Match Reports

Newcastle v Norwich Match Report – Most Complete Tactics, Stats and Analysis You’ll Find Anywhere

Newcastle v Norwich Match Report

Newcastle 2 Norwich 1

Saturday 23 November 3pm

With back to back wins against top four opponents, the entire city of Newcastle was cautiously optimistic about the two forthcoming fixtures as the international fortnight intervened. Home games against Norwich and West Bromwich should see six points return and Newcastle start to really make gains up the table.

The Magpies however, are well known to make mountains out of molehills and slip up whenever a good opportunity presents itself; a perfect example being Hull at home this season when the home side fell to a disastrous 3-2 defeat despite leading 2-1 at half time.

Norwich proved a different kettle of fish however, with Newcastle being far from their best but still delivering three points, which places the Magpies closer to 2nd than 10th in what has been a remarkable change of fortunes in the last four fixtures, since the derby day loss to Sunderland.

FORMATION

With Mathieu Debuchy banned after picking up five yellow cards thus far in the season, Alan Pardew had a long time (the international break) to decide what back four to line up, with a wealth of replacements available. Davide Santon could have moved to right back with Massadio Haidara moving in to left back, which would have been an attacking change.

As it was Paul Dummett and Haidara both missed out and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was shifted across to right back with captain Fabricio Collocini replacing him in the centre of defence alongside Mike Williamson who, much like James Perch last season, has suddenly found himself lauded in praise by the home fans.

The other nine players for Newcastle were much the same with Pardew sticking with a 4-4-2, Hatem Ben Arfa still on the bench and Shola Ameobi, who scored a world-class goal for Nigeria midweek, partnering Loic Remy up front as an aerial target.

Norwich were without record summer signing Ricky Van Wolfeswinkel, who Newcastle were continuously linked with last summer. They did have however Leroy Fer, who has been Norwich’s star performer thus far this season and who scored in Norwich’s 3-1 win against West Ham.

Chris Hughton, who has been on the hot seat all season owing to an expensive summer and disappointing results, once again persevered with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bradley Johnson and Jonathan Howson protecting the back four and Fer pushed further forward. Gary Hooper was the lone striker, the Englishman having struggled for form since the move from Celtic in the summer.

EARLY GOAL

Newcastle failure at corners for the past two years+ has been well documented. Pardew has picked up on it several times in press conferences and promised a “different approach” only for the following game to follow the same routine of lumping the ball to Williamson/Taylor on the back post – who more often than not followed the marking player.

This all changed in the very first minutes of Saturday afternoon’s match up against Norwich. In the first minute Yohan Cabaye (who was tasked with creating chances, hence his 77% pass completion rating) looked for Ameobi, only for Norwich right back Ryan Bennett to concede a corner.

Norwich’s marking from the set-piece was awful, with Gouffran’s run dragging a defender away and Cabaye’s delivery, hardly his best, bounced almost directly in front of keeper John Ruddy before finding Remy unmarked at the back post who nodded it in. It was always going to be a struggle for Norwich, in very poor form at the moment, to get any points from there.

NORWICH CREATE, NEWCASTLE STIFLE

The first half wasn’t a complete bust for Norwich, despite conceding two sloppy goals – the second showcasing what Shola Ameobi can do at his best – the Canaries created a number of half chances, including one for Leroy Fer and an even better one for Anthony Pilkington, found by Redmond at the far post with a dangerous cross that could’ve seen Norwich draw level but the header drifted wide.

Redmond has been a dangerous player for Norwich this season but he was far from his best on Saturday, not seeing enough of the ball in the second half (only one dangerous shot skied from roughly 12 yards out). Santon marshalled him well, stepping up into the former Birmingham winger’s space and making three interceptions. Redmond’s pace did mean Santon was very wary of getting forward – still, the Italian managed three dribbles.

HOOPER ISOLATED

Norwich manager Chris Hughton has been accused of being stubborn with his formations, favouring 4-2-3-1 despite a shocking run of results in this calendar year. Once again against Newcastle he refused to change his game plan, despite Hooper being very isolated and seeing the ball 20 times. The summer signing from Celtic didn’t put in a defensive shift either – making no tackles and didn’t challenge for one aerial ball as Norwich tried to pass through Newcastle’s two banks of four. It didn’t work and Hooper managed only a single shot that didn’t threaten the goalkeeper.

When Anthony Pilkington came off with a hamstring injury, Johan Elmander, who ordinarily plays as a striker, was shanked out on the wing. Elmander also struggled – not managing a single shot and being easily controlled by an excellent Yanga-Mbiwa (who made four tackles, more than Newcastle other three defenders put together).

NORWICH THREATEN – BUT LACK CUTTING EDGE

A problem for Hughton, who was accused by Llambias after his sacking of not being decisive enough, is that while Norwich did create chances, they were often little more than half a chance and were easily squandered. The former Toon manager was loathe to make any changes while his team still looked threatening.

