Summer Series

What to look out for in Brighton v Newcastle

By Adrian Clarke 27 Jul 2023

Adrian Clarke on the players who can be decisive figures in both clubs' final Summer Series match

With the Premier League Summer Series in the USA entering the final round of matches this weekend, Adrian Clarke takes a look at the key points ahead of Friday's fixture between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United.

Brighton v Newcastle

The Summer Series has offered head coaches a valuable opportunity to experiment with fresh ideas, and a number of young players have successfully showcased their talents across the first two matches.

Brighton winger Simon Adingra and midfielder Jack Hinshelwood have both impressed as new faces for the Seagulls.

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For Newcastle, the contributions of 17-year-old Lewis Miley and the powerful running of fellow midfielder Elliot Anderson will have pleased head coach Eddie Howe.

The quartet could all feature at some point when the two teams meet at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey tonight.

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However, as we edge closer to the start of the 2023/24 campaign, both Howe and Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi may opt to give extra minutes to their first-choice players.

Defensive frailties

Newcastle have leaked seven goals so far during their pre-season schedule.

Prior to the Summer Series, they beat Gateshead 3-2 and Rangers 2-1, before sharing 3-3 and 1-1 draws with Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively in the United States.

All four goals conceded in this tournament have come from the opposition playing through the thirds too easily.

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Caught between stools with their pressing, or dragged wide to leave their spine too open, their opponents have consistently got players on the ball goal side of Newcastle’s central midfield.

This has left the Magpies' back four exposed, costing them goals, as reflected in the examples below.

Time for Howe’s first-choice midfield?

Bruno Guimaraes has yet to anchor Newcastle's midfield alongside Joelinton and new signing Sandro Tonali during the Summer Series.

To many, they are perceived as Howe’s strongest central midfield trio.

With defensive improvement required, a stern examination against a fluid Brighton side could be the right time for Howe to blood that unit.

See: Summer Series: What we learned in Matchday 2

The Seagulls press well and have intelligent movement, which will demand problem-solving and clear communication from Newcastle's midfield.

It feels an ideal opportunity to see how they operate together for the first time.

Screening the striker

De Zerbi will have been thrilled at the way his centre-forwards, Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck, have held the ball up in this tournament.

Brighton love to play short passes out from the back, but goalkeeper Jason Steele – or a central defender – also like aiming bolder vertical passes in the direction of their front men.

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In these situations, the Seagulls' strikers are often marked tightly from behind, but both have displayed terrific strength, technique, and composure to handle the ball and link play with others.

Speaking after Brighton's 4-3 Summer Series defeat to Chelsea, De Zerbi commented, "Joao's first game was incredible. I knew him very well. I pushed the club to bring him as I believe in a lot of his qualities. His quality is right for our style of play."

Midfield solidity

Newcastle’s challenge in New Jersey will be to block off those passing lanes and intercept the ball, without being pulled away from the centre of the pitch.

One of Howe’s central defenders may have to follow Pedro, Welbeck, or Evan Ferguson into those areas - but they will also need Guimaraes, Tonali or Joelinton to screen in front.

This tactical aspect of the encounter will be interesting to watch.

Newcastle's central midfield certainly needs to be far more solid, offering better protection to the players behind them.