Achraf Lazaar and DeAndre Yedlin impressed in wing-back roles during Newcastle United’s FA Cup clash with Birmingham City.
Rafa Benitez may be renowned for his commitment to the divisive rotation policy but his tactics tend to remain comparatively stable.
While Newcastle United’s results have earned him a great deal of respect and popularity on Tyneside, his persistence with a one striker system has often rankled with some sections for the support, as has his preference for full-backs more sturdy than spectacular.
Therefore, Magpies supporters could be forgiven for doing a double take when the team sheet came through ahead of their FA Cup clash with Birmingham City at St Andrews. Lining up in an unfamiliar 5-3-2 rather than the customary 4-2-3-1, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy both started in a physical front line, the latter opening the scoring after the former’s shot was parried.
However, it was the two roving wing-backs that could benefit more than most for this change of system. Lightning powered DeAndre Yedlin has been usurped by the sturdy Vurnon Anita recently while attacking Moroccan international Achraf Lazaar (below) has played just 21 minutes of league action with the dependable, if slightly dull, Paul Dummett starting in his place.
Nonetheless, a wing-back system could yet get the best out of the two summer signings, giving them the licence to power forward and thrive in the freedom bestowed to them on the flanks. Neither Yedlin nor Lazaar are natural defenders so a three-man defensive line would limit their defensive responsibilities and allow them to fly forwards at will.
Against Birmingham, they demonstrated just how effective their uber-attacking approach can be. Whether Benitez sticks with the experiment, however, is another matter entirely.
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