Man Utd (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & score prediction

Olly Hawkins

Merry Christmas everyone. We hope you had a brilliant day full of family, food and festivities.

Now, we turn our attentions to football and hope Eddie Howe and the lads can deliver that Christmas present we’ve all been waiting for….three points against Manchester United!

The Red Devils won’t have played for 16 days by the time this one kicks off, with their last game coming in a 1-0 win at Norwich back on December 11th.

Since then, we’ve faced Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Fatigue over the festive period could therefore be an issue our opponents aren’t dealing with, however COVID cases galore, disrupted training and a recent lack of games may also work against them. Who knows.

Either way, after three tough games and heavy defeats, this one and the trip to Everton (30th December) feel like two tricky yet beatable teams before our run of must-win fixtures in January.

Man Utd may be well rested, but there’s no reason we can’t kickstart our season with a big win under the lights at St James’ Park!

Team news

Both Jamal Lewis (hamstring) and Federico Fernandez (thigh) will be missing once again, while the game also comes too soon for Paul Dummett; who has only just returned to training after calf injury that’s kept him out all season.

Isaac Hayden is suspended (five yellows), Manquillo and Krafth are expected to return after being unwell and Howe is ‘hopeful’ Jonjo Shelvey

As for the visitors, Edinson Cavani, Raphael Varane and Aaron Wan-Bissaka could return, but Paul Pogba remains sidelined.

Predicted line ups

(4-1-2-3): Dubravka – Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Ritchie – Shelvey – Willock Joelinton – Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Fraser.

(4-2-2-2): De Gea – Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw – McTominay, Fred – Fernandez, Sancho – Rashford, Ronaldo.

With Manquillo expected to be OK, you’d expect him to replace Murphy; who isn’t suited to playing at right-back in a four-man defence.

Schar will surely return after a rest, seeming set to replace Ciaran Clark after yet another horror show from him last week. Ritchie at left-back is another worry, but with Lewis injured it’s hard to know who else could come in.

Hayden is banned, so Shelvey and Willock seem likely to start in the middle of the park, only time time they could be helped out by Joelinton; who looked like a man mountain when dropping back into midfield against Manchester City.

Out wide, Saint-Maximin should return after a rest, coming in for Almiron – who flattered to deceive too often last time out – while Ryan Fraser deserves to keep his place after promising displays in each of our last two outings.

He’s one yellow card away from a suspension, however Callum Wilson looks set to lead the line once again. He’s rarely played with ASM and Fraser either side of him, so I’m really hoping Howe goes with this attack.

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Match prediction

I believe we can beat Man Utd – they’re not that good and will give us chances – but we can’t afford to keep giving away absolute gifts at the back. Not when Cristiano Ronaldo is in town!

In each of our last three games, we’ve conceded so many cheap and avoidable goals. Whether it’s penalty giveaways, red cards, indecisive defending or criminal passes around our own box, we have developed an awful habit of shooting ourselves in the foot.

If we can wake up defensively, be competitive in midfield and build on the improvements we’ve seen under Howe in the attacking third, we can cause Man Utd real trouble here.

I think we’ll see a mixture of all the above in a high-scoring draw at St James’ Park.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Man Utd

HOWAY THE LADS!

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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81 thoughts on “Man Utd (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & score prediction”

  1. I hope you are right Olly, however the bookies dont agree. I checked the odds on NUFC.com and they are:

    NUFC win 11/2
    Draw 7/2
    Man U win 1/2

    I hate predicting a loss but even with the things going against Man U and their awful form I see us being the perfect antidote. Or should I say our defense will be the perfect antidote. 11 goals in 3 games where the opposition didnt even have to play well to beat us easily. We can sugar coat it as much as we like saying we were in these game for a lot of the time but the bottom line of scorelines tells its own story 4-0, 3-1, 4-0. Our defense is shyte whoever we have in there.

    I am going 1-3 to Man U. I also hope Everton is postponed even with their injuires and Covid.

