SFL has officially sack two staff for violating VAR rules after a leaked audio over burn disallowed goal vs man city
Newcastle United’s Man City defeat was no setback, as Pep’s celebrations confirmed
Eddie Howe’s side are now set for a tempting run of home fixtures after so much time on the road
So brave Newcastle’s spectacular three-match back-to-back winning away run over all competitions came to a defiant end at PL championship-chasing Manchester City but don’t lose faith my friends.
United went down 2-1 not with a whimper but with bristling resistance against a side hell bent on hunting down no fewer than four trophies
The Magpies had spent the last week trekking 5,000 miles across Europe to the edge of Asia while City’s greatest exertion was a run round the kitchen table but it was the visitors who threw off the cape of tiredness to dominate possession and territory in the second-half forcing the blues to play on the counter.
However disappointing the defeat might be let us remember United are about to embark upon a home run which will see them front up the faithful in their next four successive matches and five out of six which means another successful run of results is clearly on the agenda.
As games have come fast and faster over PL, Champions League and domestic cups the pattern has been ludicrous. United have just completed seven out of eight away having before that had six from seven at St James’ Park. Now they are back at Barrack Road for yet another residency.
Whatever happened to home, away, home, away?
Want a name check on who the Mags are about to face? Well, here we are: Qarabag (h), Everton (h), Manchester United (h), Manchester City (h), Chelsea (a), Sunderland (h). A parcel book-ended by qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League and a Tyne-Wear derby. That will do after wandering far and wide.
Pep’s clenched fist salute to the crowd and Cheshire Cat smile told us all about the relief that United hadn’t turned endeavour into goals in the secondhalf. This was nothing to be ashamed of, rather the opposite.
United look almost back to where they once were regardless of injuries, of relentless endeavour bringing tiredness of limb and mind.
Amid the non stop three-games-a-week schedule on the road have we discovered what Eddie Howe’s thinking really is right now? That Anthony Gordon is a better centre-forward than his expensive imports Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade and that his record buy is much better dropped into a deeper midfield role. Both started in their new positions yet again.
Is Eddie who masterminded Joelinton’s conversion from mediocre centre-forward into a midfield dynamo trying to do the exact same thing again? In his desperate search to utilise Woltemade’s strengths does his release from duty as a line leader bring his quick feet and clever football brain much more into use while not exposing a lack of pace?
Of course Joelinton’s recovery from lengthy injury will almost certainly shelve the Woltemade experience but Howe will no doubt return to it in due course.
It is ironic that in switching Woltemade into midfield coupled with Wissa’s injury Howe looks to have solved his centre-forward problem at least for the moment. Gordon’s relentless running beyond, his ability to lead a high press, and yes his discovery of ice in his veins rather than a bubbling volcano when sighting the target have brought a return to United’s normal pattern of play.
What Gordon didn’t have when originally operating as a false nine for England Under 21s as well as Newcastle was a goals presence but in Baku he looked to be adding that to his armoury now.
Of course we are talking here about getting the best our of what Howe has for the rest of the season. An in-depth review must be conducted the moment the curtain drops on another campaign to determine not only what to do for the best with Woltemade but what to do right across the board in the summer transfer market – centre-forward, midfield, across the full back four, and goalkeeper. Much work lies ahead.
United start their SJP run home to Qarabag on Tuesday night in what is little more than a lap of honour. However much Howe might wish to talk about it only being half-time in their Champions League play-off a 6-1 lead with home advantage means it would take a fall of Devon Loch proportions to change the course of history.
The only uncertainty is what team Eddie will start given the dire need to rest some players, to bring others back into play, and cover the suspension of Malick Thiaw.
His selection will in no way represent his favoured 11 rather a chance to utilise the likes of Big Joe, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Jacob Ramsey, Will Osula, Aaron Ramsdale and, if fit, Yoane Wissa and Sven Botman. Maybe bringing on a couple of kids and giving them a good few minutes not five at the end of play.
Then it is on to welcoming Everton and the two Manchesters with no gifts from the hosts just a goodnight and send them packing.
