Newcastle: 5 Things Alan Pardew Clearly Doesn't Know About Bayern Munich

4. They Over-Run Possession

The Newcastle boss has been exaggerated in his praise of Newcastle without the ball recently, stating that the team could be more dangerous without the ball, which is pretty much the opposite of what Bayern Munich's team is built on. Like Newcastle earlier in the season, in fact, Guardiola drills it into his team the idea that the opposition cannot hurt you if they don't have the ball, but the difference is that Guardiola also openly acknowledges that possession without intent or final product is pointless. "Possession is important when you create chances, so possession for itself is nothing. We try to have the possession in front because sometimes you have loads of possession but do not create chances, just to defend and defend €“ because when you have possession, you have the ball and it is impossible the opponent can score a goal... But I like possession because I like it when my team has the ball, but always you have to try to have good possession because i repeat possession for itself is nothing." Newcastle allow their opponents the ball as a chief mechanic of their tactics - they need the opposition to attack and over-commit in order to break. Bayern are completely different in that they control possession from the kick-off, and break as well when they reduce opposition play. And to suggest that Newcastle are anything like them in that respect is to ignore the fact that Guardiola's approach demands a large amount of possession (which is why they average 61% per game, compared to Newcastle's 47%).