Newcastle Away: Space for Villa to Exploit

Newcastle's defensive problems offer Aston Villa an opportunity to build on their emphatic European victory. But with Joelinton potentially returning, dangerous wide players and a demanding turnaround from Wednesday, Unai Emery faces some interesting choices over how much of his emerging attacking combination to retain.

By Nico Valenti

Newcastle's 4–1 defeat at Coventry contained an extraordinary contrast. They enjoyed 67% possession, attempted 19 shots and spent considerable periods around the Coventry penalty area, yet still conceded four goals. Frank Lampard's side did not need prolonged possession to hurt them. They found opportunities at crucial moments, took them ruthlessly and left Matthias Jaissle contemplating another damaging result.

There was some misfortune in the scoreline. Newcastle might easily have equalised before half-time when Nico González released Matias Fernandez-Pardo behind the defence. The winger rounded Carl Rushworth and appeared certain to score, only for Bobby Thomas to recover and block his effort on the line. Earlier, Harvey Barnes had delivered a dangerous cross towards Jacob Murphy at the far post, whose header back across goal required another intervention from Thomas. Newcastle were creating opportunities; the finishing and the defensive mistakes at the opposite end gave the afternoon a very different complexion.

For Villa, there is encouragement in those weaknesses, particularly after the fluidity of Wednesday's 6–0 victory over Fenerbahçe. But the temptation to approach St James' Park expecting another open, generous defence needs resisting. Newcastle remain unbeaten at home in the league, and Jaissle will surely have spent much of the week addressing the spaces that Coventry and Leeds exploited so effectively.

The risk in Newcastle's ambition

Jaissle has built much of Newcastle's football around an aggressive 4-2-3-1, with Nico González performing an important role in the first phase. The Spaniard will sometimes drop between Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw, creating a temporary back three and allowing the full-backs to move higher. Joe Willock can then advance towards the striker, while the wide players narrow to attack the spaces between opposition defenders.

Their left side has been particularly productive. 42.4% of Newcastle's attacking actions have come down that flank, with Lewis Hall, Harvey Barnes and Willock developing a useful understanding. Against Hull, Barnes supplied both goals, first finding Willock and later Hall, whose advanced position demonstrated just how much attacking freedom Jaissle gives his full-backs.

That makes Villa's right side an important part of Saturday's contest. Cash is likely to spend considerable time managing Hall's movement beyond Barnes, while McGinn's positional awareness could be valuable in preventing the two from isolating him. Barnes has six goals and four assists in 13 Premier League appearances against Villa, and his tendency to drift infield leaves Hall with space to advance outside him.

Villa will need to recognise when to follow those movements and when to hold their defensive line. If Cash is drawn towards Hall too early, Barnes can receive inside; if McGinn follows Barnes without sufficient communication, Newcastle may find room to play through midfield. The partnership between Cash and McGinn has looked increasingly comfortable, but Saturday should provide a more demanding examination of its defensive side than Fenerbahçe managed.

The same movements that make Newcastle dangerous also create opportunities for their opponents. When González drops deep and both full-backs advance, the spaces immediately outside the centre-backs can become difficult to protect. The first challenge after Newcastle lose possession is therefore crucial. If opponents escape that pressure, Botman and Thiaw can find themselves defending towards their own goal with relatively little cover.

Coventry demonstrated the danger late in Monday's match. Joelinton, returning from injury, lost possession near the edge of his own penalty area and Ellis Simms punished the mistake almost immediately. The fourth goal came from Stephen Mfuni carrying into the box and finishing superbly, another example of Newcastle struggling to contain a player attacking the defensive line with momentum.

Leeds had exposed similar difficulties several weeks earlier, pressing Newcastle aggressively, winning second balls and attacking before their midfield could recover. The eight goals conceded across those two away games point towards a recurring weakness in the moments when Newcastle's attacking structure has to become a defensive one.

There is an obvious opportunity for Jackson and Manzambi in those spaces.

At Villa Park on Wednesday, Kamara's recovery around the half-hour allowed Jackson to attack Fenerbahçe before their defenders had recovered their positions. Minutes earlier, Manzambi had received centrally, turned and released Mbaye towards the left. Those passages showed how quickly Villa can now progress when the first action after a regain is positive.

Against Newcastle, Jackson's movement across the centre-backs could be particularly valuable. If Hall has advanced, Botman may have to decide whether to follow Jackson into the channel or leave space for Manzambi to move through centrally. Villa's attacking players have begun recognising those movements much earlier, and a single successful recovery from Kamara or Gomes could present Newcastle with precisely the problem they have struggled to solve.

The midfield could be a very different contest

Newcastle's possible recall of Joelinton complicates the picture. Jaissle indicated on Thursday that the Brazilian has completed enough training to be considered for his first start of the season, while Dan Burn is less likely to begin after his own lengthy absence. Elanga, Livramento and Jacob Ramsey remain unavailable, with Bazoumana Touré recovering from the knock sustained at Coventry.

Joelinton gives Newcastle a physical presence that has been missing from their midfield. His ability to contest possession, pressure opponents receiving with their backs to goal and carry the ball through contact would make it much harder for Villa to establish the passing rhythm they enjoyed against Fenerbahçe. His return could also allow Newcastle to be more aggressive higher up the pitch, knowing they have another midfielder capable of recovering second balls.

