Eddie Howe calls for Newcastle United player with 'rocket of a right foot' to shoot more from distance
Newcastle United's confidence in front of goal has been iffy to say the least this season. There seems to be an insistence to try and play the ball into the back of the net, which is fine if you can do it, but as our results against sides that deploy a low block will attest ... we can't.
There are only three certainties in life: Death, taxes and that during a Newcastle match I will get a text message from my Dad saying something along the lines of "Just chuffing shoot!"
If you've watched more than one Newcastle match this season, you'll be fully aware of our players' aversion to just having a speculative effort. Other than Jacob Murphy, who pulls the trigger on sight more often than not.
We're not asking for accuracy every time; we just want to mix things up, we want to create chaos. A shot doesn't have to always be heading into the top corner; it can take a deflection, catch a keeper off guard or pull a defender out of position. It's not only about scoring screamers, but it's also about creating openings too.
Eddie Howe is aware that Aston Villa will pose a threat from outside of the area on Sunday
Newcastle have only scored four goals from outside of the box this season, three from Bruno Guimaraes and one from Murphy. Our opponents on Sunday have racked up 12 long-distance goals, and Eddie Howe has spoken about Newcastle's lack of efforts from outside the area and mentioned one player in particular who he expects more from in that department.
“Shooting from distance is something that I'm well aware that their numbers are very good. I think for us, it's all dependent on who's shooting.
“I think some are much better than others.”
“Sandro (Tonali), for example, has got a rocket of a right foot and we're always encouraging him to shoot more than he does because, you know, I've said many times that he's got one of the hardest shots that I've seen and we see that continually in training,” Howe added.
“But it's getting him in those positions and getting him feeling comfortable to do that. So I think it's very much dependent on the individual player.
“There'll be some that that's just not their strength and their skill, so you don't necessarily want themto do it so much.”
Sandro Tonali appears to be lacking confidence at times
Sandro Tonali is a player who has seemed to lack confidence this season, along with the likes of Anthony Gordon, who has only seemed to manage to turn it on in the Champions League.
Like Gordon, Tonali hasn't had as much luck in front of goal as in recent seasons. The Italian hasn't scored during this campaign, so expecting him to hit a worldie from outside the box with his current confidence level might be a bit much.
On the other hand, however, a speculative drive from range nestling in the onion bag might just be exactly what he needs to snap out of his current funk.
