Manchester United head into a New Year in desperate need of a reset – but Edison Cavani is surely the man they dare not cast aside.
If Ralf Rangnick’s revolution remains a work-in-progress, he at least has a striker who is the finished article. Barcelona, who fancy they can take him in January if noises in the Spanish press are to be believed, should be put right first thing on Tuesday morning – and Rangnick must promote the forward to more than just cameos like this.
Cavani’s experience and unerring ability to sniff out opportunity was the difference between a ruinous defeat and a mere chastening evening that ended with some reward for a disjointed, ill-disciplined Manchester United. A scruffy second-half goal does not disguise the long list of issues Rangnick has to work on – or how much Newcastle deserved three points for their laudable efforts.
At a cacophonous St James’ Park, Eddie Howe looked like the man who had enjoyed more success than his counterpart in imprinting a high-intensity pressing game on his charges.
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i's guide to the pundits, commentators and presenters for this week's football on Amazon Prime27 December, 2021Newcastle were sensational for long periods and their play justified a win that would have given lift off to a troubled campaign. Allan Saint-Maximin was the fulcrum of Howe’s strategy to put Newcastle properly back on the front foot by squeezing their opponents, but it is the transformation of £40million striker Joelinton into a number six who breaks play and breaks into opponents halves that hints at the progress Howe has made.
There was only one team playing with intensity and straining every sinew and that was the team with a solitary win this season. When Jacob Murphy and then Miguel Almiron were denied at the death, it summed up the lack of fortune that has undermined them. They lost Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson to injury to compound the sense of injustice. Howe will hope reinforcements are on the way in January.
Rangnick, meanwhile, has so much to do in the next five months.
His obvious frustration hints at problems that run deeper than the identity of the man on the touchline. This is a Manchester United side brimming with talent, expensively assembled but it looks at times like a mess.
Gary Neville’s half-time description of them as “whingebags” was accurate. Ronaldo’s reckless swipe at Ryan Fraser, his thigh high enough to justify calls for a red card, typified a lack of discipline that Newcastle relished as they stuck to the plan perfectly and produced a high octane riposte to those who felt their fate was sealed.
Newcastle ratings
- Marting Dubravka – 7
- Emil Krafth – 6
- Jamaal Lascelles – 7
- Fabian Schar – 7
- Javier Manquillo – 6
- Ryan Fraser – 6
- Jonjo Shelvey – 7
- Sean Longstaff – 8
- Joelinton – 9
- Allan Saint-Maximin – 8
- Callum Wilson – 6
Subs:
- Jacob Murphy – 6
- Miguel Almiron – 6
- Dwight Gayle – 5
Man Utd ratings
- David De Gea – 8
- Diogo Dalot – 7
- Raphael Varane – 5
- Harry Maguire – 4
- Alex Telles – 6
- Marcus Rashford – 5
- Scott McTominay – 6
- Fred – 5
- Bruno Fernandes – 7
- Mason Greenwood – 6
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 5
Subs:
- Edinson Cavani – 7
- Jadon Sancho – 6
- Nemanja Matic – 6
Their interim boss did not enjoy it. On 50 minutes, Rangnick responded to a Ronaldo drive that arrowed wide by pumping both arms in the air to signal a desire for more intensity from his side. His obvious displeasure saw him wheel around in disgust when Marcus Rashford slice wide from range.
It was that kind of night. He will have departed delighted that his team escaped without a costly defeat at a stadium that sensed their vulnerability before kick-off.
Few outside the North East would have given aside so easily picked off by Manchester City and Liverpool of a chance of repeating those evenings, despite signs of defiance in recent weeks. But unlike their city rivals, the weaknesses of what Rangnick has inherited – and a set up that played into Eddie Howe’s hands – allowed a fired up Newcastle to gain a foothold in the game.
Rangnick has made tightening up a porous back four his priority before stamping his authority on a side with an ill-defined playing identity but after promising signs in his first three matches, this was a blink-and-it-could-be-Ole-Solksjaer display. On paper, the German’s ‘double six’ should strengthen the spine of his team at the expense of the wide threat they once enjoyed – but the individuals involved continue to undermine whatever plans have been laid out for them.
It was a chink of light that Newcastle – so often staring down the barrel this season – desperately needed and the crowd fed off that energy.
A marker was laid down in the first minute when Maguire hesitated, allowing Ryan Fraser to send a surge of electricity through the crowd by emerging with the ball and running at Manchester United’s defence. It was a warning shot than none of the visitors’ ponderous defenders heeded.
On seven minutes, their carelessness was punished. The recalled Sean Longstaff pressed Raphael Varane into an error and teed up Saint-Maximin to dart at the visitors. Diogo Dalot stood off, Saint-Maximin pulled the trigger and the complexion of the contest changed in a flash.
It set a trend for a night in which Newcastle were irresistible at times, a team transformed from the dog days of Steve Bruce era. Maguire was run ragged by whoever matched him all night and his form remains a huge concern. That they were left to rely on Cavani’s moment says it all.
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