[ErranMorad]

I thought it was a great result and decent performance given that it was our 4th game in 12 days. The midfield and Rashford looked leggy and tired. Hopefully, they'll have a good break in Dubai before the Spurs game on the 13th. Don't want to see the four of them even on the bench against Reading.

As expected, Newcastle put everyone behind the ball and were dangerous on the counter. Overall, I think Jones and Lindelof did well to keep them at bay. Shaw was decent in defense and not very good in offense.

We used to have Captain Marvelous but now we have Captain Useless. I hope Valencia does a Gary Neville and calls it quits. He looks done.

 

[Eckers99]

Possibly the most impressive performance so far. Yes, there are issues at the back (Tony V is finished at this level) but we battled our way to an important 3 points against a really resolute side. And we look a real threat up front, irrespective of which 3 are playing.

Top 4 is suddenly looking pretty plausible.

 

[Im red2]

Mourinho never won a game at Newcastle

Not surprised with his style.

 

[Al-T]

That was compelling? Effective, yes. Dreary, yes. Grind, aha. Onwards and upwards.

Yes, for me because it was a different kind of fixture to the last three. We responded well, kept to a plan and wore them down. Successfully.

That's more exciting than the aimless hoof ball we'd been playing until Ole took over even though the game wasn't perhaps as eye-catching.

 

[Kostur]

Was worried about this one but here we are, delighted with the points especially given how those fecks have played, bunch of thugs. Hope they go down somehow.

 

[Im red2]

I thought it was a great result and decent performance given that it was our 4th game in 12 days. The midfield and Rashford looked leggy and tired. Hopefully, they'll have a good break in Dubai before the Spurs game on the 13th. Don't want to see the four of them even on the bench against Reading.

As expected, Newcastle put everyone behind the ball and were dangerous on the counter. Overall, I think Jones and Lindelof did well to keep them at bay. Shaw was decent in defense and not very good in offense.

We used to have Captain Marvelous but now we have Captain Useless. I hope Valencia does a Gary Neville and calls it quits. He looks done.

WE just need to stick a fork in him

 

[vidic blood & sand]

It was an important three points and a clean sheet. A difficult defence to break down. Newcastle plugged the wings, so I was a little surprised we didn't see more runs from Matic and Hererra into the box. Overall satisfied.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

Ole only second ever manager of Utd in history to win first 4 games, only other Sir Matt !

If we beat Tottenham, Ole will have the most succesful start ever since I expect us to go on an beat Brighton and Burnley at home. Sir Matt won his first six games in charge, including a 5-0 against Pool.

 

[crossy1686]

Can’t believe he still gets picked when he is fit , let’s hope Dalot can establish himself quickly or else it’s a big money signing required at RB as well as CB

Fergie was still picking Neville despite that but I guess the manager is just picking the squad he has available. Valencia is either complete bereft of confidence or he's absolutely done.

 

[Eric7C]

We needed a goal and we didn’t launch balls at our strikers. That's what we called CHANGE.

Damn right. It is a BIG change. That is why anyone who still suggests that these were four teams we are expected to beat anyway is missing the point. The mentality of this team under Ole is worlds apart from that of a Mourinho one.

I had a familiar feeling today that I remember well from Fergie's time. There are always tough games - especially away at Newcastle - but the team showed tremendous patience and kept playing a passing game and eventually the goals and a glut of counter-attack chances came. It is amazing how in two weeks everything has turned upside down. Ole Ole Ole!

 

[Carolina Red]

Give it a rest ffs, you’re the absolute worst in the matchday threads. Do you even like Man Utd?

He probably broke something when Lingard scored the FA Cup winner.

 

[DatIrishFella]

Lindelof is looking like a completely different player under Ole. Get an imposing CB to partner him and our defence will look a lot better.

 

[Posh Red]

Fergie was still picking Neville despite that but I guess the manager is just picking the squad he has available. Valencia is either complete bereft of confidence or he's absolutely done.

