Yeah I know they weren't bad but I was trying to make the Woodman joke. Maybe I should have used "well drilled" instead?They were very, very good today. This was one of the best Newcastle performances I've seen in years.
The fact we weren't at our scintillating best only encourages me more. Newcastle defended as well as any team will at OT this season - they were dangerous on the counter, too - yet we still won the game comfortably. We were flat out poor against Wolves but, again, still ground out a win.Not the best performance overall, but a win is a win.
I still think the ball is being moved too slowly and passes aren't been taken when they are on, instead the ball is brought back inside and moved across only to be brought put into the middle and lost. It's very frustrating how many times the wrong option is taken.
The midfield was bypassed by simple passes too many times. Matic hasn't got the legs anymore and he slows the play down way too much.
NiceCR Heaven
Agreed. I think the actual back line was ok, it was the defensive midfield that was the root cause. Runners coming from deep unchallenged yet again, same as last game. Definitely needs sorting.Defence still shaky as hell, luckily we got some goals at the right time.
Yea the touch to set up was brilliant. Meant to put it through the legs as well.That 2nd Ronaldo goal was sublime. Like he never left. Takes me back 13 years, ah the memories. That red shirt just feels right on him.
What exactly do you know about the coaching at United?Dream debut from Ronaldo. Didn't expect it to go so well. Sancho was good, especially in the first half - I don't know why people are slacking him so much. Pogba was amazing. Bruno was terrible, if not for his goal. Ole needs to tell him to relax and stop trying to make shit happen when there is no need to. Some of his decisions are utterly baffling. His greed is also unbecoming for a United player. I love that part about Bruno, but sometimes he just tries too hard and is a detriment to the team. Varane was absolute class, Maguire did well, but had some costly mistakes, which is kinda like a staple for him at the moment. Matic was fecking dreadful.
And I don't think we played all that well, tbh. Newcastle with their few attacks were far more dangerous than us with our mindless possession. Few class individual performances and an overall headless team that has problems stringing simple passes and has the tempo of playing a pre-season friendly. I don't know what is going with the coaching, but it's pretty bad. My main criticism has to go towards Ole. He continues to make dreadful team selections. Matic had no business being in this game (or any game for that matter at this point)
I'm afraid we can't rely on Ronaldo every time to bail us out or Pogba or Bruno or whoever. The coaching really needs to step its game up and instead of individual brilliance, we have to start producing great teamwork and great teamplay. Otherwise it's simply another wasted season for us with a simple top 4 finish and nothing else to show for. I know that I may be too harsh given the result, but the scoreline is flattering for us, tbh.
Any defence would look shaky with the complete lack of midfield cover we give them. I think we will have to sign a DM in January.Defence still shaky as hell, luckily we got some goals at the right time.
Occasionally, yes, but not often. Usually they don’t need to because usually they play well.The fact we weren't at our scintillating best only encourages me more. Newcastle defended as well as any team will at OT this season - they were dangerous on the counter, too - yet we still won the game comfortably. We were flat out poor against Wolves but, again, still ground out a win.
It's what title-winning sides do.
I agree overall... but match fitness still needs to develop and quite a few new players in the 11 and it takes time for them all the gel.The defence is ok, what isn’t ok is the midfield in front of them. Imagine if we had Kante playing for us. We would give City and the rest a good run for their money. A 7 out of 10 performance from the team today. Too slow at times but the papers say we won and are top so does it matter? We have played much better and lost.
They did aye. And in the last couple of years these have been the teams this team has struggled agianst and they have come away with positive results from their point of view.The fact we weren't at our scintillating best only encourages me more. Newcastle defended as well as any team will at OT this season - they were dangerous on the counter, too - yet we still won the game comfortably. We were flat out poor against Wolves but, again, still ground out a win.
It's what title-winning sides do.
The pieces are there for a historic season, but we definitely need to perform better against parked bus sides. The last third passing was brutal until the final goal, the first “team goal” we’ve scored in a long time.I think we’ve just got to hope this is another RVP season. We’ve seen that we’re still vulnerable when players go at us.
I missed the game but can not find the starting formation at all. What was it?
Thought the exact same thing. Wonder what a wrecking ball like Ndidi would be like next to him in that role.Is it just me, or did Pogba morph into a defensively aware deep lying playmaker??? Exciting stuff!
Anthony Taylor