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  2. Also Olly. You didnt mention the Ref. It is Craig Pawson who I think is the idiot that was on VAR for our last game.

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  3. We won’t win, we just cannot defend. We are beyond frustrating to watch this season, so many schoolboy errors in defense and inconsistent ref decisions with ineffective VAR and Pawson to do for us …again !

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  4. Hope everyone had a good day yesterday – my house looks like another storms hit it!! ??‍♂️?.

    I think it’s highly likely that we get beat again tomorrow – but there would be no surprises there would there. It’s been a run of games we expect little from & refereeing & VAR haven’t helped us at all.

    But a big thing was getting Howe in to have a run of games where he can work with the players, implement his style of play – and most importantly, establish where he needs to strengthen ready for January.

    I know it was obvious to everyone that the defence needs strengthening, but we’ve all seen Lewis improve under Howe, Manquillo stays consistent but Howe will have rated his CBs on who stays and who goes.

    We strengthen early and start picking up points early in January and we have chances – we aren’t far from those above us.

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  5. Eric – hope the family are ok mate.

    I saw your question regarding Dummett. He has honestly been a cult hero of mine, back when he was out injured and we had an away fixture – he’s stood in the crowd with the fans ??.
    But that’s been the problem – he’s out injured far too often. If it was a level playing field and you’re picking who goes, he wouldn’t be top of the list – but it’s not, it’s timing around contract status & Dummetts is due for renewal.
    It’s time to let him go I’m afraid. We only get 25 places in the squad so move him out and get in better.

    But he’s not on his own, those how’s contracts are up, they can all ****** off for me. Make way for the better players we need in.

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  6. Leeds/Villa now off and Viera and Gerrard have tested positive. I have no idea what is going on. The Managers and players are saying Sky and the PL are risking players’ health and they have no say. Jordan Henderson made a lengthy statement on this, Conte says the PL dont listen and Pep seems alarmed and angry underneath although when he is interviewed he always speaks calmly. If you ever saw that Amazon series you will know he is very tightly wound so I doubt he is as calm in private.

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  7. Sharpy, thanks for asking. I am not really sure what is happening with my family. My brother and his girlfriend are isloating in separate rooms upstairs and my mother is feeding them – leaving trays outside their doors. I think they will be living on Indian and Chinese takeaways. My brother sounds like he has Delta as he has lost his sense of taste. They are vaccinated so hopefully it wont hit them too hard. Again, it is my mother I am most worried about.

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  8. How many games have Burnley had postponed? At this rate they will have to extend the season just for them!

    I really wouldnt be surprised if our Man U game is the last played in front of a full crowd for a while.

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  9. This is all such a difficult situation. With football and also family. Not just mine but Sharpy’s seem like they have been very badly hit. I am not sure if the PL are taking this seriously enough. More interested in money.

    Kimtoon was saying the other day that she was in a Drs office with her boy and another patient was taking off his mask to cough. What a moron, that’s exactly when you should have the mask on. My brother’s girlfriend took a taxi to get a PCR test after she had a positive test. My brother is thinking about doing the same if he feels better. I am not sure I like that. Knowingly putting the taxi driver at risk.

    Weird thing is that I have a friend who is a flight attendant and he has flown all the way through this and has had no problems.

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  10. WHam are playing S’ton in a few minutes. Might be the first time in my life I will be cheering for WHam.

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  12. Hi all. Hope you all were able to have a decent Christmas despite the various issues ongoing. Very quiet Christmas for us. Still not sure if our game will go ahead but if it does we really need to get at least a point .. however I feel Pawson will find a way to screw us again.

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  14. Ighalo has been linked with a move (likely loan) to Newcastle. The fact that he’s joint top scorer out in Saudi Arabia this season – does that make that move nailed on or what?.

    I know he’s 32, but could he be a good short term move to cover Wilson – similar age to Gayle but more clinical finisher I reckon.

