The defeat and performance to Chelsea before the International break was very disappointing. United need to respond and with the double header against Arsenal and Chelsea at the start of December looming United need to be looking at 3 wins from the next three games. Any dropped points between now and then really increases the pressure on us in these big games which is not the ideal situation we want when we play them. We have to play each game as it comes and not stress too much about what City are doing, until we play them. First up is Newcastle, they will provide us with a difficult game, Benitez is of course a major figure of fun to us as an ex-Liverpool manager, but he is a respected coach who will prepare his team well for this type of challenge.
Newcastle will certainly play a defensive game. Individual their back four looks unconvincing so Benitez will use all his coaching expertise to ensure the back four are protected properly, by the midfield or else Newcastle could find themselves shipping goals. Expect two banks of four from them with possibly Isaac Hayden an underrated, dependable midfield operator alongside Jonjo Shelvey looking to keep it tight between the lines. I think United will revert to a 4-2-3-1 system here after using 3-5-2 in the last few matches. That system felt more like a specific plan for the matches against Tottenham and Chelsea rather than a more permanent change from Mourinho. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been our number 10 this season, but he tends to be nowhere near as effective when playing against a deep defensive line, because of this I would certainly expect Juan Mata to be in the reckoning from the right, drifting infield between the lines trying to help United create good passing combinations in the final third. He also supply a good goal threat. Out wide I would expect Newcastle’s full-backs Javier Manquillo and Paul Dummett to tuck inside and protect the centre-backs closely. This means there will be plenty of space on the flanks and I am sure we will see the directness of Marcus Rashford (or Anthony Martial) down the left to give us a nice balance. Lukaku won’t get much space to run into the channels here as Newcastle will sit deep so his link-up and penalty box play needs to be good and he hasn’t impressed in this area recently. It is a big game for him, but I am confident he will come good.
The great news for United is the return of Paul Pogba. He has a been a big miss for us, as Mourinho pointed out in his pre-match press conference. "[With] Paul, now I can speak because he's back," said Mourinho. "I didn't like to speak while he was injured, but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul's injury and after Paul's injury. There are qualities in our football, there are qualities that influence our approach in matches with Pogba and without Pogba - it's as simple as that.” Before his injury he was excellent, given a good base by the defensive qualities of Matic he had the the freedom too to push further forward from deep ad be constant source of creativity which United have lacked without him. Herrera offers mobility, tactical intelligence and the odd bit of creative but he is not a genuine scoring threat like Pogba is and he is not someone who repeatedly drives his side forward into attack, converting defence into attack swiftly like Pogba can. He is United’s key player in my opinion, we are a much better team with him in the side. Of course Ibrahimovic is back as well. Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals and had an excellent impact during his first season in England, but he lacked the speed to stretch play and force the opposition back. Lukaku fall all his faults does give us that threat in-behind and I like Jose see no reason why they can’t work together in tandem. “[Ibrahimovic] can play everywhere and, this season, we’ve played with two strikers many times," the boss told the assembled press. "We’ve played [with two strikers] so many times, especially when we play with three at the back, with wing-backs, it allows us to bring in a second striker. “We are ready to do it," he added. "We’ve been preparing ourselves since pre-season – when we started playing three at the back – so they can play together, no problem." That discussion is for another day however, Ibra needs time to work his way back to full sharpness before he starts games again but there is no doubt that his return even from the bench gives United opitions to change things if needed. Mourinho was also keen to welcome Ibrahimovic back into the fold, and he revealed he was thrilled by the big Swede’s return, because of the extra attacking options he provides. "I’m excited because I have more options," he said. "I’m excited because the team can be better. I’m excited because I want to have the best players available. But, you know, I don’t want to make a situation of Zlatan and Romelu because I can play Zlatan and Romelu, just Zlatan, just Romelu or it can be no-one," he added. "I always want options and now I have more options in attack."
Newcastle’s approach in possession will be failry straight forward. Jonjo Shelvey will look to make things happen - in both good and bad ways – from midfied. He is not my cup of tea as a person but he is capable of playing positive passes from midfield into attack. Newcatsle will look to hit us on the break with Christian Atsu, a speedy option down the left and Perez from the No10 position offering technical quality, invention and darting runs forward. I expect Matic to offer us good defensive qulutiy in deep midfield, Valencia’s positioning is a lot better and he shouldn’t get caught too much by Atsu on the break. Joselu shouldn’t pose much of a goal threat to our centre-backs and while Matt Ritchie, offers moments of magic, he hasn't yet demonstrated he can take his Championship form to the Premier League, United’s defensive shape and record is largely excellent so I expect few problems from open play from Newcastle here.
