The new season has sprung upon us, enlisting a host of exciting tactical tweaks to explore. Some things might not last more than a match, and that’s all part of the fun of the first round of fixtures. Here is what stood out to me from Matchday 1.
MARC GUEHI IN MIDFIELD
Embed from Getty ImagesCentre-backs stepping into midfield was one of the most innovative tactical approaches of Pep Guardiola’s entire managerial career. In their Champions League winning campaign, John Stones would step into midfield during possession, and drop back in defense when the ball changed hands. He wasn’t a starting midfielder, but he made the most impact in midfield areas by carrying the ball forward and acting as that first line of rest-defense alongside Rodri.
At the time, Pep Guardiola got all the acclaim for the tactical move. But over time, praise for the approach has also fallen toward Enzo Maresca.
The new Man City manager took the approach one step further on Sunday – starting Marc Guehi in the midfield pivot alongside Elliot Anderson. This time, as an actual midfielder.
Embed from Getty ImagesTo an extent, you can see why. Rodri moved to Barcelona just one week ago, giving City limited time to explore options. Mateo Kovačić started most pre-season matches and would have been expected to start this one. But City have another conundrum beyond the one they’re seeing now without Rodri. They have too many top tier centre-backs.
Embed from Getty ImagesRúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Marc Guehi are three of the best central defenders in the entire world. Abdukodir Khusanov is speedier than all of them, and therefore offers another important skillset to the Sky Blues. You could push Gvardiol out to the left, but then that shifts Nico O’Reilly further forward, or off the pitch entirely. So in order to fit all of these players into the team at once, Maresca started two of them in midfield – Guehi and O’Reilly.
The move was a bit of a strange one. City dominated possession, but lacked real guts and gusto to break Bournemouth down. That is, until they brought in more flair and firepower in Kovačić and Rayan Cherki.
Embed from Getty ImagesKovačić can carry the ball for fun, is a silky smooth dribbler, and a good creator. Cherki is a world class creator, and that kind of risk-taking, game-breaking presence you need in your team. To not start either of them seemed like a mistake, and one that was rectified just in time to help City see out the victory.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs far as Guehi goes, he performed well in midfield. His ball-carrying proved effective, he broke lines with his passing, and his mobility was valuable in defensive transitions. But still, it felt like something was missing, and I think that’s just the greater attacking, creative presence that comes from a Bernardo Silva, a Mateo Kovačić, or even a Rodri.
Embed from Getty ImagesGiven that Phil Foden’s been out of form for a while, I see no harm in trying him as one of those pivot players. He’s a smart ball player, intelligent at finding the right spaces, and capable of pulling strings in that Bernardo Silva kind of way. It’s not like Bernardo Silva was ever the best defensive destructor. Maybe six defenders on the pitch at once isn’t all that necessary.
Maresca can continue this approach to fit all of his best defenders in the team. But he can’t continue this approach if he wants to fit in his best eleven.
MANCHESTER UNITED’S LACK OF MIDFIELD MOBILITY
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom one midfield to another, Manchester United completely lacked the energy and intensity that felt so crucial to their success in 2025-26. They’ve spent so much of their attention and financial resources into finding midfielders this summer, and yet it was the midfield where United were completely dominated by Hull.
Mason Mount looked incredibly bright in the pre-season, only to disappear by the time the season kicked off. Kobbie Mainoo played an integral role to United last campaign and has done nothing to fall out of favour. Meanwhile, Casemiro still hasn’t been replaced.
Instead, they’ve increased their resources around possession-based midfielders. It’s almost like Michael Carrick has gone for the type of partnership that he once had with Paul Scholes. The genius in Youri Tielemans, and the more subtle intelligence and stability in Andrey Santos.
Embed from Getty ImagesAgainst Hull, United were often haste with their passing, trying to go forward too much. But predictably, they dominated the ball. They had 72% of the possession. Unfortunately, they did absolutely nothing with it. Instead, they were constantly over-run in midfield, had no one to really drive them forward, and struggled to cope with any transitional moment.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat they needed, was Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro. They needed that player who could command central areas (Casemiro). They needed that player who could drive the team and carry the ball in spades (Mainoo). They needed someone who would press effectively and stop Hull from carrying through the middle (Mount). Tielemans is more creative and audacious, but the need for Santos and the Belgian captain in the same team is reductive. They offer much of the same characteristics, whilst providing much of the same disadvantages.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the other side, Regan Slater and Matt Crooks never stopped moving and never stopped running. They ran the show for Hull, and had exactly the energy that United needed. After watching him in the opening match, Slater is certainly one to watch this season. He was outstanding at driving Hull on from midfield, breaking up play, and acting as that constant thorn in Manchester United’s side.
For United on the other hand, this new-look midfield might still be a work in progress. With another new puzzle piece still to be thrown into the mix in Carlos Baleba, it will be interesting to see where the Red Devils go from here.
NEWCASTLE’S ENERGY & INTENSITY IN ATTACK
Embed from Getty ImagesNewcastle have been at their best over the past few seasons via non-stop running, energy, and intensity. Anthony Gordon was the embodiment of the Newcastle way. So too was Bruno Guimaraes and all that he offered in both pressing from the front, and creating chances from midfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut something went awry with Newcastle’s attack last season. The goals dried up, and the connectivity between attacking players wilted away. The once harmonious front-three became a disbanded set of players acting in isolation, and Howe struggled to find his best attacking unit.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatthias Jaissle has come in and seemingly prioritized energy, speed and counter-attacking efficiency over creativity, class, and composure. Good move. It worked brilliantly against Liverpool, with the Magpies scoring two clinical counter-attacking goals. Perhaps most fun, it came from a set of players who were all out of form and out of favour last season. Here are their stats from 2025-26:
- Anthony Elanga – 32 matches, 0 goals.
- Joe Willock – 24 matches, 0 goals.
- Yoane Wissa – 19 matches, 1 goal.
Harvey Barnes and William Osula fared better with 7 Premier League goals each, but both had to bide most of their time from the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut with a new manager at the helm, things can always turn around. Elanga was electric up and down that right wing, looking almost unbeatable on the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliam Osula and Yoane Wissa provided the energy and intensity to compliment Elanga’s speed and dynamism, as Barnes provided that extra touch of class on the ball.
All of these players can score goals in the Premier League. They’ve all done it. Joe Willock’s been a superb scorer from late-arriving runs over the years. Harvey Barnes was unstoppable at times for Leicester. Yoane Wissa had a good spell at Brentford. They can all score goals and play this high-octane, counter-attacking style of football to beat the best teams in the league.
It might not always be easy for them to create chances from longer spells of possession with this kind of front-line, but watch out for Newcastle against some of the better teams in the league who want more of the ball. The Magpies will be tough to beat this season, and way more connected in their attacking approach this time around.
What stood out to you from the opening weekend? Be sure to comment below or share on social media! Thanks for reading and see you soon!
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