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No word from Eddie Howe, but then his team did the talking tonight. In any case, there’s plenty of meat on the bone of that Ruben Amorim interview, so no doubt folk will be getting on with dissecting that. Anyway, Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford, and his report is in. Here it is. Thanks for reading this MBM, and indeed all of the MBMs during 2024. Have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, everyone, and all the best for 2025.
Ruben Amorim talks to Sky. “It was really hard on us … they are a better team and started very strong … when we suffered a goal it is really hard to turn it around … because of all the losses before … we don’t have the base, the work, behind the positioning and the way we play to cope with difficult moments … when you have that work you can hold to something to cope with the different moments of the game … we don’t have that … so the players suffer a lot … Newcastle is a better team.”
Did he get his team selection wrong? “That is really easy when the game started and then finished for people making evaluations … I have to do it before … I’m the only guy who has to do it before … to try to understand the opponent and the way we play … Joshua Zirkzee is a player of Manchester United … we want more power sometimes in front … we are suffering always the first goal in set pieces … so today we had more guys for set pieces … so we are trying to cope with every problem in the team … sometimes we have a lot of problems … sometimes you push one side and the other is open … we are really clear that today Newcastle was a better team … you have to think about the team and also the player, because sometimes the player is suffering … I was there a few years ago … I felt the team was suffering and needed another midfielder … I talked to Josh about that … Josh is a really good guy … when he went to the tunnel, he was in a bad way because he’s a really good lad … Harry Maguire has had some tough moments … we will support Josh … Newcastle was not better than Josh, was better than Manchester United.”
Will he change his ideas? “Maybe … or you continue with your idea, and you have to change the coach … it’s a choice that everybody makes in football … if I feel it’s the best thing for the team, to pass my message, I will go forward easily … you cannot go back … we have to continue to push … we have had four trainings all together … I was here because of my idea, and I will continue to do my idea until the end … we have to fight … it is a difficult moment … we have to address it with honesty … I change something tactical in every game … you focus on the three defenders, you can focus on that … I change every game and you can see it … if I didn’t believe, I would change, because I am not stubborn … if I believe in something I will stick on that.”
Alexander Isak – who has become only the fourth player to score in six consecutive games in Premier League history, after Alan Shearer, Papiss Cisse and Joe Willock – speaks to Sky Sports. “It feels great … we haven’t won in a long time here … it was a great performance … the perfect way to end this year … our intensity was really good … we pressed high … regains and counter-attacks … the challenge was to have the same intensity here as we do at home … it paid off with two goals and we could have scored more … we’ve been consistent home and away and that’s great to see … I’ve had a good year … the whole team are very ambitious … it’s in all of our interests to get back to the Champions League … we have to keep the same level and stay focused … [being priced at £150m by his club] doesn’t faze me too much … all my focus is on the pitch.”
Post-match postbag. “I’m seeing great similarities between the beginning of Amorim’s reign and Arteta’s at Arsenal. For Arteta, it was decidedly mediocre until he finally had enough with the likes of Aubameyang, booted out their best player and captain, and never looked back. For this to work, the Amorim axe has to swing” – Hugh Molloy
“There’s been decent performances tonight from Amad and Mazraoui while Mainoo and Yoro have played well since coming on. The rest, however, can head to the glue factory post haste” – Matthew Lysaght
“I was about to write that none of these Man U players would get into the current Newcastle lineup. But the site of entertainment machine Antony coming on as a substitute has got me thinking: would any of them even get into the Newcastle squad? Huge gulf in quality. This is so easy it’s almost a bit sad. Loving it” – Chris Paraskevas
“I wonder if Amorim didn’t put Rashford on in case he scored?” – Martin Lancon
“Rashford … it’s just a snub now isn’t it?” – Gary Naylor
Newcastle could, arguably should, have been out of sight by half-time. But they’d already done more than enough, courtesy of Alexander Isak’s head and Joelinton’s shoulder. Manchester United improved in the second half, hitting the post through Harry Maguire, but Newcastle were practically in a neutral gear by then, for the most part coasting home serenely. They celebrate their victory with quiet contentment, having stylishly conquered a venue they rarely enjoy visiting. The hosts meanwhile slink off sheepishly, Ruben Amorim scratching his chin pensively. This is the first time Manchester United have lost three consecutive home league matches since 1978-79, and the first time they’ve been defeated five times in the league in a calendar month since September 1962. They finished 19th out of 22 that season. Matt Busby’s side did go on to win the FA Cup, mind. There is that.
There were two other Premier League matches played tonight. So after these results …
- Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
- Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea
- Manchester United 0-2 Newcastle United
… the Premier League looks like this at the end of 2024.
Newcastle win a league game at Old Trafford for the first time in 11 years, and only the second since 1972. The home fans rumble and grumble: it’s three league defeats in a row for Manchester United, four in all competitions.
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United celebrates at the end of the game. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
90 min +2: Newcastle play keep-ball while their fans give it plenty. The rest of Old Trafford thinning out quickly.
90 min +1: On Sky Sports, Gary Neville names Alexander Isak as his player of the match.
