Newcastle United's Set-Piece Strategy Under Scrutiny
Nick Woltemade has quickly settled into life at Newcastle United, finding himself in a unique position.
After completing his club-record transfer from Stuttgart last month, the 6ft 6in forward discovered that he is no longer the tallest player in the dressing room. He now shares the space with towering teammates like Dan Burn (6ft 7in), Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Joelinton, and William Osula.
While not all of these players start together, Newcastle's imposing stature gives them a potential advantage during set-pieces. However, the team has struggled to convert these opportunities into goals this season.
"We have the players, we have the height, and we have the delivery," stated Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe ahead of their match against set-piece specialists Arsenal. "But something is not quite clicking, and that's not a criticism of any coach. That falls on me. I take responsibility for it. We can improve in this area, and we are committed to working on it."
'We should be the best in the world'
Howe's concerns echo similar questions raised nearly a year ago when Newcastle went through a stretch of 50 corners without scoring in the Premier League. Eventually, they regained their scoring touch.
By the time Newcastle reached the Carabao Cup final last March, Howe emphasized the importance of set-pieces to his staff, highlighting that "a set-play could win us the game... let’s focus on the details that could make a difference."
In preparation, Newcastle dedicated time to perfecting free-kicks and corners, identifying vulnerabilities in Liverpool's defense. Although the training routines did not always translate to success, one did at Wembley, helping the Magpies secure their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
Burn's opening goal in that match showcased the contributions of assistant manager Jason Tindall and set-piece analyst Kieran Taylor, who were instrumental in Newcastle scoring 13 goals from set-pieces in the Premier League last season.
Recognizing the workload involved, Howe had been seeking to hire an additional set-piece coach. Martin Mark, who joined Newcastle in June, brought a wealth of experience from his time at Midtjylland, known for their innovative set-piece strategies.
During his tenure at Midtjylland, Mark's teams scored 19 goals from set-pieces, the highest in the Danish top flight last season, excluding penalties. His approach proved vital to their title success.
Kristian Bak, Midtjylland's head of sport, praised Mark's dedication, stating, "His hunger really shone through during his time at the MCH Arena. He advocated for being the best in the world in that discipline, and having someone like him is a tremendous asset."
Long Throws Make a Comeback
This season, Newcastle's tactics have visibly evolved. Last year, they attempted only one long throw into the box throughout the Premier League. In contrast, they have already executed 13 long throws in just the first five matches of this campaign, according to Opta.
Newcastle's rugby-style restarts reflect a broader trend in football, employing strategic throws to pressure opponents deep in their territory. While the sample size is small, the team averages 3.4 long throws per match this season, a significant increase from 0.9 per game during the 2020-21 season.
England manager Thomas Tuchel noted, "The long throw is back," a sentiment echoed when Liverpool faced Newcastle at St James' Park last month. Liverpool's boss, Arne Slot, acknowledged, "You cannot control a game of football if every single ball is thrown into your 18-yard box."
Newcastle's first goal in that match stemmed from a long throw by Tino Livramento, which was flicked on for Bruno Guimaraes to score. Their second goal also arose from a set-piece situation, showcasing the potential of dead-ball scenarios.
Despite ultimately losing the match, Newcastle's performance highlighted the importance of set-plays.
'A Really Talented Guy'
Consistently creating chaos through set-pieces remains a challenge for Newcastle. Currently, only four Premier League teams have recorded more shots from set-pieces than Newcastle's five this season, yet they have only managed to score once from corners or free-kicks across all competitions.
In terms of expected goals from dead-ball situations, Newcastle's tally of 1.56 falls significantly short of Arsenal’s 3.55, placing them at the top of the league in this category.
While Newcastle has yet to concede from a set-piece, Howe acknowledged that there is "work to do" on the offensive front. When asked if improvement would take time, he responded, "I hope not. That's not the plan. The goal is to capitalize on set-plays. We have been strong in this area for a while."
Arsenal, their upcoming opponents, have effectively utilized set-pieces, with half of their goals in the Premier League this season coming from such situations.
Freelance throw-in specialist Thomas Gronnemark, who collaborated with Mark at Midtjylland last season, is confident that Newcastle will eventually find success from set-plays. "Martin is a really talented guy," he said. "His youth does not matter; what counts is his capability. He will be a significant asset for Newcastle."