Monday, December 9, 2013

Manchester United 0-1 Newcastle United

I was tempted to say that was as bad as it's got, but hopefully nothing will reach the nadir of this season's trip to the boo camp. Still it was pretty bad, Newcastle were no great shakes, we probably didn't really serve to get beat again, but we sure didn't deserve to win. The team selected wasn't that bad, central midfield apart, but once again as an attacking force we were sadly found wanting.
It's hard to know whether Van Persie is still not fully fit, or sulking, or both, but he was a shadow of last seasons centre forward. Hernandez tried hard, but if he has no service, he might as well not be on the pitch. I'm not sure why Moyes went with him over Welbeck, other than trying to keep the Mexican happy.
I'm not particularly sure where all this, Welbeck's in a poor run of form has come from. He started the season well. then came that niggling injury. Alright he wasn't great in his first game back, but I'd have thought that was understandable enough. When we need all the physicallity and fight we can get as we struggle to get out of this mini slump, he would be one of the players I look to, to get us out of it.
Inconsistent as Nani was, he was still one of the only creative outlets in the team, I wouldn't have took him off anyway. Januzaj on the other flank never really hit the heights he's capable of, but he still produced those little pieces of magic that on another day might have opened the door for us. Van Persie was deployed in the hole, but couldn't really get in the game and never really forged much of a partnership with Hernandez.
I've thought Jones has been outstanding in his forays in central midfield for the most part this season, but on Saturday he never got going, he never seemed to be on the same wavelength as Cleverley or his central defenders behind him. Cleverley actually managed a couple of half decent runs and one or two reasonably creative passes during the first half. But for the most part, it was a typical performance from him, he just didn't affect the game enough.
Where as I thought we defended fairly well for the most part against Everton on Wednesday, we looked jittery and nervous at the back on Saturday. Neither Vidic or Jones inspired confidence, Rafael didn't have his best game and Evra's mistake for their goal was a reminder why, you can add left back to the signings that need to be made. Moyes is right there, whether he's right about Baines as his replacement, I'm not as sure. I'm pretty sure Everton won't sell, why the fuck would they sell to us, when they'll be looking at us as one of their challengers for that fourth champions league spot.
There are so many problems at the moment it's hard to know where to start. But I suppose if you go back to basics, the spine of the team, at the moment is just not good enough, I'm including central defence in that as well as central midfield. The defence need Carrick back in front of them and our attacking players need him to try and helpus control games. He is without doubt, the most important players in the squad, I can't see things getting much better until we get him back in the team.

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