The struggle for goals at St. James’ Park has become a recurring theme this season, leaving many fans and pundits scratching their heads. There is a palpable sense of frustration in the stands as Newcastle United often seems intent on walking the ball into the net.
While intricate passing and high-level build-up play are beautiful to watch when they come off, the Magpies have found themselves stifled by opponents who sit deep and defend in a “low block.” When a team puts ten men behind the ball, the space to pass through them disappears, and that is exactly when a more direct approach is required.
Many supporters share the same sentiment: sometimes you just need to pull the trigger. There is a common joke among the Toon faithful that during any given match, parents across the country are sending the same text message to their children: “Just shoot!”
Apart from Jacob Murphy, who is never shy about testing a goalkeeper from distance, the rest of the squad seems to have developed a strange aversion to having a speculative effort. The reality is that football is a game of chaos, and you cannot create that chaos if you don’t take risks.
A long-range shot doesn’t need to be a perfect strike toward the top corner to be effective. It can take a lucky deflection, force a corner, or catch a goalkeeper off guard, leading to a rebound. Even a missed shot can pull a defender out of position, creating the very space that the team’s passing game needs to thrive.
Eddie Howe is a manager who pays close attention to the fine details, and ahead of a massive clash against Aston Villa, he has pinpointed this lack of distance shooting as a major area for improvement. The statistics tell a stark story.
Newcastle has only managed to score four goals from outside the penalty area all season. In contrast, Sunday’s opponents, Aston Villa, have already racked up twelve. This discrepancy highlights a fundamental difference in how the two teams approach the final third of the pitch.
During his pre-match preparations, Howe openly discussed this imbalance and singled out one player in particular who possesses the physical attributes to change these numbers.
The man in question is Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder arrived on Tyneside with a massive reputation, and while his tactical intelligence and work rate are undeniable, his goal contributions have been quiet this year.
Howe was quick to praise the sheer power Tonali possesses, revealing that the former AC Milan star has a “rocket of a right foot.” According to the manager, Tonali consistently produces some of the hardest shots the coaching staff has ever seen during training sessions. The challenge, however, is translating that training ground power into a matchday environment.
| Stat Category | Newcastle United | Aston Villa |
| Goals from outside the box | 4 | 12 |
| Leading Long-Distance Scorer | Bruno Guimaraes (3) | Unai Emery’s various attackers |
| Shooting Accuracy (overall) | ~42% | ~51% |
| Avg. Shots from Distance | 3.2 per game | 6.8 per game |
Howe admitted that shooting from distance is very much dependent on the individual. He doesn’t want players who lack that specific skill to start wasting possession with wild efforts. But for a player like Tonali, the instruction is clear: shoot more.
The manager noted that it is about getting the midfielder into the right positions and making him feel comfortable enough to take the gamble. There is a sense that Tonali, much like Anthony Gordon at times this season, is suffering from a dip in confidence. When a player isn’t feeling 100% sure of themselves, they tend to take the “safe” option passing the ball sideways rather than taking a strike at goal.
It is a bit of a “chicken and egg” situation for the Italian international. He hasn’t found the back of the net yet this campaign, and that lack of goals naturally affects his willingness to try something spectacular.
However, as any striker or attacking midfielder will tell you, one “worldie” from thirty yards out can be the perfect cure for a slump. If Tonali can find the courage to let fly against Villa and find the “onion bag,” it could be the catalyst he needs to rediscover the form that made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.
As Newcastle prepares for the visit of Unai Emery’s side, the tactical plan seems to involve a bit more unpredictability. The team cannot afford to be one-dimensional against a side that is so proficient at scoring from range themselves.
By encouraging Tonali to use his natural power, Howe is looking to add another weapon to his arsenal. If the Magpies can start forcing goalkeepers to work from distance, it will inevitably open up more room for the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson to operate closer to goal.
Ultimately, the message from the dugout is a simple one that mirrors the cries from the Gallowgate End. The talent is there, the power is there, and the training data proves it.
Now, it is up to the players to trust their instincts and stop trying to score the “perfect” goal every time. In a league as tight as the Premier League, sometimes the “ugly” shot from distance is the most beautiful thing a team can produce.
