Ngcobo is Baxter’s 4-3-3 specialist

At this stage, Ngcobo has started 11 matches for the Glamour Boys out of the 21 they have played this season. After that initial full debut on the left of a back three against Royal AM, he has started 10 other matches, with nine of those being as a number six in a 4-3-3 shape. Between November and February, Baxter decided to switch to a back three system for six consecutive league matches, versus Swallows, Sekhukhune United, Royal AM, Maritzburg United, Cape Town City and Baroka FC. Ngcobo did not play a single one of those in midfield, with his only start coming on the left of the defensive three against the Team of Choice. He helped keep a clean sheet that day.

Baxter clearly likes Ngcobo in midfield but doesn’t see him as a player for a “double pivot”. Perhaps he feels he needs two box-to-box players in that area in his 3-4-2-1 set-up, usually going for two of Nange, Njabulo Blom, Kearyn Baccus and Alexander. Or maybe he feels that having three centre-backs, two wingbacks and a pure defensive midfielder as well leaves the XI too negative and lacking goal threat. A perfect example of this way of thinking for Baxter came in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates earlier this month. Ngcobo started the match as the deepest midfielder in a 4-3-3 alongside Bernard Parker and Nange. However, when Chiefs were under pressure in the second half and the former Bafana Bafana coach wanted to move to a back three (or back five to be accurate), he took off Ngcobo and added Ramahlwe Mphahlele from the bench – allowing Blom to move into the double pivot. In short, don’t expect to see a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 shape with Ngcobo dovetailing with one other central midfielder. He is a specialist “lone six” and that isn’t expected to change in the near future!