Janine Beckie 2019/20: Reviewing her performances at right-back

Manchester City Women have been keeping pace with the top of the league and are looking to regain the crown they last won in 2016. After a busy summer of signings including Ellen White, Laura Coombs, Aoife Mannion, and Matilde Fidalgo, City were looking to take the league by storm. However, an injury to starting right-back Mannion saw a void that needed to be filled quickly. With Fidalgo in and out of the team, Nick Cushing found an unusual solution to his problem by moving forward Janine Beckie into the vacant right-back position. The Canadian forward has filled in at right-back for the past few matches and has not looked too out of place.

This tactical analysis scout report will look at how Beckie has adapted to the role and investigate how the tactics have changed with her introduction.

How has she adapted to right-back?

Moving from an attack to defence can be a problem for some players especially given that a number of inside-forwards and wingers aren’t very defensive-minded. Beckie, however, has been able to seamlessly slot into the right-back position and transform it into her own. Taking advantage of her attacking nature, Beckie has been seen making marauding runs down the right flank more than when she was deployed as a striker and right-winger. Her performances have been largely impressive and as a result, the team as well. Playing from a deeper position has allowed her the space to run in to and take on the opposition full-back using her immense pace and acceleration. Statistically, Beckie has attempted 24 dribbles per 90 in four matches as a right-back as against the 11 she made as a centre-forward and 18 as a right-winger.

Janine Beckie 2019/20: Reviewing her performances at right-back tactical analysis tactics — [Credit: Wyscout]

Many teams are now forced to drop their wingers back and double up against Beckie because of her immense pace. Giving her any sort of room to operate in is dangerous as it gives City and Beckie enough of a chance to create a goal-scoring opportunity. This example against West Ham Women shows us her intelligence and use of the ball even when she’s coming in at pace. Georgia Stanway holds up the ball against the full-back next to the touchline, allowing Beckie time to make a late run into the space in front of her. We can see there is enough space for her to run into with the momentum she brings in.

After she reaches the byline, we can see how her run along with Stanway’s hold up play has attracted four Spurs players away from the penalty area. This has given space to Jill Scott and White to operate in. While Beckie’s cross here was blocked, it shows how her purposeful running is an asset in these types of situations.

Another hallmark of her skillset is her crossing ability that wasn’t used to her full potential when playing further forward. Even here she’s attempted 35 crosses in her time as a right-back as compared to the 28 in her previous matches dating back to the start of the season. But, the difference now is she’s able to get into better crossing positions that originate from her intelligent movement. The Canadian forward has excelled in taking advantage of any space she finds and is able to interchange play with her teammates to exploit it. Once she is given time and space her lethal crossing ability comes into play and more often than not finds her intended target.