Manga better at centre-back, but right-back needed

Manga better at centre-back, but right-back needed


By Dominic Booth


Monday 21st January 2019


Newcastle didn't play with a great deal of attacking width against Cardiff.

Yes they stationed Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin as wing-backs and the pair came forward intermittently, but Cardiff's full backs shouldn't have looked as troubled as they did.

Maybe it was in part the man-marking system Warnock employs that was responsible for the chaotic Cardiff back four. It certainly proved flawed as Fabian Schar waltzed through for the opening goal.

Joe Bennett and Lee Peltier were focussed on tracking Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez, Junior Hoilett was concentrating on his men Yedlin, leaving the right-sided Newcastle centre-back to wriggle free from Niasse, with the freedom of Tyneside to pick his spot.

Bruno Manga, as he's often been this season, was Cardiff's best defender at St James' Park - though with Bennett and Peltier exposed and Sol Bamba given the runaround by Salomon Rondon that wasn't too difficult on this occasion.

While Bennett offered a threat in attack, linking up nicely with players further forward, Peltier looked a fish out of water.

It makes the failure to capture Nathaniel Clyne on loan from Bournemouth even more frustrating, with Cardiff now unable to sign another Premier League loan player (after capturing Oumar Niasse from Everton), putting pay to their hopes of luring Chelsea's Victor Moses to the Welsh capital.

Warnock, who continues to scour the French market for a right-back, will know he needs someone with more attacking attributes than Peltier.

Newcastle's back five largely sat deep, doubling up on Cardiff's wingers. You must have overlapping full-backs to be competitive in this division.

Manga better at centre-back, but right-back needed


By Dominic Booth


Monday 21st January 2019


Newcastle didn't play with a great deal of attacking width against Cardiff.

Yes they stationed Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin as wing-backs and the pair came forward intermittently, but Cardiff's full backs shouldn't have looked as troubled as they did.

Maybe it was in part the man-marking system Warnock employs that was responsible for the chaotic Cardiff back four. It certainly proved flawed as Fabian Schar waltzed through for the opening goal.

Joe Bennett and Lee Peltier were focussed on tracking Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez, Junior Hoilett was concentrating on his men Yedlin, leaving the right-sided Newcastle centre-back to wriggle free from Niasse, with the freedom of Tyneside to pick his spot.

Bruno Manga, as he's often been this season, was Cardiff's best defender at St James' Park - though with Bennett and Peltier exposed and Sol Bamba given the runaround by Salomon Rondon that wasn't too difficult on this occasion.

While Bennett offered a threat in attack, linking up nicely with players further forward, Peltier looked a fish out of water.

It makes the failure to capture Nathaniel Clyne on loan from Bournemouth even more frustrating, with Cardiff now unable to sign another Premier League loan player (after capturing Oumar Niasse from Everton), putting pay to their hopes of luring Chelsea's Victor Moses to the Welsh capital.

Warnock, who continues to scour the French market for a right-back, will know he needs someone with more attacking attributes than Peltier.

Newcastle's back five largely sat deep, doubling up on Cardiff's wingers. You must have overlapping full-backs to be competitive in this division.

Niasse was chasing Schar for the first, Arter or Gunner would have tripped him earlier on, and he was marking Schar for his 2nd, not blaming him as he hadn't played for years, but we missed Arter, Morrison and Gunner!!!

We do definitely need a rightback though !!!

If we start Lee Peltier against Arsenal we are going to get utterly destroyed

We knew that this time last season though as well.

Here's a crazy idea, now we have 2 more forwards/strikers how about Callum Paterson at RB?

Here's a crazy idea, now we have 2 more forwards/strikers how about Callum Paterson at RB?

He’s not a right back how ever many times people keep saying it.

He’s a midfielder he’s useless as a right back can’t defend gives away to many free kicks