I believe the Newcastle United formation needs to be a 4-5-1, especially away from home.

Also at home against the technically-better and possession-based sides.

A 4-5-1 Newcastle United formation makes sense because they are rubbish at pressing and have a clear counter-attacking plan.

They need to win the ball in midfield and then release quick wingers and mobile forwards. When attacking, they can shift into a 4-3-3 with the wingers pushing up. When defending, they can drop into a 4-5-1 block .

They will just have to make sure that they don’t sit too deep and invite too much sustained pressure and they will have to rely on more players contributing goals.

The recent results and performances show that they are in dire need of being compact and resilient. Two banks of four will make Newcastle United difficult to play through and outnumbering the opposition in the middle of the park can be useful against the common trend of Pep-based teams playing out from the back.

A 4-5-1 would mean playing with two dominant holding midfielders (Gonzalez and Steur), or two athletic box-to-box players (two from three of Willock, Joelinton, Ramsey) two wingers (two from three of Harvey Barnes, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Anthony Elanga), and a mobile forward (Osula or Wissa). All of these players need to be goal threats who can time their runs into the box.

Now the problem is that the system depends heavily on a striker who can hold the ball up, win aerial duels, or create chances on their own. Will Osula is the only forward who could play this target man role and be able to occupy two centre backs. But he has his weaknesses. Is he really comfortable on the ball?

Alternatively, you can play a false 9 with this system who drops off the front line into the midfield spaces and is closer to teammates for better link-up play. For example, Jacob Ramsey is quick-thinking, has the passing vision, close control, and the movement to unsettle defenders as a false 9.

Even though you lose a target man and render crosses and long balls somewhat ineffective, when a centre-back follows the false 9 into midfield, a gap opens behind him for the midfielders and/or the wingers to attack. When the centre back doesn’t follow, the false 9 has time and space to turn and play and bring others into the game.

With the players they have in the team and the squad, Newcastle United are a mid-table side.

A 4-5-1 Newcastle United formation would suit this mid-table side better and make the most of the player’s strengths.