Newcastle’s fine 2-1 win over Sydney FC was all the more remarkable for how much of it was spent a man down, following Roy O’Donovan’s early red card.
It is a footballing cliche that is harder to play against ten men, but it proved accurate here. Sydney struggled to break the Jets down in open play. Ernie Merrick’s side pressed well, defended deep when they needed to, and maintained a constant attacking threat.
Pressing is not associated with playing with ten men, because it requires more energy, makes a team more vulnerable if the opposition play through the press, and it is more difficult to cover more of the pitch with one fewer player. Yet there are counter-arguments to each of these.
Effective pressing, even with ten men, can tire an opponent forced to attack against constant closing down – and if a team can win the ball higher up the pitch, the closer they are to their opposition goal. After the red card, the Jets played in a 4-2-3 formation, with energetic playmakers Riley McGree and Dimitri Petratos tucked in behind powerful forward Andrew Nabbout.
McGree and Petratos defended narrow, blocking passes into Milos Ninkovic and Adrian Mierzejewski, who made their typical movements inside into the half-spaces. The narrowness of McGree and Petratos was similar to the way Suwon Bluewings defended in a narrow 5-2-3, which was successful at nullifying Sydney’s usual build-up play.
Andrew Nabbout of the Jets (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Crucially, when Sydney moved the ball to one side, the Jets closed down collectively, and narrow. The opposite winger would move infield, locking up the Sky Blues’ central midfielders and preventing them from being able to switch the play, while the back four moved high up the pitch, reducing the space between the lines.
As previously discussed, Nigel Boogaard and Nikolai Topor-Stanley have impressed this season with their willingness to defend high. Their ability to do so here meant the Jets were able to press at certain moments, and stop Sydney from establishing rhythm or control of the game.
At other moments though, the Jets did have to defend deeper. When this occurred, they showed their adaptability. The central midfielders protected the space in front of the back four, while McGree tracked the forward runs of his direct opponent, right-back Luke Wilkshire (so that the Jets formation sometimes looked like a 4-3-2).
Petratos didn’t do the same against David Carney on the opposite side – possibly because Carney did not get forward quite as regularly as Wilkshire, but also perhaps because Merrick wanted to maintain an attacking threat. By keeping Petratos high, the Jets were able to use him and Nabbout as out-balls on the counter-attack.
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This was perhaps the most impressive part of Newcastle’s performance. Their ability to progress forward and push Sydney back meant they never defended or suffered for long periods. It also meant Sydney couldn’t establish the tempo of the game.
Nabbout, in particular, was highly effective on the counter-attack. He constantly made peeling runs off the shoulder of the opposition back four, attacking space in behind. The Jets could play longer balls from the back in anticipation of these runs, with Nabbout physically able to control passes in the air or when one-on-one with a defender.
Even in the moments where Nabbout did not necessarily receive the ball, these forward runs were crucial, as they forced Sydney’s back four deeper, which opened up more space between the lines. Most importantly, he was able to dribble forward purposefully and drive at opposition defenders, even when outnumbered – most memorably for the winning goal.
Newcastle have succeeded this season not because they have excelled at one particular tactical approach, but because of their general, all-round, positive football. They are most effective on the counter-attack through the pace and trickery of their front four. They can press high and defend deep, and possess great mobility – particularly in midfield, where Stefan Ugarkovic has been excellent and reliable in a defensive midfield role.
This famous win over Sydney was a case study of their tactical strengths and flexibility this season, and the manner of victory – against the odds, backed by a vocal local crowd and with the feeling of energy, purpose and hunger – is what has made them the highlight of this A-League season.
R King
Guest
Kanga, Hopefully you are right, a Jets v Reds Grand-final will be the most entertaining football seen for a long while. Off Topic, just announced that AUFC have been sold to a Dutch consortium, approved by the FFA and effective almost immediately. Rob Gerard [Current owner] said he expects that the new group will be spending quite a bit of money on both players and infrastructure.
Kangajets
Guest
Tim This is really good football match analysis . You are now in my eyes the Peter Sterling of the roar blog , such is your intelligence of the game . You should be sending this off to some esteemed football newspapers / media blogs like the guardian , where critical analysis of football is appreciated .
Kangajets
Guest
? Rodriguez and Ronny are not really injured. They have been in secret simulation training for the finals .
