Manchester United are approaching the relegation zone under Ruben Amorim, a head coach who took over on November 11 and forgot to pack the “rebound” that is often gifted to an employer after firing to the last player. This is United's fourth consecutive defeat and, after 11 games, the Portuguese coach's balance is six losses and four wins.
If you compare the table, Amorim's team is in 14th place with 22 points after achieving the same number, 11, in nine league games as under Erik ten Hag, his predecessor. Once again the 3-4-3 formation failed and to see Joshua Zirkzee sent off after the half-hour mark was to witness an encapsulation of United's disarray. Another was the re-joining of Marcus Rashford into the team after the striker said he wanted a “new challenge”. If you can, understand the head coach's thinking on this.
Three minutes and 30 seconds were enough for Amorim to hang his head in despair. Fluent from Newcastle, he was an amateur on the part of United who, despite having their three centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez lined up, still allowed Alexander Isak to get up, unmarked, collapse in front of André Onana's goal and finish off with a header.
Maguire and Martinez were the main culprits as the in-form Swede separated them to score an eighth goal in his last seven games. Amorim's men already looked like a pub XI who had staggered into the local park in the middle of a particularly enjoyable festive season. Noussair Mazraoui was their next fool as Anthony Gordon's dazzling speed left the right-back behind before the Newcastle winger set up Joelinton. He shot over but before long Isak came in from the left. The shot disappointed, being blocked easily.
So did the striker's attempt on Onana after he had run onto a 50-metre pass from Bruno Guimarães from near his area. Amorim infuriated his defensive line and was even more upset when, once again, Eddie Howe's team scored with ease.
It came thanks to a United midfield that was hot butter to Newcastle's red-hot knife. Possession went to Gordon, he lifted the ball and Joelinton made the hapless Martinez look like a schoolboy as he stood up and headed in the second.
Amorim was to blame for the big holes when, in the absence of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes, he avoided the silky offerings and legs of 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo to send in Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – with a combined age of 64 – to the fight 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 ecstasy. A shot from Tonali ended in a corner and Kieran Trippier's delivery almost beat Onana, as it had done in a set piece on Boxing Day. 2-0 against Wolves. The follow-up also threatened, but not as much as Tonali, who hit a post moments later.
How could Amorim and his men feel even worse? The 39-year-old decided in the 32nd minute that his selection was so dismal that Zirkzee had to be replaced by Mainoo. He stood next to Casemiro and Eriksen took the place of the humiliated Dutchman. Zirkzee trotted down the tunnel. United's only hope was that Newcastle would lose it: Fabian Schär sent the ball straight to Mainoo, his pass went to Casemiro and his cross to no one. United had returned the worst 45 minutes of Amorim's brief tenure.
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The second part was a test for each technician. Could Howe maintain his team's excellence? Could Amorim achieve a revival? The visitors would be four or five ahead if they took advantage of the opportunities.
Rasmus Højlund earned a corner, United's first, in the 51st minute, but Eriksen's delivery was as effective as Casemiro's cross from outside the boot after it was broken. Still, the hosts were brighter. Amad Diallo's attempt was parried and United struck the ball, exerting some control, in a phase that culminated in Maguire's diving header hitting Martin Dubravka's right post.
Suddenly, Old Trafford became a cauldron, and United's vigor gave the faithful something to believe in. Amorim introduced Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho in place of Martínez and Casemiro, leaving Marcus Rashford still a spectator, with Maguire taking the armband. Yoro headed wide and advanced Antony for De Ligt. But in short: there is no push or threat regarding United. Amorim is monitoring a fall.