That presents Emery with perhaps his most interesting selection decision.

Ross Barkley was excellent on Wednesday. His passing was adventurous, his movement into attacking positions productive and his disguised delivery through Nathan Aké's legs for Jackson's second goal was one of the finest moments of the evening. Two goals and an assist reflected a performance in which Kamara's discipline allowed him to operate with considerable freedom.

St James' Park may require something different. Newcastle are likely to engage Villa's midfield much more physically, particularly if Joelinton starts, and the spaces Barkley enjoyed on Wednesday could be considerably harder to find. João Gomes has a persuasive case for returning alongside Kamara, having provided the aggression and recovery running that helped Villa establish control at Tottenham.

There is an attacking argument for that partnership too. Gomes can step forward to contest the first ball, while Kamara holds the position underneath him. Villa would be better placed to recover possession in areas from which Manzambi and Jackson can attack immediately, and the pair offer the security needed if Newcastle's wide players begin finding space on the counterattack.

The balance between those responsibilities may matter more than whether Villa have the majority of possession. Newcastle's recent defeats demonstrate how little use territorial dominance can be when the midfield cannot protect what happens after the ball is lost.

Where Emery might find the difference

Wednesday's victory provided several encouraging clues about Villa's attacking options, particularly the developing relationship between Manzambi and Mbaye.

Their combination around 28 minutes, when Manzambi turned centrally before releasing Mbaye on the left, demonstrated how the youngster's movement can create room for the winger to receive facing goal. Later, the pair combined with Barkley through a series of quick passes to escape pressure, a passage that would have been difficult to imagine during some of Villa's more hesitant early-season performances.

Newcastle's right-back position could offer them another opportunity. With Livramento unavailable, Lewis Miley has been filling in despite being more naturally suited to midfield. Amar Dedić may return after appearing at Coventry, but either selection presents a different question for Emery.

Miley is technically composed but can be tested by quick changes of direction and direct running. Dedić provides greater attacking dynamism, potentially leaving space behind him when Newcastle commit players forward. Mbaye's acceleration could be useful against either, particularly if Manzambi can attract González or Joelinton towards the ball before finding him outside.

The complication is Villa's own left-back position. With Maatsen and Ruggeri unavailable, Wan-Bissaka is likely to continue on the left, leaving Mbaye responsible for much of Villa's attacking width. That arrangement worked well against Fenerbahçe, when Wan-Bissaka's disciplined positioning allowed Mbaye to attack more freely. Newcastle's right-sided threat will demand greater attention, particularly when Murphy or Fernandez-Pardo looks to attack the space behind him.

Garnacho and Alysson offer Emery different ways of managing that flank, although Mbaye's understanding with Manzambi is becoming an increasingly persuasive reason to retain him.

Manzambi's availability for another demanding start is less certain. He has only recently returned from injury, and Wednesday required considerable work both in and out of possession. Emery was clear on Friday that he needs players fully prepared physically, and he may decide that Buendía provides a better starting option while preserving Manzambi for the second half.

That would be understandable, but the temptation to keep Manzambi close to Jackson must be strong. The pair are beginning to give Villa a more natural route through midfield, with Jackson's movement creating the space and Manzambi increasingly capable of recognising how to exploit it.

There may also be a case for retaining Pau Torres and Victor Lindelöf together. Their passing against Fenerbahçe gave Villa greater confidence in the first phase, and Lindelöf's long delivery towards Mbaye shortly before half-time offered a useful alternative to playing through midfield. Newcastle's pressing could make those longer passes particularly valuable, provided Jackson or the wide players are positioned to compete for the next ball.

Pau's willingness to carry possession forward could also help draw Newcastle's first line towards him before releasing Kamara or Gomes. The danger lies in inviting too much pressure against a side whose principal instinct is to win the ball high and attack immediately. Emery will want the same confidence Villa showed on Wednesday, with sufficient awareness of when the simpler pass or longer delivery is the better choice.

It is worth remembering that Newcastle's attacking problems are not as severe as their recent results suggest. Fernandez-Pardo's opportunity at Coventry came from an excellent González pass, Barnes repeatedly found dangerous positions on the left and Botman's goal showed the threat even their defenders can provide when allowed to advance. Suzuki may face a busy afternoon, particularly during Newcastle's inevitable periods of pressure.

The most likely adjustment from Jaissle is greater caution behind the ball, possibly helped by Joelinton's return. Newcastle have conceded 13 league goals in six games and gone 12 consecutive home league matches without a clean sheet, but the urgency surrounding Saturday could make them more disciplined than they have been during their recent defeats.

For Emery, that may be the real value of Wednesday's victory. Villa now have several ways of creating opportunities. Jackson can attack the space beyond a defensive line, Manzambi can carry or turn through midfield, Barkley can find an early pass and Mbaye can stretch the pitch from outside. Gomes and Kamara offer the defensive platform that allows those attacking qualities to operate together.

The selection may change after Wednesday's exertions, but the attacking relationships are becoming increasingly recognisable. Villa have started to look comfortable making quick decisions in possession, trusting teammates to move into spaces before the pass is played. Against a Newcastle side that can be dangerous going forward but vulnerable when its shape opens, that understanding could prove particularly valuable.