FA Premier League

Manchester United 3:1 Newcastle United

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Fri, 26 December 2014 @ 3:00pm GMT
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    Falcao's movement is just something else... Much better first half to watch then i expected.
     
    Whilst Rooney has been commendably clinical, Newcastle's first half was so weak as to provide little indication for how we might do against teams of the style of Spurs and Stoke.
     
    That is what scoring a goal first does when you are facing a team sitting deep playing on the counter. Now they have to go forward giving mata and falcao more space.
     
    ash_86 said:
    We look good because Newcastle hasn't pressed us at all. Not to take anything away from our forward play, but just a thought.
    Click to expand...

    That is largely down to how well RVP and Falcao has done this half. We've always had some genius's operating between the defense and midfield but this half RVP and Falcao has pulled the defensive line apart with their runs.

    Mata is one of the best in the world at taking advantage of any gap between a midfield and defense and we've seen that today.

    Rooney has been incredible in his role too, lost the ball two times today and once in a really dangerous area. If he just got some time in the role and learnt when to play a simple back pass and when to attempt to turn and beat his marker he'd be world class in the role.

    Has to be said that Rooney is the silent star of this show, he is being shoehorned in the central midfield which allows Falcao-RVP and Mata to play in their best roles.
     
    Evans is such a shitty player. Feels bad to say this to our player. He doesn't know what to do on the pitch.
     
    Sylar said:
    Rooney needs to play where he is. Schweinsteiger'd eh like the other thread says. With his increase in fitness (and slimness hah) you can see that the defenders find it so hard to track his late runs into the box which will also suit Mata. Not to mention having other strikers out there to drag away the central defenders.

    Plus Rooney will see more of the ball, can help out the defence and influence the play which will see him less frustrated in tight games.
    Click to expand...

    Sorry I disagree. It's a stop gap solution. Hes much better employed as a false nine that drops into midfield to draw defenders out while maximising his scoring ability. We have midfielders who are far superior in terms of spatial awareness, control and movement in possesion.
     
    Youngs been good. Still think with the ball we have we should have more then 2-3 shots on goal but with Spurs on Sunday, if we can win 'easy' then all the better. Rooneys taken his goals well. Hopefully RVP and Falcao can get on the scoresheet.
     
    Looked pretty decent, looked similar to other weeks but Mata doing what he's paid do to very well - actually making some chances and taking risks. It's nice. Young playing class at the moment and that will start working out for falcao eventually you feel
     
    MrMancunianRed said:
    Evans is such a shitty player. Feels bad to say this to our player. He doesn't know what to do on the pitch.
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    I'm not sure how you can be coming out with that after the half I just watched. I thought all the players played well.
     
    Falcao, RvP and Rooney in form and people were worried for the lack of Welbeck...

    Falcao, Mata and Rooney - all have been excellent.
     
    Also, has Falcao contributed to a goal in every start he's made?

    Assist v Leicester
    Assist v West Ham
    Goal v Everton
    Goal v Villa
    Assist v Newcastle

    Not bad!
     
    Our front players have been great - RVP running his heart out and Falcao has been superb. Would love to see Falcao get a brace in the second half ( he should have scored anyway )
     
    Still unsure why is Carrick not going for his traditional inswinging long balls . Every time he has an opportunity where the forwards making a run , he is passing it back. May be LVG doesnt want to loose the ball there - i dont know. But its frustating when you have 4 strikers making the run and nobody picking them
     
    No big surprises, we're looking good against a team that doesn't press but drops deep and uses pace to attack on the counter. They are ok with us having the ball and we have learned to control these games under LvG.

    One thing that looks good today is our attacking transition, the first ball out of the defense is quick and to the right man, RvP and Falcao do their best to stretch Newcastle's back line and that gives Rooney and Mata time and space on the ball. Both of them have been magnificent in the first half.

    We do have some problems on the wings because of the pace and the dynamism Perez and Sissoko possess, Jones and Evans should do better to eliminate these threats so that we can kill the game off. Although i have to admit that both our wide CBs show good understanding of their role in the 3-5-2 and their positioning, especially Jones', has been very good.
     
    How is that a definite penalty when Gouffran initiates the contact?
     
    Haven't been able to watch the game but I'm pleased with the scoreline so far. How have we played?
     
    Good team performance, Evans has been shaky as usual. And I didn't think I will ever say this, but Ashley Young has been very good, up and down and actually taking people on, nice. I hope we don't sick back and start faffing about though, just go for it second half and try to make it 3 or 4, then rest players.
     
    Rooney in stealth mode again. Just like the Liverpool goal, where Coutinho decided Rooney wasn't a threat at the edge of the box. His midfield counterpart just gives him a free run into the box on both goals. Great arrivals into the box from Rooney, but that is just pisspoor defending.
     
    Raw said:
    Also, has Falcao contributed to a goal in every start he's made?

    Assist v Leicester
    Assist v West Ham
    Goal v Everton
    Goal v Villa
    Assist v Newcastle

    Not bad!
    Click to expand...
    Whats weird is that Falcao only had 6 assists in his last 100+ games or something before he came to us.
     
    Good stuff so far, playing some good stuff. Rooney is playing amazingly well. Mata has been good, Falcao too. Newcastle looked ok going forward which I think is more down to our defensive issues, and tbf they should have had a penalty. More of the same please.
     
    Right, when we play better, it's because the opposition is shit and it won't provide a marker of tougher teams and we are unconvincing as usual. . When we play shit, it's because we've been unconvincing as usual.

    I'm getting the hang of this.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Wayne Rooney image Wayne Rooney 86% of 710 votes

Runners-up

Player Ratings

6.6 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 509 ratings.
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Score Predictions

527,31,31
  • Man Utd win
  • Newcastle win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 19% Man Utd 2:0 Newcastle
  • 18% Man Utd 2:1 Newcastle
  • 17% Man Utd 3:0 Newcastle
  • 17% Man Utd 3:1 Newcastle
  • 6% Man Utd 4:0 Newcastle
  • 3% Man Utd 5:0 Newcastle
  • 3% Man Utd 1:0 Newcastle
  • 3% Man Utd 4:1 Newcastle
  • 2% Man Utd 3:2 Newcastle
  • 2% Man Utd 0:5 Newcastle
  • 2% Man Utd 2:2 Newcastle
  • 2% Man Utd 1:1 Newcastle
  • 2% Man Utd 1:2 Newcastle
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Newcastle
  • 1% Man Utd 4:2 Newcastle
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Newcastle
  • 1% Man Utd 5:1 Newcastle
  • 1% Man Utd 5:3 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 0:3 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 3:3 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 5:4 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 4:3 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 1:3 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 4:5 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 0:2 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 5:2 Newcastle
  • 0% Man Utd 2:3 Newcastle
Compiled from 589 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Newcastle
Possession
62% 38%
Shots
9 8
Shots on Target
4 4
Corners
4 5
Fouls
16 9

Referee

Mike Jones

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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