Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side like to press… a lot. They do it high, and they do it constantly. Many say they’ve adopted the Gegenpressing tactic, as they pile all their attackers and midfielders forward to win the ball back as quickly as possible. Teams press in many different shapes, but the 4-4-2 remains the most common. Why?

Well, it offers relatively equal coverage all over the pitch. However, since the start of the Howe reign, Newcastle’s approach has been to remain in their 4-3-3 formation when pressing high. The back-four will keep a high line, with two banks of three in front of them. 

There are two main reasons Newcastle are doing this when they press, but essentially, this is the better structure for a high, aggressive press. 

The first reason they stay in a 4-3-3 is to cover the half-spaces with a winger and a wide midfielder. The half-spaces are so dangerous in modern football, as these channels provide excellent access to the centre and the wings. Crucially, though, a 4-4-2 will always struggle to cover the half-spaces as it’s a shape based around covering four vertical channels, not five (two wings, two half-spaces, and the central channel). Someone will always get caught between two players, and it’s unclear whose job it is to occupy the half-space. 

Newcastle can go man-to-man in the half-space with their midfielder while still pressing with their winger, creating double coverage and stopping all traffic into the half-space.

The second reason they don’t use a 4-4-2 in their press is that, when used in a particularly high press, the 4-4-2 completely neglects the opposition’s defensive midfielder (the pivot player/No.6). A 4-4-2 creates a sort of hexagon shape, and the No.6 is right in the middle of it, unmarked. Most possession teams have a No.6 who can control the tempo of a game, so their press would be rather pointless if it didn’t pick up the No.6. 

With their two banks of three, Newcastle’s striker can afford to press the man on the ball without worrying that he has left his man, as one of the midfielders will pick up the No.6. This comes predominantly from the fact Newcastle have a three-v-three in midfield, where a 4-4-2 would be outnumbered three-to-two. 

If the ball reaches the far side of the pitch, the winger can press the full-back (No.2), and the midfielder behind can drop deeper to track the No.8.