Four minutes is all it took Newcastle to take the lead against Man United on Monday night and the goal would have had Ruben Amorim questioning three of his players.
It has been a tough start to life for the Portuguese coach at Old Trafford having lost his last three matches in charge of the Manchester club. Things do not get any easier for the 39-year-old, with Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal being their next three fixtures.
Amorim has failed to improve the Red Devils’ form since they sacked Erik ten Hag and it only took four minutes for their underwhelming start to the 2024/25 campaign to continue against Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s team arrived at Old Trafford in top form and made a very fast start to the Premier League contest with Alexander Isak making it 1-0 inside four minutes.
Lewis Hall swung a cross into the United box and the Swedish striker headed the ball home uncontested – which shows why Arsenal are interested in the 25-year-old heading into 2025.
Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez were like statues for the opening strike and the trio were at fault again for the Magpies’ second.
Ruben Amorim pushing Man United to complete €18m transfer for Barcelona defender
Barely three minutes on the clock and Newcastle lead at Old Trafford! ?
Alexander Isak heads the Magpies in front ? pic.twitter.com/FT3jNtS8XV
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 30, 2024
Ruben Amorim needs to rethink his Man United defence
Newcastle’s second goal was very similar to the first as Anthony Gordon’s cross was headed in unchallenged by Joelinton.
De Ligt, Maguire and Martinez did next to nothing to stop the Brazilian from scoring and it highlights an area Amorim needs to fix quickly. The three centre-backs are crucial to the Portuguese coach’s system and it would be a surprise if new players don’t arrive in 2025.
"They are a powerhouse right now"
Joelinton doubles the lead for Newcastle ?? pic.twitter.com/wUsXeX09ol
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 30, 2024
The central defenders on the pitch for the Newcastle contest are not good enough to play together at Old Trafford and most United fans will not disagree that changes need to be made to this area of the pitch.
First get rid of Martinez and Dalot. Maybe buy players who are at least 6′ 4″. and know how to kick a ball forwards
De ligt was fine journalist hasn’t a clue only amad is worth keeping you could sell the rest imo.
But don’t believe everything you read.
The coach has tried his best in selecting the
best players,meaning that problem is not the coaches problems are our Manchester United players but i can advise our beloved coach to use the previous formation which players understands best 4:2:3:1
Trying to get these players to play in a 3-4-2-1 isn’t going to work, this is partly on Amorim’s refusal to come up with a strategy that works with the players he has.
The back three aren’t used to having so much space on either side, and when the wing backs drop in to help it leaves the pivot in front of them easily bypassed. Dalot, bless, playing on the right of a four is far better, but Malacia on the left is awfuler. Martinez is shockingly bad in a three, his desire to win a ball is completely shot.
I’m sick of seeing Hojlund making runs and not being given the ball, instead it gets recycled — this team probably makes more back and side to side pases than they do forward ones.
Either these players are too stupid to understand what Amorim wants at this stage, or he’s too stupidly proud to change things to fit the players he has. Either way, there’s too much stupid at this club.
Pundits say that Amorim has had no time to train the players! For heavens sake, these guys are being paid £100,000 per week, they are Internationals and have had 7 weeks to work out how to play as a three, OR in the case of Dalot and Mazraoui as wingbacks.
Forgetting Evans and Lindelof, as they have not really played as much, but the three centre backs that started against Newcastle are a disgrace.
Amorim made the mistake of starting Eriksen and Casemiro as the midfield pivot. He should have known that would not work; both have lost the ability to play together due to their age and lack of energy.
Zirkzee should be shipped out as soon as possible.
WHY was Rashford on the bench and not used?
Next up is Liverpool; Premier League Champions in waiting against a Sunday League side!