90 min: There will be three additional minutes.
88 min: Garnacho is checked by Tonali out on the left flank. Eriksen curls the free kick into the mixer. Burn heads it clear. Dubravka hasn’t had much to do in this second half, despite Manchester United’s improved performance.
86 min: Diallo runs hard at Burn down the right. He nutmegs the big defender as he enters the box, but then flops to the floor dramatically, claiming a penalty kick. He’s not getting what he wants.
85 min: A double change on the Newcastle flanks. Barnes and Willock come on for Gordon and Murphy.
83 min: Antony comes on for De Ligt.
82 min: Some pinball in the Newcastle box. Diallo has a slash at the ball but misses. Eriksen sends a screamer over the bar, then the flag pops up for an offside, Mazraoui caught in no-man’s land.
81 min: From the resulting free kick, launched long down the middle, De Ligt wins a header on the edge of the D, but Hojlund can’t cushion the ball to take a shot. It breaks through to Dubravka, who snaffles.
80 min: Schar is booked for agriculturally wresting Hojlund to the ground. It’s his fifth yellow of the season, so he’ll be suspended for the Spurs game at the weekend.
79 min: Maguire sprays a simple pass out of play at great velocity, no red shirt within the same postcode. That just about sums Manchester United’s evening up.
77 min: Diallo nicks the ball off Hall and advances towards the Newcastle box from the right, only to be whistled for barging his opponent from behind. It’s the correct call, not that the player agrees, and he nearly talks himself into the book. The referee simply tells him to pipe down.
76 min: “There’s only one Bruno,” chant the Newcastle fans pointedly. Which, tonight, can’t be argued with. Manchester United’s version will be back from suspension for the Liverpool game at Anfield next weekend.
74 min: … and Yoro flashes a header wide left from six yards. It was a decent chance and a great leap. Not far away at all.
73 min: Diallo dribbles hard again down the right and wins a corner off Hall. Eriksen to send it in.
Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall in action with Manchester United’s Amad Diallo. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
72 min: Diallo advances down the right and feeds Mazraoui on the overlap. Mazraoui reaches the byline and cuts back to … nobody in particular. Murphy tidies up.
70 min: Isak, Guimaraes and Livramento combine elegantly down the right, the latter flashing an inviting cross through the six-yard box. There’s no Newcastle leg ready to telescope the ball home. Manchester United undone with ease, though, as Newcastle threaten to reassert their earlier dominance.
68 min: Isak plays a forensic ball down the inside-left channel. De Ligt should intercept, but allows himself to be shrugged off the ball too easily by Hall, who enters the box before skying a wild shot deep into the stand behind. “Manchester United seem like the better side now, but the Magpies look like they’ve eased off,” writes Kári Tulinius. I know 2-0 is the most dangerous lead and all that, but I’d understand if Newcastle’s players felt that these Red Devils are never going to score two goals without reply.”
66 min: Schar plays a pass down the inside-left channel for Isak, but the striker’s miles offside, so doesn’t make a play for the ball. Hall romps after it instead, but Onana reads the danger and races out of his box to blooter clear just before Hall can take up possession. Then the flag goes up for offside anyway, as Hall was caught out of position too.
65 min: A double change for Manchester United. Yoro and Garnacho come on for Martinez and Casemiro. The removal of Martinez means Harry Maguire is Manchester United captain once again.
64 min: Hall sends it in. De Ligt heads clear at the far post.
63 min: Gordon one-twos his way across the pitch, left to right, before being dragged back by Dalot. No booking, but it’s a free kick just to the side of the Manchester United box. Hall to take.
61 min: Isak prepares to skate into space down the right, only to be barged to the ground from behind by Martinez, who goes into the book.
59 min: A long throw into the Newcastle box from the left. Some head tennis. The ball drops to Mainoo, who volleys goalwards. Hall blocks. Manchester United come again down the left. Dalot crosses. Maguire crashes the left-hand post with a low diving header in the John Terry style. The rebound breaks to De Ligt, whose bash goalwards is stopped by Hall. This is so much better from Manchester United, who are getting closer and closer to getting a proper foothold in this game.
58 min: … but when play stops the next time, Trippier trudges off, and on comes Livramento.
57 min: Trippier walks off, presumably to be replaced by Livramento. But play restarts before any sub can be made, so Trippier comes back on … and immediately blocks a cross by Diallo. All very odd.
56 min: Trippier goes down clutching the back of his left leg. It doesn’t look like he’ll be able to continue.
Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United goes down with an injury. Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images
54 min: Mainoo wriggles out of a tight spot on the right and sets Manchester United off on the attack. The ball’s shuttled to the other side, where Diallo jinks infield and shoots. Blocked, but this is much better from the hosts. The bar was admittedly set so very low, but the point stands.
53 min: Martinez skittles Guimaraes, who was advancing down the inside-left channel. Martinez slightly fortunate not to go into the book for his cynicism.
51 min: Eriksen whistles the corner through the six-yard box, but Maguire can’t get on the end of it. Casemiro then delivers from the other flank, but it’s an aimless cross and easy for Newcastle to deal with.