Injury forced his hand to replace Pilkington with Elmander (although, as previously discussed, this didn’t mean a change in formation) but Hughton refused to make any further changes until the 89th minute when he brought on Wes Hoolahan and Josh Murphy – who combined managed nine touches.

SISSOKO: GUTIERREZ MK. 2

Even the biggest fan of Pardew, and probably the man himself, would admit to being a big fan of work rate, sometimes at the expense of guile or technical skill. In any successful Pardew side there’s a workhorse who gets through the ugly stuff. In the 10/11 season it was Jonas Gutierrez. The Argentinian was anonymous in attack (bar two goals – both against Wolves) but performed a disciplined defensive job to cover at first Ryan Taylor, and later in the season, Santon.

The Argentine was maligned for his poor crossing and finishing but it was hard to fall out of love with his never-say-die attitude and his ability to draw a foul in the most unlikely of circumstances (in the 10/11 season he was the league’s most fouled player).

There’s a very real danger Moussa Sissoko, once one of the most well-regarded young central midfielders in France, goes the same way. His performance against Norwich was largely typical of the season – solid, unspectacular and, at times frustrating. The Frenchman was excellently put through by Ameobi and should have finished but dragged his shot wide of the left hand post.

Other aspects of Sissoko’s game were excellent – he made two tackles, completed 33/40 passes (although 32 of those were short) and drew two fouls. He also teed up Newcastle’s with an excellent ball to the back post for Ameobi to attack. The header was parried by Ruddy and nestled into the net by the waiting Gouffran.

Despite Sissoko’s continued spell at right wing, the jury is definitely still out on him, at least in that position, with Ben Arfa continuing to find himself on the bench.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Alan Pardew didn’t change his formation with any of the substitutions: Vurnon Anita replaced Cabaye in the 68th minute in what is becoming this season’s most predictable switch. The diminutive Dutchman struggled to get on the ball but when he did, he kept it very well, averaging 88% pass completion.

Papiss Cisse, who came on in the 74th minute was incorrectly denied a perfectly good goal and Ben Arfa, who some fans itch to see return to the starting line up in the hope of added flair to the team, managed a paltry six touches of the ball..

STAR PLAYER

The man of the match for either side was easily Leroy Fer, he battled very well in midfield for Norwich, making five tackles and three shots – not to mention his excellent header to drag Norwich back into the game in the 80th. The Dutchman could have been capable of so much more had he got more involved, he only managed 56 touches, the least of any midfielder on either side.

Unfortunately, his supporting midfield of Johnson and Howson found themselves losing the midfield battle with Cabaye and Tiote (the latter of which managed a massive 91 touches of the ball) – especially with Sissoko often drifting inside to pick up Fer, something he is able to do knowing Yanga-Mbiwa is more defensively minded than Debuchy.

Newcastle’s man of the match didn’t get on the scoresheet but bullied and harassed the Norwich back four consistently as well as grabbing himself an assist. It was of course Shola Ameobi. Back from his international friendly against Italy for Nigeria, the much- maligned striker was key to Newcastle’s game plan and won an incredible 71% of his aerial battles, helping to provide a pillar for Remy to play around. He got 45 touches of the ball in his 75 minutes before being replaced by Cisse. Hooper only got 20 all game, Remy 45.

Newcastle will continue to be linked with Bafetimbi Gomis, especially while he is available on a cut price deal, but Ameobi showed there was life in the old dog yet – however one which may be too unreliable for Pardew to rely on for the rest of the season.

CONCLUSION

For all Norwich’s possession in midfield, their struggle to get Hooper in the game was critical. Hooper’s anonymous showing meant Newcastle were rarely threatened, bar set-pieces (another goal from a corner).

At the other end of the pitch Ameobi showed the sort of performance normally reserved for when he is angling for a new contract. He was a nightmare all game for Norwich’s back four, even managing to drop off and pick up the ball in midfield, something he did early in the build up for Newcastle’s second goal.

Cabaye and Tiote, who have now started the last four games together, are proving what a dynamic duo they can be. Tiote does the dirty stuff (although both managed three tackles, Tiote also gave away three fouls to Cabaye’s none) and recycles possession (90% pass accuracy) whereas Cabaye attempts to create more (77% pass accuracy including seven attempted long passes, more than any outfield player). If someone can just persuade Tiote to stop shooting – four shots, none on target – Newcastle just might have a competent midfield. Which is more than can be said for Manchester United who, coincidentally, are level on points with the Magpies.

Newcastle: Krul, Mapou, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (Anita 68), Gouffran (Ben Arfa 83), Shola (Cisse 74), Remy

Unused Subs: Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Obertan, Haidara

Ref: Mike Dean

Crowd: 51,328

You can follow Tom on Twitter @WeeklyNewsBay

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