Subs - Romero, Darmian, Blind, Herrera, Fellani, Martial, Ibrahimovic.
Newcastle will certainly play a defensive game. Individual their back four looks unconvincing so Benitez will use all his coaching expertise to ensure the back four are protected properly, by the midfield or else Newcastle could find themselves shipping goals. Expect two banks of four from them with possibly Isaac Hayden an underrated, dependable midfield operator alongside Jonjo Shelvey looking to keep it tight between the lines. I think United will revert to a 4-2-3-1 system here after using 3-5-2 in the last few matches. That system felt more like a specific plan for the matches against Tottenham and Chelsea rather than a more permanent change from Mourinho. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been our number 10 this season, but he tends to be nowhere near as effective when playing against a deep defensive line, because of this I would certainly expect Juan Mata to be in the reckoning from the right, drifting infield between the lines trying to help United create good passing combinations in the final third. He also supply a good goal threat. Out wide I would expect Newcastle’s full-backs Javier Manquillo and Paul Dummett to tuck inside and protect the centre-backs closely. This means there will be plenty of space on the flanks and I am sure we will see the directness of Marcus Rashford (or Anthony Martial) down the left to give us a nice balance. Lukaku won’t get much space to run into the channels here as Newcastle will sit deep so his link-up and penalty box play needs to be good and he hasn’t impressed in this area recently. It is a big game for him, but I am confident he will come good.
The great news for United is the return of Paul Pogba. He has a been a big miss for us, as Mourinho pointed out in his pre-match press conference. "[With] Paul, now I can speak because he's back," said Mourinho. "I didn't like to speak while he was injured, but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul's injury and after Paul's injury. There are qualities in our football, there are qualities that influence our approach in matches with Pogba and without Pogba - it's as simple as that.” Before his injury he was excellent, given a good base by the defensive qualities of Matic he had the the freedom too to push further forward from deep ad be constant source of creativity which United have lacked without him. Herrera offers mobility, tactical intelligence and the odd bit of creative but he is not a genuine scoring threat like Pogba is and he is not someone who repeatedly drives his side forward into attack, converting defence into attack swiftly like Pogba can. He is United’s key player in my opinion, we are a much better team with him in the side. Of course Ibrahimovic is back as well. Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals and had an excellent impact during his first season in England, but he lacked the speed to stretch play and force the opposition back. Lukaku fall all his faults does give us that threat in-behind and I like Jose see no reason why they can’t work together in tandem. “[Ibrahimovic] can play everywhere and, this season, we’ve played with two strikers many times," the boss told the assembled press. "We’ve played [with two strikers] so many times, especially when we play with three at the back, with wing-backs, it allows us to bring in a second striker. “We are ready to do it," he added. "We’ve been preparing ourselves since pre-season – when we started playing three at the back – so they can play together, no problem." That discussion is for another day however, Ibra needs time to work his way back to full sharpness before he starts games again but there is no doubt that his return even from the bench gives United opitions to change things if needed. Mourinho was also keen to welcome Ibrahimovic back into the fold, and he revealed he was thrilled by the big Swede’s return, because of the extra attacking options he provides. "I’m excited because I have more options," he said. "I’m excited because the team can be better. I’m excited because I want to have the best players available. But, you know, I don’t want to make a situation of Zlatan and Romelu because I can play Zlatan and Romelu, just Zlatan, just Romelu or it can be no-one," he added. "I always want options and now I have more options in attack."
Newcastle’s approach in possession will be failry straight forward. Jonjo Shelvey will look to make things happen - in both good and bad ways – from midfied. He is not my cup of tea as a person but he is capable of playing positive passes from midfield into attack. Newcatsle will look to hit us on the break with Christian Atsu, a speedy option down the left and Perez from the No10 position offering technical quality, invention and darting runs forward. I expect Matic to offer us good defensive qulutiy in deep midfield, Valencia’s positioning is a lot better and he shouldn’t get caught too much by Atsu on the break. Joselu shouldn’t pose much of a goal threat to our centre-backs and while Matt Ritchie, offers moments of magic, he hasn't yet demonstrated he can take his Championship form to the Premier League, United’s defensive shape and record is largely excellent so I expect few problems from open play from Newcastle here.
Subs - Romero, Darmian, Blind, Herrera, Fellani, Martial, Ibrahimovic.
