“‘He’s a 50-Goal BEAST!’ – Newcastle’s GENIUS Signing After CRUSHING Arsenal in Epic Showdown!”

Two weeks before the Carabao Cup final, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe emphasized the potential match-winning impact of set-pieces, telling his staff, “A set-play can win us the game.”

That foresight proved accurate when Dan Burn scored from a well-executed routine at Wembley, highlighting the behind-the-scenes efforts of assistant Jason Tindall and set-piece analyst Kieran Taylor.

Despite the occasional inconsistency in training, Newcastle’s preparation paid off when it mattered most.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of marginal gains, Newcastle are now seeking to hire an elite-level coach dedicated solely to set-piece planning and execution.

While much attention is on summer signings, this coaching appointment could prove just as pivotal.

Set-piece expert Gianni Vio, who has worked with the likes of Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, likens set-piece training to acquiring an additional 15 to 20-goal striker. “I’m sure of it. 100%,” he asserts.

Newcastle already boast a strong foundation. Defensively, only three Premier League teams conceded fewer goals from corners and free-kicks last season (eight), with only Liverpool managing more clean sheets. Offensively, however, there’s room for improvement.

The Magpies scored 13 goals from set-plays (excluding penalties) in the league, but seven teams outperformed them, and their expected goals (xG) from such situations stood at 11.71—mid-table in effectiveness.

A deeper analysis reveals that Newcastle struggled to capitalize on corners, at one point going 50 straight without scoring.

In contrast, Arsenal—whom Newcastle’s coaches admire—scored 14 goals from corners last season and 30 over the last two campaigns, more than double Newcastle’s tally.

According to Vio, success stems from regular, focused training sessions and detailed video analysis. Clubs often spend hours on general drills, yet neglect set-pieces, despite them accounting for over 20% of goals in a season.

He recommends short but consistent weekly sessions, supported by pre-training video briefings to reinforce structure, roles, and timing.

Vio’s impact at Spurs—doubling their set-piece goals in a season—illustrates the value of tailored preparation. He avoids overloading players with complex routines, instead introducing one effective play per match.

He emphasizes adapting strategies to each opponent’s weaknesses while leveraging his own team’s strengths, whether it be attacking zonal defenses or exploiting positional mismatches.

Set-pieces, Vio says, are “a game within the game,” and with 230 of last season’s 1,091 Premier League goals coming from dead-ball situations, clubs now recognize their strategic importance.

“We decide the timing and the structure,” Vio explains. “It’s an opportunity to score – and defenders must realize it, too.”