Joshua Zirkzee hooked, Gary Neville criticism and Old Trafford boos: Man Utd’s Newcastle nightmare
The citywide football crisis enveloping Manchester showed some signs of abating when City saw off Leicester relatively comfortably on Sunday.
Not so fast, said Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, before delivering a wretched first half against Newcastle with more regrettable moments in 45 minutes than United teams used to deliver at home across an entire season.
The low point came when Amorim hooked striker Joshua Zirkzee after half an hour, bringing on England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, in a change that was cheered by some United fans.
Gary Neville, co-commentating on Sky Sports, said: “He’s not been good. But they’ve all been absolutely awful.
“You are watching the worst pound-for-pound football team in the country, bar none, out there in red shirts.”
Zirkzee appeared to storm down the tunnel following his withdrawal before returning to the dugout a few minutes later.
Here is everything that went wrong.
Alexander Isak scores
You do not need a subscription to a high-end analytics platform to know the danger posed by Newcastle’s Swedish striker. The odd glance of Match of the Day over the past few weeks should be enough to teach you all you need to know. In short – be careful. United failed to heed that warning after four minutes, when a Lewis Hall cross from the left was stood up into the middle of the box. Striding into space between United’s centre-backs was Isak, who had a simple job in heading his side into an early lead.
Dalot’s dribbling ‘disasterclass’
Time for a show of defiance, for United to demonstrate that they would not be cowed by their upstart visitors. Diogo Dalot attempted to take the ball out of defence on his own, the sort of thing which could rouse a cautious crowd to rally behind their team. Dalot immediately lost the ball.
Isak cruises in behind
Once again, defenders, do keep an eye on this Isak chap, he looks quite dangerous. Isak is set free with a simple through ball and finds himself well clear of the chasing United pack. He is pushed to a tight angle for his shot but makes a mess of it. But still, maybe best to liven up your defending ideas a bit?
Joelinton dominates Martinez
The ball is worked down Newcastle’s left flank again, the source of their first goal. This time Anthony Gordon delivers the cross and Joelinton embarrasses Lisandro Martinez, comfortably bettering the defender in the air to score Newcastle’s second. We have not yet played 20 minutes.
Isak scores again?
The chronic vulnerability on United’s right is exploited again. Isak has time but no great window for his shot. He lashes it past Andre Onana venomously to seemingly score again, but the goal is ruled out for offside.
Tonali hits post
Still no sign of defensive tightening, or much protection from the creaking veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in United’s midfield. Sandro Tonali practically walks it in after a passing move which United cannot keep track of, but a post denies him his team’s third.
Zirkzee hooked... and jeered by the Old Trafford crowd
A sure sign of an ongoing implosion, the tactical first-half sub. Zirkzee’s latest terrible game concludes after just 33 minutes, and he is replaced by Mainoo to introduce some legs to United’s woeful central area. Zirkzee is practically cheered off by the usually forgiving Old Trafford crowd. No great surprise to see him head down the tunnel rather than watch from the bench. Would you want to watch this lot either? He does, however, make a return shortly afterwards.
The wrath of Gary Neville
Sky Sports’ co-commentator calls United the “worst pound-for-pound team in country”. At times in this first half you wondered if the “pound-for-pound” qualifier is even necessary.
Two big misses
All may not be lost for United. After lax Newcastle defending, two chances present themselves for a route back into the game. Rasmus Hojlund puts his attempt narrowly wide but the second is a more glaring miss. Mainoo finds Casemiro after a loose ball from Fabian Schar, Casemiro delivers a bizarre looping shot which floats away from danger, some way from the target. United are booed off at half-time.
