes in the North East.
Though Harry Maguire is the best header of the ball in Ruben Amorim’s squad, I would like to see the Man Utd boss put Leny Yoro on dangerman Isak.
The Swedish striker will normally look to receive knockdowns rather than challenge in the air, and Man Utd should try to avoid Maguire being caught in a foot race with him the way Virgil van Dijk was at Wembley.
Therefore, I’d expect Maguire to play on either side of the back three and Yoro in the centre.
United will also be in with a much better chance of winning if Matthijs de Ligt is back to help Maguire deal with the aerial threat.
And during set pieces, they will need to try to keep a high line to give as much space as possible for Andre Onana to come out and command his area.
Harry Maguire will need to be at his best to combat Newcastle’s aerial threat[/caption]
