Manchester United lose fourth straight game as Newcastle crush weak Red Devils – The Irish Times

Premier League: Manchester United 0 Newcastle 2 (Isak 4, Joelinton 19)

Manchester United are diving towards the drop zone under Ruben Amorim, a head coach who took charge on November 11 and forgot to prepare for the “bounce back” often offered to an employer after sacking the last player. It was United’s fourth defeat in a row and, after 11 matches, the Portuguese coach’s record stands at six defeats and four wins.

Ranking peers and Amorim’s team are 14th with 22 points after taking the same number, 11, in nine league matches, as under Erik ten Hag, his predecessor. Once again the 3-4-3 formation failed and to see Joshua Zirkzee taken off after the half hour was to witness a distillation of United’s disarray. Another issue has been Marcus Rashford’s reintegration into the squad after the striker said he wanted a “new challenge”. Make sense of the head coach’s thinking on this, if you can.

Three minutes and 30 seconds were enough for Amorim to plunge his head into despair. Fluid from Newcastle, he was amateurish by United who, despite the alignment of their three central defenders Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, still allowed Alexander Isak to get up, without a mark, before the goal of André Onana and the head.

Maguire and Martínez were the main culprits as the in-form Swede split them to score an eighth goal in his last seven outings. Already Amorim’s men looked like a pub XI who’d rolled up to the local park in the middle of a particularly enjoyable festive season. Noussair Mazraoui was their next idiot as Anthony Gordon’s blistering speed left the right-back behind before the Newcastle winger attacked Joelinton. He shot over the top but, shortly after, Isak zapped to the left. The shot disappointed, being easily blocked.

So did the Onana striker’s attempt after he evaded Bruno Guimarães’ 50-yard pass from near his box. Amorim was furious with his defense and felt even deeper disgust when, once again, Eddie Howe’s team scored with ease.

That came thanks to a United midfielder who gave Newcastle a hot knife. Possession was extended to Gordon, he lifted the ball and Joelinton made the hapless Martínez look like a schoolboy by rising and heading in the second.

Amorim was responsible for the gaping holes as, in the absence of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes, he eschewed the silky offerings and 19-year-old legs of Kobbie Mainoo to send Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – aged 64 together – into battle against Newcastle’s muscular and fast trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Guimarães.

The visiting fans were delighted, taunting their hosts with the killer line from The Beach Boys’ Sloop John B – “this is the best trip I’ve ever been on” – and soon they were in even greater rapture. A Tonali effort led to a corner and Kieran Trippier’s delivery nearly beat Onana, as it had from a free kick in Boxing Day’s 2-0 reverse to Wolves. The follow-up was also threatening, but not as much as Tonali, who hit a post moments later.

How could Amorim and his men feel worse? After 32 minutes, the 39-year-old decided his selection was so dismal that Zirkzee should be withdrawn for Mainoo. He arrived alongside Casemiro, with Eriksen taking the place of the humiliated Dutchman. Zirkzee trotted straight into the tunnel. United’s only hope was that Newcastle would give it away: Fabian Schär sent the ball straight to Mainoo, his pass went to Casemiro and his chip-cross went to no one. United had returned the poorest 45 minutes of Amorim’s brief tenure.

The second half was a test for every manager. Could Howe maintain his team’s excellence. Could Amorim stage a rebirth? The visitors would have four or five clean sheets if chances were taken.

Rasmus Højlund won a corner, United’s first, in the 51st minute, but Eriksen’s delivery was as effective as Casemiro’s cross off the outside of the boot after it had broken. However, it was brighter from the hosts. Amad Diallo’s attempt was saved and United punched the ball away, exerting some control, in a phase culminating in Maguire’s diving header, which hit Martin Dubravka’s right post.

Suddenly Old Trafford was a cauldron, United’s vigor giving the faithful something to believe in. Amorim introduced Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho for Martínez and Casemiro, leaving Marcus Rashford still a spectator, with Maguire taking the armband. Yoro headed wide and sent Antony running for De Ligt. But at the end of the day: there is no push or threat about United. Amorim supervises a dive. – Guardian