I think he’s done unfortunately. His main asset was always his physicality but that doesn’t seem to be there anymore

 

[Sterling Archer]

Who do you think was absent ?
Valencia ?

Yup. A bad performance is one thing, but what he contributed wearing the captain's armband was really really bad. He needs to see a sports psychologist or something. I really think its a mental block of some sort. Maybe PTSD from all the managers that succeeded Sir Alex.

 

[lex talionis]

Amazing what better tactics and man management -- the core job of a manager -- will do for a club. We were all begging for Mourinho to be sacked, but who among us saw Ole as the solution? I didn't, but then again I had written off the season as a lost cause but here we are now, within arm's length of the top four.

How long the ride goes remains to be seen, but regardless of whether we finish in the top four this squad can and will play football the way it's meant to be played. Not the coward's way of grinding out 1-0 wins, but playing to the best of their abilities.

 

[hobbers]

Switches of play to Ashley Young vs Bournemouth: Progression: +90.25 metres
Switches of play to Antonio Valencia vs Newcastle: Progression: -16.00 metres

Another damning stat to go with the his pass map.

This is why we look so unbalanced going forward, because the players all know full well not to give it to Valencia if they want the attack to progress.

 

[Lash]

Lindelof is looking like a completely different player under Ole. Get an imposing CB to partner him and our defence will look a lot better.

Agreed. At this point I am all for going full liverpool and spending an obscene amount on koulibaly.

Our front line and midfield have seemed to found each other. They play the ball early and they make runs for each other.

Jones tried his hardest to feck up the clean sheet, but got it in the end!

Roll on Spurs

 

[FootballHQ]

Have to say loved your second goal. Lovely 1-2s between Rashford and Lukaku and then good awareness of space from Alexis.

OGS: "Professional performance." Yeah think that's a good summary. Mourinho would be going on about Newcastle's net spend or something.

 

[Robbie Boy]

In a terrible match.

Rafa v Mourinho

It would have been a disgusting defensive game that we likely would have lost.

 

[Sassy Colin]

No way Rashford scores that under Jose. He's missed a handful of 1 on 1s with the goalie this season.

 

[Crackers]

He probably broke something when Lingard scored the FA Cup winner.

His poor heart must be under some strain from all the rage

 

[FootballHQ]

Rafa v Mourinho

It would have been a disgusting defensive game that we likely would have lost.

3-2 earlier this season was one of most end to end games of the season. Not much quality but ones I enjoy watching.

I do get what you're saying though, 1-0 is usually a scoreline between those two.

 

[royboy16]

It was a hard fought 3 points,good result but Spurs will be a lot tougher.

 

[stu_1992]

Good result in the end of against a team that were well set up on the night, and difficult to break down. It did feel like one of those games we would have lost or certainly drawn under a previous manager but we kept going and used Subs effectively.

Great to see a clean sheet, though that was probably the ropiest I've seen our defence be under Solskjaer. That still needs to be addressed, most likely in the form of transfer, but I don't think we'll see that in Solskjaer's reign unfortunately for him and us.

 

[MrBest]

Pogba, matic, rashford, martial, lindeloff, ander, shaw and lingard should be nowhere near the game on saturday. I hope ole gives them 3 full days of rest off before they go dubai. It has been a hard fought 4 games with mental, emotional and physical attachment. Hopefully we see chong gomes greenwood pierrea and fred starting against Reading.

 

[Stookie]

I’m as chuffed as a puff with two bums after that result. Tricky test potentially and the players looked like they were up for it. It’s just nice to see some smiles as well.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Great performance. We kept on going, showed patience and kept our cool (Pogba especially).

We should have won by more in the end, but sometimes it goes that way. We created many chances so we can forgive the misses, which is a big difference to Mou/LvG.

The pressing was excellent as well.. As soon as we lost it, 2 men were chasing down the opposition. We were susceptible to the counter press on a couple of occasions, but luckily Atsu couldn't hit a barn door.

