Isak and Joelinton help Newcastle overcome weak Manchester United | Premier League

Isak and Joelinton help Newcastle overcome weak Manchester United | Premier League

Under Ruben Amorim, a head coach who took over on November 11th and forgot to pack the “jump” that is often given to an employer after the last coach was fired, Manchester United is sliding towards the relegation zone.

This was United’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions and the first time they had lost three home league games in a row since 1978–79. After eleven games, the Portuguese coach’s record stands at six defeats, four wins and one draw. Peer at the table and United are in 14th place with 22 points. No wonder, because afterwards Amorim admitted that relegation was a danger and “our club needs a shock”.

Once again the 3-4-3 formation failed and Joshua Zirkzee, who was hauled off after half an hour, is a glaring symbol of United’s disarray. Another reason was the inclusion of Marcus Rashford in the squad after the striker said he wanted a “new challenge”; If you can, understand what the head coach thinks on the matter. Amorim keeps saying that he must follow his “idea” to the end, but it would be sheer folly if the team repeatedly loses and the players become more disillusioned.

There’s a good reason Antonio Conte’s 2016-17 Chelsea are the only three-centre-back champions of the Premier League era, and it’s because the system isn’t proactive and can be overrun in midfield, like United was here. It took Amorim three minutes and 30 seconds to lower his head. Fluid from Newcastle, amateurish from United, who, despite the lineup of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, allowed Alexander Isak to rise and head the ball in front of André Onana’s goal.

Maguire and Martínez were the main culprits as the in-form Swede separated them and scored his eighth goal in his last seven games. Amorim’s men already looked like a pub XI that had stumbled into the local park in the middle of a fun-filled Christmas. Noussair Mazraoui was their next fool as Anthony Gordon’s blistering speed left the right-back behind before the Newcastle winger fed Joelinton, whose radar failed.

Amorim felt even more disgust as Eddie Howe’s side scored again with ease. This was thanks to United’s midfield, who met Newcastle’s red-hot knife with warm butter. Possession was passed to Gordon, he blocked the ball and Joelinton made the unfortunate Martínez look like a schoolboy by rising and heading the second ball.

Amorim was responsible for the gaps because, with Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes unavailable, he did without 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo and sent Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – aged 64 between them – to battle against Newcastle’s strong trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

Harry Maguire (left) scratches his head in disbelief at Old Trafford. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters

The visiting fans were thrilled, mocked their hosts with the killer line from John B, the Beach Boys’ sloop: “This is the best trip I’ve ever been on” – and soon became even louder in their enthusiasm. A Tonali advance provoked a corner and Kieran Trippier’s shot almost beat Onana, as he did from the set-piece in the 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day. The follow-up shot was also dangerous, but not as much as Tonali, who hit the post shortly afterwards.

How could it be worse for Amorim and his side? When the 39-year-old decided after 32 minutes that his selection was so poor that Zirkzee should be substituted for Mainoo. He passed alongside Casemiro, Eriksen took the humiliated Dutchman’s place. After Zirkzee trotted straight through the tunnel (he came back), United’s only hope was that Newcastle missed it: Fabian Schär tried and played the ball straight to Mainoo, whose pass hit Casemiro but his chip cross hit no one met. United had played their worst 45 minutes in Amorim’s short reign, and the second half was a test for any manager: could Howe sustain his team’s excellence or could Amorim engineer a revival?

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Rasmus Højlund won a corner in the 51st minute, United’s first, but Eriksen’s delivery was just as effective as Casemiro’s cross outside the boot after it burst. Still brighter from the hosts. An attempt from Amad Diallo was saved and United turned the ball under control, culminating in a diving header from Maguire hitting Martin Dubravka’s right-hand post.

Suddenly Old Trafford was a cauldron and United’s enthusiasm gave the faithful something to believe in. Amorim brought on Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho for Martínez and Casemiro, leaving Rashford still a spectator and Maguire taking the armband. Yoro shot a header wide of the goal and sent Antony through for De Ligt. But the bottom line: United is neither making an advance nor threatening us. Amorim monitors a crash.

This was Newcastle’s second league win here since 1972 and first in eleven years. Isak said: “It feels great, we haven’t won here for a long time: the perfect end to the year.”

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