We talked a bit about Marseille forward André Ayew in last week's quick spin through Ligue 1. But with Joe Kinnear apparently in the crowd to watch Ayew against Valenciennes over the weekend, a more in-depth take on the Ghana international is probably warranted. Luckily, the match was on TV here in the States, so I was able to see the same thing that Kinnear did. Here's an extended scouting report on Newcastle's latest target from across the Channel.
Ayew is a left-footed forward who typically starts on the left side of Marseille's front three, but he doesn't stay there for very long. Saturday, he popped up pretty much everywhere, constantly rotating with right winger Dimitri Payet and center forward André-Pierre Gignac. (Our source in France claims Newcastle continues to be interested in Gignac, as well as Ayew, but believes Marseille is unlikely to sell him.) Unlike Romain Alessandrini, who we've frequently discussed on the blog, Ayew isn't an orthodox left winger. He strongly prefers dribbling to crossing, and loves to drift toward the center of the box when his teammates have the ball on the right wing.
That's because the biggest strength in Ayew's game may actually be his heading ability. Though not a big forward at all (he's only 5'9"), he has a knack for freeing himself inside the box and attacking crosses and corners. In fact, Marseille's winning goal on Saturday came because of this skill. Ayew won the header from a Mathieu Valbuena corner, then Gignac tapped the rebound into the Valenciennes net. Last season, he scored 5 of his 9 goals via headers. If nothing else, bringing in Ayew would make Newcastle more dangerous from corners than it's been in quite a long time.
Where would Ayew fit if Newcastle is able to make a deal with Marseille? That's a good question. He's yet another winger/striker hybrid who thrives in a fluid front three. In fact, he would perfectly fit Demba Ba's left forward role from the 2011-12 season. The club seems to be accumulating this type of player, with Yoan Gouffran, Loïc Rémy, and Hatem Ben Arfa all ideal for this approach, and most of Newcastle's midfielders also more effective playing behind such a front line.
As much as we have wondered whether the club's recent acquisitions fit any sort of style, it definitely seems like a trend is starting to appear. Whether it's by design or accident is hard to say. Unfortunately, it's also impossible to tell whether Alan Pardew is willing to let the players actually operate in the system that best suits them.
Strangely, based on the reaction to my post yesterday, it doesn't appear to be a style that fans want to see. I'm not entirely sure why the classic 4-4-2 has suddenly come back in vogue, with supporters pining for a big striker and crossing winger. When Pardew used it in the first half of 2011-12, most people were just wishing for anything else. Bringing in someone like Ayew to play that way would be a total waste of the money used to sign him and the effort involved in scouting and negotiating. But he'd be a great addition in a flexible front three, the same system he plays in at Marseille. If Newcastle can bring him to St. James' Park, will the manager set him up to succeed?
The best formation is the one that allows as many of your match winners on the pitch as possible. We're in a hinterland tactically at the moment, as we don't know who's coming in - and Remy is yet to start. In principle, the 4-3-3 of two years could be re-introduced, with Remy filling Ba's position, but we were in the midst of a pretty good season back then, and is it realistic to expect the inclusion of one new player to revolutionize results and performances at the moment?
You're right that Ayew is yet another winger/striker - which suggests that Pardew is thinking about Remy as a more orthodox strike partner for Cisse, after his excellent goal haul for QPR last season.
4-3-3 is designed to be explosive and competitive in the final third- but to work, it requires three natural finishers in advanced positions - Gouffran alas isn't a reliable goalscorer in this league, and Ben Arfa hasn't scored in a year. Without the goal threat, we end up with an isolated striker, and 5 lost and confused midfielders going nowhere fast, somewhere around the half way line.
In the absence of goalscorers, 4-4-2, almost gives us one of those players back. But, as you have already pointed out, it also helps to have players capable of whipping in at least the odd cross, when the opportunity presents itself (cough, cough... Ben Arfa).
In summary, until new forwards are added - we have the hell or highwater option of 4-4-2 with no wingers, or 4-3-3 with no goalscorers, which just highlights the glaring weaknesses in the current squad.
On that basis Ayew does seem an odd target.
Posted by: geordiepat | 08/27/2013 at 01:55 PM
That was part of the issue I had in that depth post yesterday. With Pardew not committing to a system that puts the best players in their best positions, it's difficult to even say who's worth pursuing. Personally, I think we might be better served going after a number 10 type, figuring that Marveaux is bound to get injured again. Unless the idea is to buy enough wing forward types to move Ben Arfa off the wing...
The good thing about Ayew is that he definitely wouldn't get stranded in midfield. He pretty much charges into the box at every opportunity. He'd actually be able to take advantage of Debuchy's crossing ability from the right, which might be handy. But there is literally no point in buying him unless we're planning on playing some form of 4-3-3/4-2-3-1/whatever. He's not a "two up top" striker, and definitely not a winger in a midfield four.
My gripe with the 4-4-2 (and why I'm confused that so many people seem to be in love with it these days) is that it requires bringing in a lot of players. I wouldn't say any our central midfielders are really ideal for it. It would be either not creative enough or not defensive enough. We don't have any crossing ability from the wings, unless you bring Ben Arfa back to the left wing, and I've always thought you lose so much of what he can offer when he's out there all game. It's useful when he switches over for a few minutes mid-match, but not as a permanent thing. And I don't love our strikers there, either...we saw how Cisse and Ba didn't really click when played up top together.
So to me, it just seems easier to embrace a style that fits who we have. Much better than trying to shoehorn players in, or count on Ashley to buy three or four new players after having already bought five in January.
Posted by: Matt | 08/27/2013 at 03:29 PM
The key is - in modern football it's desirable to deploy 3 centrally-placed midfielders if u want to have any chance of 'controlling' a game.
It's also imperative that your tactics provide 'width' to stretch opponent positioning and create space. Your basic choices here are wide midfielders (4-5-1), wide forwards (4-3-3/4-2-3-1) or very attacking full-backs (perhaps a narrow 4-3-1-2 or some funky 5/3 at the back nonsense).
Most practitioners opt for one striker... if so, u then need to make sure that your 'lone' striker is -
a) capable of performing that role (hold-up play, good touch and control to maintain possession, solid distribution, avoid offsides) and
b) supported with off-the-ball forward runs by at least one central midfielder and/or players positioned wide.
Having watched (or should that be endured?) plenty of NUFC, it's clear that the team performs neither a) or b) satisfactorily.
Pardew seems generally aware of these basic principles... but sadly unable to implement them competently
Posted by: M | 08/28/2013 at 12:28 AM