I'm just glad we managed to avoid the self inflicted damage this time. Imagine Jones doesn't make that last ditch recovery, he ends up sent off and we capitulate. That sort of thing had been so common under the last three managers.. Its the sort of difference that makes me think our luck is turning.

 

[goldenballs]

I'm happy, grinding out wins like that gets you championships. Who cares if it wasn't as pretty as the Cardiff win, awin is a win. The only downside for me, is the demise of a once great player Valencia, clearly it is all too much for him now. Sadly.

 

[Devil may care]

Tough game, very frustrating for long periods, Benitez is good at setting his team up to defend and they were well organized, I was starting to worry the breakthrough wasn't going to come even though I thought in general we played quite well, it was just so congested and we couldn't quite get through.

The 1st goal we got was a good strike from Rashford and good anticipation from Lukaku, but you have to say the keeper should be holding it, I'd say the same if De Gea dropped that regardless of the dip. Once we went ahead I am glad we didn't retreat, we actually pushed Pogba higher and got Herrera squarer with Matic and looked solid, killing them off on the counter with lovely team goal and could have had 3 more after that.

Have to be honest though, we are so shakey at the back, it's headless chicken stuff at times back there and is a concern with Spurs coming up as unlike the last 4 teams we have played, they have the forwards to punish us.

 

[royboy16]

As poor as Valencia was going forward he was ok defensively. He's on borrowed time as a starter for us though and we got away with it tonight.

 

[TMDaines]

Once we got the lead, we really punished them.

 

[ChaddyP]

 

[DrRodo]

I hope Shelvey has an accident involving a pineapple and his anus

Oh and great match btw

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

Pogba, matic, rashford, martial, lindeloff, ander, shaw and lingard should be nowhere near the game on saturday. I hope ole gives them 3 full days of rest off before they go dubai. It has been a hard fought 4 games with mental, emotional and physical attachment. Hopefully we see chong gomes greenwood pierrea and fred starting against Reading.

Would be nice, but stupid. We need to give Sanchez and Lukaku some more minutes before Spurs, and Lingard was rested today.

 

[Canagel]

Was actually really pleasing to see how strong our starting front 3 was, and then see a completely new front 3 at the end of the game and it still be brilliant on paper. Crazy to think that Mourinho was so insistent on playing defensively.

Yeah it's incredible. The resources and attacking depth at our disposal. Our strike force is only second to Man City imo. It's a big disservice to ourselves to be even behind a one man team like Chelsea .

 

[Harry190]

Newcastle surprisingly decent today.

 

[minoo-utd]

Ole trusted the players he has and he makes them feel CONFIDENT.

 

[Tincanalley]

I know we have had a lot of games over Xmas. I know our key men; Herrera, Matic & PP have had one f’n brutal schedule. But I just hope we are not seeing a return to the falling-over, moaning, showboating, selfish carry-on that marred Pogba’s time under Mou. Maybe I’m being to harsh. Maybe my view was overly attached coloured by watching in the company of an Everton supporter.

 

[Orange Tree]

The right side was a mess.

Mata drifting in, made some nice moves and passed the ball well, but almost zero threat, coupled with the non existence of Valencia.
No outlet on the right wing in contrast to when Young played there.

Other than that, I'm happy with the result and impressed especially by Rashford, Herrera, and Lindelof.

 

[Steerpike]

A predictably tough game against some very negative tactics from Newcastle. It was clear that we missed Lingard, if only because his running would have freed up Pogba. We probably deserved the win, but needed some good fortune to get it. This was one of those games where you just feel pleased to have got the points in the bag.

There was a disgusting challenge from the vile Shelvey which, unfortunately, the officials missed. Actually I felt the referee let quite a few challenges go: the barge by Lascelles on Rashford would normally have been given as a foul, but to be fair he did let a very similar challenge by Shaw go later in the game, so he was at least consistent.

It was nice to see Sanchez get a bit of a run, and I thought the signs were encouraging.

Roll on Reading.