    There’s more urgent positions need address I reckon and this one could be done last minute deadline day if more permanent options don’t materialise.

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  17. Sharpy17:
    City are 4-0 up against Leicester and there is absolutely zero atmosphere in that ground.

    Sharpy: it is 5-3 on 75 mins and it is still like a morgue. What do these fans want? Imagine if they had Bruce for 2 years 🙂

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  18. Eric+Sykes: Sharpy: it is 5-3 on 75 mins and it is still like a morgue. What do these fans want? Imagine if they had Bruce for 2 years ?

    Eric – it was a cracking game. That’s the 2nd game Ive watched City score a hat full of goals at home and you’d think it was a boring 0-0 based on their fans reaction.

    It’s been a right goal fest this afternoon like.

    Arsenal look so good now they have dropped PEA.

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  19. Ryder predicting a NUFC win tomorrow. If that happens I will never say another bad word about Wor Lee.

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  20. Sharpy: I am still not sure what Aubamayang did. I saw he went to see his sick mother in France with club permission and was delayed getting back so was late or missed training. It seems really that they were punishing for past misdemeaners.

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  21. Brighton and Brentford are both on 20 points. One of them could be sucked into a relegation battle as there always seems to be a team that drops like a stone. Look at Fulham last year. They looked odds on to catch us and then capitulated.

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  22. I watched bits of a few matches this morning and am getting even more disgusted seeing the age 50+ Refs. I saw Pete Postlethwaite lookalike Kevin Friend doing City and Fat Boy Moss doing Arsenal. Now in the next game it is that fool from our City game doing the Chelsea match. Martin Atkinson should have been shipped to the knackers yard after that (along with Pawson). Is Mike “it’s me” Dean doing the late game?

    They should all be sacked at season’s end. As I have said before, there are 7 of them 50 or older.

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  23. Villa actually dont have a bad team. Better than us. If McGinn, Ings and Watkins are fit they will cause problems. Gerrard will be heralded as a genius but he has some good players.

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  24. Eric+Sykes:
    Sharpy: I am still not sure what Aubamayang did. I saw he went to see his sick mother in France with club permission and was delayed getting back so was late or missed training. It seems really that they were punishing for past misdemeaners.

    Eric – no me neither mate, but it’s the second time Arteta has felt the need to make an example of him. This time round it was at a time when they weren’t doing to well either – it was a big call for him, but respect to him coz he felt strongly enough to act despite it possibly backfiring and costing his job.

    What I find most telling is the players reactions to these decisions – similarly with Grealish & Foden at City. The players haven’t reacted in a show of support to their playing colleagues – and sticking with Arsenal, they have been quite brilliant – especially the younger players.

    Who knows where PEA will end up, but I think his time at Arsenal is done now, and I’m not sure the fans care.

    In fact, if you said to them – keep PEA or keep Nketiah, I think most would favour the latter.

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  25. Just watched Brighton beat Brentford and I have to say I do admire a lot about Brighton & I’m really not being patronising when I say that.
    They have such a well ran club despite being one of the least wealthy clubs in the league.

    Their recruitment has been first class, without spending fortunes and Potter has them playing some excellent football.

    I understand why Ashworth is on the list. He’s done brilliantly well their really.

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  26. The scary thing about Olly’s team is that is 3/4s of our best/preferred back 4. We all know that Ritchie is not a left back, but we havent seen enough of Lewis to see if he is any good either. He has looked good in spurts but ASM needs to pass him the blo00dy ball and let him go on the overlap. Then of course, there is Dummett who should be first choice as LB or CB if he ever gets fit.

    I think if they change the whole back 4 in Jan we would all be happy. Aint happening though! Need at lease 1 CB and 1 FB. Manquillo has played on the left before so we might be able to get by depending on injuries.

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  27. Sharpy: Man City have had a bad record for Covid. Off the top of my head, werent Foden and Grealish dropped by England for having girls back to their room? Then there was Grealish when he was at Villa mysteriously hitting a car after a party at 6 am and the police pretty much doing nothing. And Kyle Walker who had strippers/call girls over during the worst of Covid.

