Willock proves again he is no ordinary Joe
HE appeared to be at the back of the queue but Eddie Howe catapulted him to the fore and, boy, did he make the most of a first-day opportunity.
Almost inevitably Bruno Guimaraes was again the orchestra leader in a dominant midfield display by United - but Joe Willock also served up an invaluable contribution.
It had looked as though he was third in line for the third midfield position but then Jonjo Shelvey got injured and – despite a good preseason – Howe confined Sean Longstaff to the now overcrowded subs’ bench and put Willock in harness with his Brazilians. He was not let down.
Not only did United legend Alan Shearer pick out Willock’s performance for special mention but so did Frank Clark when I shared a glass of wine with him after the game.
“Magnificent,” said Clarkie, who won a European trophy with both United and Nottingham Forest.
This is a huge season for Willock as it is for several players wishing to establish themselves and not be left behind by the development of United’s squad. After impressing with an unbelievable goals run while on loan from Arsenal Willock suddenly looked an Ordinary Joe last season when 29 PL appearances brought just two goals.
However, he appeared up and running on a day when Ginger Geordie Jack Colback failed to stem a relentless midfield tide and Jesse Lingard flitted about like a lost butterfly.
Here we had two clubs and their supporters brim full of optimism and bonhomie having risen spectacularly from the dead.
New day. New managers bearing gifts of life. Player imports. Hope springing eternal.
Yet only one would feel truly satisfied at the end of an opening fixture and it was the only one who matters to us.
Honestly, United were better by the length of the A1. Forest looked what they are – newly-promoted, strangers to one another, King Canute every one of them.
Normal 2022 service was resumed for United.
Same outfield starters despite a new transfer window, same enthusiasm and willingness, same Callum Wilson. Same faint worry – will we score?
What was not the same was that United dominated the ball so much they wondered what to do with it at times.
A whopping 62 per cent possession was reflected in a shots count of 23 to five and 11 corners against one.
Maybe United had to wait until the 15th match of a shocking early season for their first victory last campaign but in these happier times they clinched only their second opening-day win in their last nine PL seasons.
If I had any worry as we approached the hour mark of a match which Newcastle completely dominated it was would they ever score.
However, both goals which came our way were crackers.
Yes, if we want to be picky United need more depth and variation in their forward play, which means action must be stepped up in the transfer market please.
More testing times lie ahead and the cutting edge is not razor sharp.
However, what we saw was pleasing in so many ways.