50 min: Manchester United are seeing plenty of the ball . Mazraoui curls a cross in from the right. Hojlund competes at the near post, and wins a corner. Eriksen to send it in from the right.
48 min: There were no half-time changes, by the way.
47 min: Trippier pings a long free kick in the direction of Burn, who falls over just inside the area. A light smattering of cries for a penalty kick, but he’s never getting one. “Feel a bit sorry for Zirkzee on a personal level,” writes John Delaney. “This year’s secret Santa went tits up and I took the brunt of the blame even though nobody in the office could be arsed with it.”
Manchester United get the second half under way. Hojlund hacks the ball straight out of play. “I’m in Lisboa with a few Sporting fans watching the game who swear with great passion that Amorim knows what he’s doing,” reports Tim Stappard. “Sporting needed a season to learn his system and clear out some dross. But the United dross of Ten Hag? Not sure.”
Half-time postbag. “I know the options are limited, but Amorim fielding just the two of Casemiro and Eriksen against that Newcastle midfield is pretty damning of club and manager” – Sean Orlowicz
“I would suggest to the powers that be in Old Trafford that the next time they receive a phone call from Bavaria offering them a player, to respectfully decline” – Matthew Lysaght
“Philomena Cunk, Alan Partridge, Tommy Cooper, and, erm, Mrs Brown’s Boys all on the telly this evening, but nothing will give greater comedy value tonight than the Man Utd defence” – John Hubbard
“Have there been any shots of any of the Ineos hierarchy yet? Having spent three years there and experienced their ‘special management style’, I’m finding it very funny that the team are phoning in their performances while the rest of the group has to be in the office five days a week” – Ian Sargeant
A smattering of boos as the hosts trudge off. Newcastle could easily have had a couple more. Having said that, Manchester United have spurned a couple of decent chances to reduce the deficit. Big half-time team-talks coming up. Quite a meaty edition of the Half-time Postbag as well, so stay tuned for that.
45 min +3: Now it’s Tonali’s turn to give the ball away cheaply, in the centre circle, but Diallo and Mazraoui are unable to combine down the right. Throw-in.
45 min +1: Schar gets sloppy, slapping a simple pass out from the back straight to Mainoo, who rolls the ball to Casemiro in space, just inside the box on the left. Casemiro opens his body and shovels a poor effort wide right. That’s a big chance to halve the deficit. For all their dismal play, Manchester United have now had two great opportunities to score. Somewhere in the multiverse, this game is somehow level.
45 min: There will be three additional first-half minutes.
44 min: … and for their part, Newcastle seem quite happy to stroke it around the back and wait for the half-time whistle, and a well-earned cup of tea.
42 min: Manchester United have got a little bit of a foothold at long last. They’re going nowhere in particular, but again, baby steps. “Gary Neville gets a lot of stick at times but he’s doing superbly well to keep a lid on how he must be feeling,” writes Stephen Carr of Sky’s co-commentator, who has indeed yet to descend into freestyle effing and jeffing, though a man has limits, so give it time.
40 min: Casemiro cuts in from the left and skies a shot that arcs over the right-hand corner flag. He has the good grace to look embarrassed.
39 min: … so having said that, Isak and Joelinton nearly carve Manchester United open down the inside-right channel with some intricate exchanges. Fortunately for the home side, the last pass goes awry.
38 min: That early tactical hooking appears to have given Manchester United a shot across the collective bow. First the Hojlund chance, now Mazraoui battles with Burn down the inside-right channel. Burn eventually wins the duel, shepherding the ball out for a goal kick, but at least there are now signs of life from the home team.
37 min: Zirkzee comes back to the dugout, clutching a bottle of orange drink. What it is, is football.
35 min: Martinez rolls a clever pass down the inside-left channel for Hojlund, who suddenly finds himself clear! He enters the box and larrups a shot across Dubravka … but inches wide of the right-hand post. That’s got the crowd going in a more productive manner.
33 min: Amorim has to do something, and hooks Zirkzee for Mainoo. Zirkzee is cheered off by his own fans. Humiliated, he puts his coat on and heads off for the sanctuary of the dressing room. Zirkzee hasn’t been good, but then who in Manchester United red has? It’s a sad moment.
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee gets hooked by manager Ruben Amorim. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
31 min: Newcastle are giving Manchester United all sorts of trouble. Gordon, Guimaraes and Hall combine down the middle to release Tonali, who swaggers into the box, around Onana on the left, and off the base of the left-hand post. So close to a third.
30 min: In fact, Hall opts to play it short, but the ball is worked back to Tonali, whose cross is met by Burn. Fortunately for the hosts, Burn fluffs his header. Double-fortunately for the hosts, the ball’s then played down the inside-left channel to Isak, who lashes a spectacular shot across Onana and into the top right! But Isak was a mile offside.
29 min: Joelinton and Guimaraes combine down the middle, the ball then slipped wide right towards Murphy, who earns another corner. Hall to send this one in.
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