Woeful United are so out of Toon
FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR WOEFUL REDS AS MATTY LONGSTAFF NETS NEWCASTLE WINNER
ELEVEN games without an away win. Seven goals in the last 10. Five wins in 23 matches. Twelfth in the table. Fifteen points adrift of Liverpool. Two points above the relegation zone. It is getting worse before it gets better for United but the better days appear light-years away.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stressed they could have ‘no excuses’ prior to their uninspiring surrender at Newcastle, winless at home all season until the arrival of United. The desperate reality of it all for Solskjaer is Newcastle’s victory does not register as a jolt against this United. This predictably awful team was predictably awful.
United supporters chanted ‘We want Glazers out’ as they drifted out of the Cars Jeans Stadion in midweek and its airing came much earlier at St James’ Park. For the second time in the last four days, the best thing about United was their away support. Their singing did not abate in the wake of Matty Longstaff’s winner and that air of defiance will persist, regardless of who the manager is. Solskjaer still approached them at fulltime, offering applause and waves. That is about as effective is his management was all day. They still sang his name repeatedly throughout.
Solskjaer may not be the manager who elevates United back into the elite and the targeting of the owners is telling. The problems, as with the previous manager, go way beyond the manager.
Longstaff’s brother Sean was wanted by United in the summer and he skillfully finished a breakaway as Newcastle beat United at their own counter-attacking game. As for United’s attack, Harry Maguire had more touches in the Newcastle area than any of his teammates. United managed three efforts on target. Steve Bruce could hardly have wanted a poorer United to claim his first win against them as a manager.
“Ole, we love you,” a Geordie chirped in added time. Others sang, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning.’ He won’t, but the doubts over his suitability to make United a competitive force again are piling up.
Solskjaer and his staff contributed to the ramshackle defending by moving Axel Tuanzebe, exemplary at centre-half, to right-back to accommodate substitute Marcos Rojo on the hour mark.
Allan Saint-Maximin drew the runners and Longstaff was left alone at the edge to drive the ball low past De Gea.
For the second away match running in the league, Ashley Young was the only United player clapping and cajoling his teammates before and during the match. Some looked at him as if he were playing a different sport. The jury is in on several of these incompetents and the startling reality is some could still start against Liverpool in a fortnight. Six of the outfielders who lined up in the season
The desperate reality for Solskjaer is Newcastle’s win does not register as a jolt against this United Samuel Luckhurst
opener against Chelsea were unavailable through ailments, with Victor Lindelof the latest casualty caused by the plastic pitch in Den Haag. Not enough of the standins possess the confidence and class of Tuanzebe, for whom ‘stand-in’ is becoming a disservice, especially on Lindelof ’s form this campaign.
After one of the worst United away days from this generation on Thursday, MUTV played one of the greatest - the 6-2 evisceration of Newcastle in 2003.
The club channel is becoming the History Channel and Solskjaer played a pivotal role in both matches.
After Diogo Dalot flicked the ball into touch, Solskjaer raised his eyebrows and puffed out his cheeks on the return to the sheltered dugout. It would get worse.
Solskjaer tried to get a message across to Fred, who looked permanently confused, that did not carry and the constant in-game coaching Andreas Pereira requires suggests the fault lies in his consistent selection on the right flank. United were as miserable to watch as the Newcastle weather. Matty Longstaff pinged David de Gea’s woodwork and the impotent Miguel Almiron sprung the high United line but took an eternity and Maguire retreated to cover courageously.
He was not as full-blooded with a free header from four yards on the cusp of half-time that would have put United ahead.
Marcus Rashford, now with one goal from open play in 18, was every bit the attacker who does not regard himself as a centre forward. A Dalot cross almost resulted in an own goal from Fabian Schar and Rashford could learn from Schar’s positioning and near post run for a Newcastle corner he met.
Solskjaer and Michael Carrick were deep in conversation as the players filtered past towards the tunnel at the pause and Mason Greenwood was told to warm-up within seconds of the restart. Instead, Rojo was the first to emerge for the injured Dalot and that contributed to the haphazard defending for Longstaff’s winner.
Maguire rollocked Rashford for his disconnected demeanour and James outstretched his arms in disbelief when there was no nearpost runner for a low cross. Come the 66th minute, Greenwood replaced Mata and Rashford was reprieved.
United would not be, by Matty Longstaff on his Premier League debut. Newcastle will feel this was a victory for the underdog but, against this United, the home team are invariably the favourites.
It just got worse.