Joe Cole genuinely likened makeshift Newcastle defender Lewis Miley to Paolo Maldini in his second game at the back, as Peter Crouch felt he “bullied” a Chelsea star.
With right-backs Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, and Emil Krafth all unavailable to face the Blues, Newcastle played midfielder Miley there. He’d only played there once previously, scoring in the last game – the League Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham, in a great audition for the weekend.
Miley came close to getting himself on the scoresheet in the first half of the Premier League game against Chelsea, rising above the defence but nodding past the goal.
However, it was his defensive skills that garnered significant praise.
At the back end of the first half, Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho dribbled towards Miley, keeping the ball close before attempting to get past him. Yet, Miley expertly jockeyed him, preventing any successful advances.
At no point did Miley get too tight to Garnacho, allowing him to dribble momentarily before closing in right as Garnacho lost control, ensuring the ball ran out of play with the Chelsea player unable to circumvent his opponent.
Afterwards, Joe Cole remarked: “I’m going to throw a name out here, Paolo Maldini defended like that. He looked like, as a player was dribbling at him, he was the one that was in control. He knew he had Garnacho’s number there. Fantastic defending.”
It was noted during commentary that Miley appeared as if he had played the position his entire life. Nevertheless, Ally McCoist, having faced Maldini, indicated that the Newcastle man still “has a little way to go.”
This moment exemplified the type of defending Maldini excelled at throughout his career, famously stating: “If I have to make a tackle, then I have already made a mistake.”
Miley never had to make a tackle, forcing Garnacho to expend his energy before Miley asserted his strength at the critical moment.
At half-time, Peter Crouch commented that Miley had “bullied” the Chelsea winger.
Later in the match, as Garnacho attempted to take on Miley in the box, the Newcastle man managed to poke the ball away and reached the second ball first to clear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Lewis Miley?
- Lewis Miley is a midfielder for Newcastle United who recently played as a defender due to injuries in the squad.
- What did Joe Cole say about Lewis Miley?
- Joe Cole compared Miley’s defensive skills to those of Paolo Maldini, praising his control over Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho.
- How did Lewis Miley perform against Chelsea?
- Miley showed strong defensive skills, managing to neutralize Chelsea’s threats effectively throughout the match.
- Was Lewis Miley’s performance considered impressive?
- Yes, commentators and analysts noted that he defended excellently and seemed very comfortable in the role.
- What is Newcastle’s current situation with defenders?
- Newcastle had several right-backs unavailable, necessitating Miley’s makeshift role in defense.
- How did Peter Crouch describe Miley’s impact on the game?
- Peter Crouch remarked that Miley had “bullied” Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho during the match.
- What did Ally McCoist say about Miley’s performance?
- Ally McCoist acknowledged Miley’s strong performance but said he has “a little way to go” to match Maldini’s level.