Is this Jose’s last match managing Man Utd? Newcastle travel to Manchester with a terrible record against the Red Devils, 77 defeats to a Man Utd side, conceding 299 goals. However, don’t let them figures distort the picture of this United team today, it’s difficult to see who will score in this game!
As a Man Utd fan, I don’t know where to start with this game. I am border line terrified about which United team will turn up, is it the one that played with some attacking threat against Young Boys or the one that lost heavily to Brighton. Newcastle don’t win a lot of games at Old Trafford. An early goal for Newcastle would send the crowd backwards and get on the team. Shelvey could have a field day against a static United midfield, pinging passes left and right. Lukaku has been awful, plain and simple. His lack of movement to move into zones/pockets of space when the play is building up around him is laughable. Seems a shadow of his former self and for some reason Mourinho lets him play every minute of every game in most competitions.
Jose’s comment’s in recent days regarding attitude, that last season was phenomenal, in essence we are punching about our weight is more worrying. It feels like he is building the foundations for his exit to say he was successful and here is why. It’s difficult to accept there is 400m pound worth of talent at the club and our best player is still our goalkeeper!
I’m not sure how long Jose has but he lost the backing of the board in the summer by not signing him a centre back. The Spurs game, although a defeat, you could see a change in United’s style and he had the fans backing with him, through support from the Stretford End. The last few games however, our style of play has been poor, the fallout with Pogba through the Sky Sports camera’s and rumours of a dressing room split leaves a lot to be desired.
In Jose’s defence, the senior back room staff such as the Glazers down to Ed Woodward have mismanaged transfer policy from day one. David Moyes struggled to get the players he wanted, Louis Van Gaal was allowed to let players like Di Maria leave the club, Jose has been told to keep players he thinks are not good enough, otherwise why not allow him to buy better talent?
The major problem Ed Woodward has at the moment is finding a new manager who can impact the direction of the club by finishing in the top 4? I’m not sure if United can finish in the top 4 this season but the atmosphere around the club would be a lot better with a new manager!