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  28. Would you take Aubamayang? The record for older players on huge wages has not been good. Juve really didnt seem to take to Ronaldo. Aguero had to retire and Alexis was a total bust at Man U. Not sure about Messi either, I get the feeling there is a clash of egos there.

    The only one that seems to have worked is Cavani but even he wants to leave for more playing time. Maybe Suarez?

    Since we play Man U, I think Ronaldo has unbalanced their team. He will probably score a hattrick against us but the rest of them want to press and he stands there waiting for the ball. I think he is still their top scorer but is not getting a goal per game like he used to.

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  31. Eric – none of the above for me mate, that’s not to say I don’t think they have been/are extremely talented players.

    I think there are players at ‘big’ clubs across Europe who are wasted talents not getting game time. I’d rather our scouts went out and found those – or players doing good things in lower leagues.

    Those players who would be motivated and ready to buy into what Howe is trying to achieve.

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  32. I hope Howe puts Joelinton in midfield again tonight. I want to see whether that was a one off fluke performance or whether that position/role does suit him as well as it seemed to.

    He played with so much confidence and was definitely our stand out player.

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  33. Sharpy17:
    I hope Howe puts Joelinton in midfield again tonight.I want to see whether that was a one off fluke performance or whether that position/role does suit him as well as it seemed to.

    He played with so much confidence and was definitely our stand out player.

    I dont rate McFred so Joelinton will have a chance to shine. Not convinced yet though as he had so many bad games for us. Of course, we all know that was partly due to having a cabbage as manager.

    If we get beat tonight I reckon some will turn on Eddie. Ed’s pensioners during the match would give him stick I think.

    Have we ever won a MNF game?

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  34. Sharpy: I would also be worried about Ramsey from Juve. He is on about 400k a week and was always a bit injury prone. I am not saying he wouldnt improve our team but that is just too much money for him, even if we have all the money in the world.

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  35. On McFred. They are both decent players but they are not up to Man U standard. Whatever anybody says, Man U are one of the richest clubs in the world and should have better players than these two. Fred is OK, and will get you a cracking goal once a season. The rest of the time, he is about Everton standard. Same with McTom. He is athletic and puts in a shift but he also mis-times tackles and gets out of position. He is about Scottish National Team standard.

    Please dont let this come back and bite me 🙂

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  36. Eric+Sykes:
    Sharpy: I would also be worried about Ramsey from Juve. He is on about 400k a week and was always a bit injury prone. I am not saying he wouldnt improve our team but that is just too much money for him, even if we have all the money in the world.

    Eric – I like him & think he’d be a good player for us. Not just on the pitch, but I think he’d have the right mentality – like a James Milner in our dressing room – but not at that wage mate. That’s crazy money.

    I have my reservations about Trippier for the same reasons.

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  37. It is going to be boom or bust after this Man U game. Euphoria or Doom. A draw doesnt really help except for maybe the mood of the fans. But, if it is a draw the fans will soon come to the conclusion that that is only offering us faint hope. We need wins!!! A draw is almost like a loss in our situation.

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  38. A bit more on McFred. Let’s say we stay up. Imagine in 3 years time we still have a midfield of Hayden and Shelvey! They are our McFred. With the money we have, would anybody believe that?

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  39. Krafth and Longstaff!!!!

    I dont care what people are saying about Willock, he is still better than Longstaff.

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  40. Longstaff is slow and gives the ball away even on short passes. he can strike a ball well but it usually goes wide or over the bar, so what’s the point of a goog connection?

    I am totally done with the Longstaffs. Prove me wrong Sean!

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  45. Kimtoon: a tortoise, a snail and a sloth had a race last week with Shelvey and Longstaff. Longstaff finished 3rd.

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  53. Thrilling first half only spoiled by injury to Wilson. Based on that we deserve at least a point from this game, hopefully all 3

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