United lose their fourth game in a row. United don’t score in three straight games. United lose third straight home game. United are 14th. United are 7 points clear of the drop zone.
United are shit.
United have Liverpool away next 🙃.
Ruben Amorim just lost his fifth of eight Premier League games since taking over at the start of November. His last six PL matches have seen one win and five defeats.
Facing an in form Newcastle side was always going to be tough even though it was at Old Trafford. Many fancied a Magpies win but the manner of the defeat for United would’ve been the real disappointment for Amorim, as has been the case in all of the losses.
With the team being truly awful, one would’ve thought that they would at least put in a performance for the final game of the year but just 4 minutes in, Alexander Isak makes it 1-0 and the game is over.
Literally, the ref should’ve blown the full time whistle then because we never stood a chance for the rest of the match.
A poor and simple goal to concede with an unchallenged cross into the box being met by an unchallenged in form striker who had the easiest of chances to put his side in the lead.
The away team were all over their hosts and looked threatening every time they went forward. In contrast, United couldn’t play a 5-yard pass let alone create anything in attack.
But if the game wasn’t over after the first 5 minutes, it certainly was after Joelinton made it 2-0 inside 20 minutes after a carbon copy of Isak’s opener.
Another cross that wasn’t closed down quick enough was met by an unchallenged Newcastle player who had pretty much a free header from the 6-yard box.
It was clear that things needed to change fast for Amorim and change it he did as half an hour in, the United boss takes off Zirkzee as one of the CAMs to bring on Mainoo.
The young Dutch forward was having a poor game but so was everyone else. It really could’ve been any one of his teammates that the manager could’ve hooked and nobody would've batted an eye.
The number 11 then proceeded down the tunnel only to re-emerge a few moments later. This whole scene does not bode well for Zirkzee as he is a player that many fans wouldn’t mind seeing the back of despite only signing in the summer.
More tough times for Amorim off the field as much as on it.
His other striker Hojlund, did manage to get in behind Newcastle’s defense but his shot went wide of the mark. You would expect a top striker to have at least hit the target despite the tight angle.
That was United’s first opportunity and touch in the opposition’s box. This was just after the half hour mark.
That was followed by an even better opportunity for Casemiro - who made his first start since the Viktoria Plzen game - who put his effort wide even though he had space and time in the box.
350k-a-week and blud couldn’t even make the goalkeeper work. What is he still doing at our club?
While these were opportunities for United to get back into it, Newcastle did hit the post as Sandro Tonali somehow managed to strike the upright from close range. Isak also smashed one in but was offside.
That ended the half and ended what was one of the worst 45 minutes we’ve seen from United since well, Wolves. We don't even have to look far back for the last poor performance. Shows you how bad we are.
At least we’re consistent 🤷♂️.
Eddie Howe’s team then took their foot off the gas in the second period for some stupid reason because if they wanted to, they could’ve scored double digits.
This along with the Mainoo change, allowed United to gain a foothold in the game and while Amorim did bring on Yoro, Garnacho and Antony in the second half, other than a header from Yoro in which he should’ve done better, they were of little effect.
The match ended at a respectable 2-0 for United but it really was a hiding from a team that showed the right attitude, work rate and execution of the manager’s ideas.
Crazy how good a team can look when they do all those things.
Amorim hasn’t had a smile on his face for a long time whilst prowling the touch line as United boss.
His trademark look of being on his haunches was paired with shakes of the head at the disbelief at what he was seeing in that game. Same as us all.
There was a lot of what we’ve seen before in that silly mistakes were made that simply cannot be on the coach: not closing down crosses, not marking players in the box, not controlling the ball, can’t play 5-yard passes.
This isn’t on the manager.
Ratings
Onana - 4
De Ligt - 5
Maguire - 5
Martinez - 4
Mazraoui - 4
Casemiro - 3
Eriksen - 3
Dalot - 3
Amad - 5
Zirkzee - 3
Hojlund - 3
Mainoo - 6 MOTM
Garnacho - 4
Yoro - 5
Antony - 5
Ruben Amorim - 6
Final Thoughts
I honestly don’t know where we go from here. It’s really difficult to explain what’s going on at United. We are a mess from top to bottom and at this point, I don’t even blame the players.
Amorim and his staff are absolved of blame. Yes they may be getting some things wrong in recent weeks but they are still new and getting used to these players and league as much as we are getting used to them. It will take time for them.
I also don’t blame these players because they are just shit. This is as ‘good’ as we’re going to get with them. I don’t think they can do anymore.
This is now on the club. INEOS have brought in their manager and if they want him to succeed they have to give them the tools to do so. This means removing almost the entirety of the current squad and bringing in players Amorim deems are ideal for his play style.
INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been very quick and ruthless when it comes to sacking other club staff, canceling charity events and reducing Christmas bonuses so it’s about time they start to remove some of the shite on the field.
Everyone is really upset with them at the moment for how they've handled those other matters and the only way they can salvage this situation is by getting rid of a lot of those players. Perhaps then we might take them more seriously.
However, in his post-match presser, Amorim has just said that when it comes to potential signings in January, "We don't have that possibility in January. You know that situation..."
So what are we saying about this?
What a way to end of the year though, ey? And next year begins with trips to Anfield and The Emirates.
K. M. N.
Background Image: Lisandro Martinez | Image viaManchester United official X (@ManUtd)