Over the past two games, Newcastle United have been victims of their own system.
While our current shape worked against the likes of Everton and Southampton, it has been woefully exposed in the draws vs West Brom and Aston Villa.
Without our three best attackers, the diamond system simply does not work.
We don’t have a goalscorer suited to playing the ‘split striker’ role, while no one can match the energy of Miguel Almiron at the tip of the diamond.
Against Aston Villa, Newcastle’s shape was shocking. Dwight Gayle has barely had a chance all season, and when he does he effectively has to play on the left wing. Meanwhile, you’ve got Ryan Fraser, a natural winger, playing centrally.
Gayle barely got in the box all night, as an anonymous performance proved he just can’t fit into Bruce’s current system.
But why can’t things change? This formation clearly doesn’t work without Wilson, Saint-Maximin or Almiron. Yet Bruce continues to persist with square pegs in round holes.
The manager even admitted after the West Brom draw that the reason Andy Carroll and Gayle didn’t start was because of the system.
“If we had played Andy and Dwight, then we’d have to change the whole set-up, and I don’t think we had time to do that,” he told the Chronicle.
This was an embarrassing excuse that Brighton boss Graham Potter has exposed.
His side picked up a valuable win on Sunday against Southampton, and it was all down to tactical change at half time.
Brighton started the game playing 4-4-2, but an injury forced Potter into a change at the break.
The Seagulls shifted to five at the back, and it gave them the platform to pick up a vital three points.
Meanwhile, our manager remains incapable of changing things. He watches idly by as his slide slump to another draw, edging closer to the relegation zone.
Potter’s change got them the win, and gives them a huge boost heading into next week’s crucial game.
Pro-active Potter exposes Newcastle boss Bruce
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