Kangajets
Guest
Passing sideways for more then 5 seconds should be outlawed . Pass forward, make runs into space Attack attack attack
Kangajets
Guest
R King I believe a very entertaining finals will be occurring. The jets are striking injuries , Sydney and Victory have Asian Cup duties which may affect them...., Brisbane are throwing out their walking frames and city might sack their coach by finals time ... That just leaves Adelaide as the only stable team left ...., ..., you never know , because Marco Cruz seems to get the best out of the reds , hoping your new striker gets some game time soon too . Newcastle v Adelaide grand final it is .
punter
Guest
I hope you guys are as kind to your Sth Americans friends when they fall over.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Buijs is on light training duties but is unsure why his Aussie teammates have stepped up the sledging...
punter
Guest
Funny if you should ask Fad. In my weekly day lunchtime walk from Manly to Shelley beach on the lovely northern beaches, I did see Jordy making the same walk though he was going the way, he looked to be in fine condition enjoying the beautiful sunny day with a very attractive lady & another friend. He seems to have recovered fine from that knock from that nasty tattooed Irishman.
Fadida
Guest
They breed them tough in Newcastle. I wonder if Bujis is out of intensive care yet? His injury looked life threatening....
Fadida
Guest
Exactly, possession without a purpose
Kangajets
Guest
The boogard v bulls story is still backpage of the Newcastle Herald today.,,..and we are only 48 hours away from NRl Season.. just shows that how non capital city media can support football.
Melange
Guest
Uh oh, reports are Boogard is out for 2 months. He walked off the field with a broken leg?!? Puts Bujis performance in perspective! Is Spiranovic available as an injury replacement signing?
Kangajets
Guest
I would love to see the A league produce more coaching in the ilk of Ernie Merrick, what’s better then asking your team to go toe to toe with the opposite team and be willing to take them on . Or just building a team around keeping possession and passing sideways all day , which seems to be the mantra of the National curriculum. Maybe I’m too old school, but I thought the game was about scoring goals . I’m going to investigate why up until the late 50 s. Teams would win games by 6-3 or something outrageous like that J b. I’m sure you’re up for this . Attack is the best form of the defence, it seems that in the pushkas era it certainly was.
Kangajets
Guest
“This was perhaps the most impressive part of Newcastle’s performance. Their ability to progress forward and push Sydney back meant they never defended or suffered for long periods. It also meant Sydney couldn’t establish the tempo of the game.” The above comment from Tim are my thoughts exactly on what the jets did , they refused to go into their shell , therefore keeping Sydney a bit uncomfortable and when the turnover of possession occurred it was with explosive speed that Newcastle would have 4 men already on the go making a dangerous run. The fact the jets tucked in narrow in defending and made it so hard for Sydney to play through was probably the best Newcastle defensive performance I can remember .
Nemesis
Guest
Arnold said the problem was that the Jets went down a man and Sydney had an extra man. More nonsense that everyone accepts. For sure, psychologically teams can think the work is done when they go a man up - especially with 75 minutes to play. To avoid such complacency, maybe, when an opponent gets a Red Card the coach should take one of his players off & not put on a sub, to even the outfield numbers. Play with equal number & then allow the extra man to return to the pitch for the final 20 minutes? As far as I know there is no Law that you can't take off a player & not bring on a sub.
punter
Guest
Hated the losing bit & some home truths, but again Tim loving your analysis.
R King
Guest
A good read Tim, can I just add, as a neutral I thought this was, along with the Cup Final, by far the most entertaining games of the season so far. I say so far because coming into the run home, and with Victory, Roar and the Reds plus City to a degree getting set for some finals action I expect to see entertaining football for us all.
Kangajets
Guest
With Nabbout leaving Boogard done for the season and O’Donovan suspension for 2 weeks . This will be another test of Ernie Merrick coaching prowess . The 3 obvious next in line are Champness to play as a number 9 , with magree to push into Nabbout role . Rodriguez to slot into magree role or the possibility of Hoffman once again going forward with vujkica coming into left back and Georgievski to right back. Lachie Jackson appears the only fit for boogard position, hopefully topper Stanley can give Jackson the confidence to play above himself. 3 Australian teenagers to the rescue in Champness, magree and Jackson. Undoubtedly Merrick is the right coach to give these players the self belief and continue the fairytale.
Kangajets
Guest
Fantastic read The running off the ball by the jets players to open up space for passing is terrific to watch when at the ground . Bang , the jets are on the counter and they options left right and centre . As seen in the last 5 minutes against Sydney , players like the left back Georgievski and defending midfielder Ugarkovic were still in the attacking third having shots at goal . To be brave and bold in attack .... why don’t more teams play football like this ..... Maybe you can answer JB?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Great read, Tim. It was a fascinating game and once again reinforces why counter-attacking football is one of the most effective and entertaining game styles. The Jets have the most efficient game plan I've seen this year — probably the reason they coped so well with one man down. Looking forward to the finals where we'll hopefully see two contrasting styles lock horns again.