Pep Guardiola has been required to find solutions for a plethora of things at Manchester City. Some attribute a reinvention of the English game to him, making lumbering centre‑backs redundant in the process. One matter over the years has caused Guardiola to flounder, but against Newcastle an experiment showed promise.
Finding a replacement for Erling Haaland has proved almost impossible. It is understandable, the Norwegian is a freak of nature masquerading as a footballer. A plunderous record of 151 goals in 181 appearances for the Nordic robot makes the task of understudying an unenviable one, and no matter how many tomahawk steaks or glasses of raw milk are consumed, they will never be Haaland.
The World Cup winner Julián Álvarez, from a country where beef is idolised as much as Lionel Messi, tried it but was losing the fight, exiting for Atlético Madrid. The idea of putting Omar Marmoush on Rico Lewis’s shoulders may have created the requisite height but, like cloning, was impractical for Guardiola, even with City’s financial muscle. This has forced Haaland to play more than is desirable, causing him to look jaded in recent weeks.
Playing down the middle as a No 9 has rarely worked for Marmoush, a year into his City career because he cannot replicate what the 6ft 5in Haaland can do. Guardiola produced a cunning plan for Newcastle, of creating a big man, little man strike partnership.
Needless to say, there was no launching the ball forward for one to chase the other’s knockdown – it was more artistic. Marmoush was one half and Antoine Semenyo the other, although they were effectively operating as wingers – the Egyptian on the left and Ghanaian on the right – creating a vacuum in the middle to be filled by Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden, becoming architects of Newcastle’s first-half defensive chaos.
Based on the bemusement of the Newcastle backline whenever City attacked, it was not the formation they were expecting. The box midfield helped to nullify an area of strength for the visitors, while the confused Toon defenders did not know what to do with the strikers running down the outside of them.
Marmoush has a solitary Premier League goal to his name this season, performing the often thankless task of coming off the bench to perform cameos or when chasing the game, which makes settling difficult. He has rarely looked confident. Being the understudy takes a very specific mindset and acceptance of being second best, made more difficult by being unable to find your best form thanks to irregular appearances.
Giving Marmoush a different role, rather than being a less-than-identical Haaland, brought the opportunity for him to thrive. Getting around the side of a defender suits Marmoush’s speed and desire to cut in. His smart interchange with Reijnders brought the first goal, aided by panic in the defence leading to Dan Burn lunging in for a block and being the unfortunate victim of a ricochet. City are composed in their buildup but they took a more sledgehammer approach.
It made City a bit more fun, loosening the mechanisms of a formidable device invented by Guardiola.
Foden had enjoyed more freedom and space than he had been used to in recent times, looking far happier when he was eventually withdrawn. When he pushed up alongside Reijnders, a front four was created, with Newcastle falling to come to terms with City’s fluidity.
The second goal was another counter, brought together by the speed Marmoush and Semenyo possess, pulling and bewildering the defence as they went. The pace had everyone at the back out of position as the attack moved up the pitch with electric speed, causing Kieran Trippier to desperately head off the line without considering the consequence. Marmoush, boosted by the fortunate first, was there to nod over the line while Trippier was looking up at the stars in Marmoush’s eyes.
An ill-judged Burn tackle pushed the ball straight to Reijnders to push home the third against a dazed Newcastle. The unmarked Dutchman was taking advantage afforded in the middle by everyone being concerned by what was happening out wide as City flexed on a rampant night.
Even when Haaland was introduced, he was not sent down the middle, instead occupying Semenyo’s right-hand berth. His best chance arose from a sublime Rayan Cherki through ball that dissected the centre-backs, giving the Norwegian a chance to arc his run, getting him the wrong side of the defence, only for a fine Aaron Ramsdale save.
Haaland is a unique figure, accepting no imitations is a sensible policy for Guardiola. Relying on his talisman has made City somewhat predictable, even if it is highly effective.
Making opponents think that there are new variations up City’s sleeve will enforce more head scratching to counteract this new construct, especially if it allows Haaland to recover while others take care of the small business of reaching finals.
