Newcastle United returned to winning ways with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday evening. In truth, United should’ve won by two or three clear goals, such was the quality of chances created.
A brace from Harvey Barnes sandwiched a Ruben Dias strike in a frantic ten-minute second half period that ultimately settled the contest.
Here are three HUGE things I liked from the game:
Liked: The return of Eddie Howe’s Black and White Army (and the fullbacks)
Newcastle were more than good value for the points and arguably should’ve been three nil up at half time as Woltemade and Barnes wasted glorious opportunities/forced Donnarumma into some top saves. This is a Man City side who were/probably still are being tipped to push “all-conquering” Arsenal for the title by the media just this Friday past.
Woltemade’s chances came from only 0.7xG, so to engineer such fierce strikes on goal is a credit to the lad (he was also offside for the first time in his United career, showing how much further forward in general he was playing).
But the two real difference makers were Tino and Hall, who both returned from injury, and allowed the entire side to function more like we know it can. Both players are huge progressive ball carriers, with engines to get up and down the pitch, something we have been sorely missing. Their occupying of positions higher up the pitch creates space for the midfield, splits centre backs apart, and drags defenders into places they just don’t want to be; hence it is little wonder Murphy, Big Nick, and Barnes looked so effective.
Lastly a caveat: yes, it is easy to go early with this kind of talk, but such was the atrociousness of United’s pre-international break runouts, seeing the lads (and gaffer) put in this level of performance was like having dulcet tones whispered in your ear.
Liked: Creating chances
Before Saturday it could be agreed that most fans knew where United were struggling this season, and that was in attack. Just 11 goals scored in the Premier League was a testament to our struggles to find the back of the net but more worryingly was the dearth of chances created.
United registered just five shots on target against West Ham and Brentford combined, so it was heartening for chances to be saved by the opposition keeper, who for the first time this season was busier than our own in terms of shots saved and big chances faced.
Woltemade and Barnes both had four shots each, and on another day, both could’ve walked off with hattricks. It was also the first time this season that United have looked repeatedly dangerous in the same 90 minutes, rather than having a solitary chance/scoring one goal and then wilting.
Ultimately, you want players to be taking chances and wining comfortably, but if the side is creating opportunities to score, with the quality of our forward players, a big league win won’t be too far away.
Liked: An arrow in the darkness
Harvey Barnes has ten goal contributions in the Premier League since January; Anthony Gordon has zero. A stark fact, but Barnes really stepped up on Saturday and is there an argument to be made that he should be starting over Gordon in the league at least?
Barnes also showed the indomitable trait of never giving up as he missed two huge chances (which he really should’ve buried) in the first half and arguably scored the more difficult of his first three chances when he finally netted with said third.
Sometimes the train of thought (especially when Gordon has been in form) has been that Barnes is an odd man out £38m signing, but if the former Leicester man can deliver these sorts of performances consistently then he could dislodge Gordon from the LW position often, rotation allowing.
Interestingly, Barnes ranks in the 97th percentile for non-penalty goals (0.50 per 90) over the last 365 days for players that play in his position in the top five leagues in Europe: basically he’s had a storming time scoring goals from out wide, and if the lad keeps performing to this level could he be an outside shout for the World Cup? If not for England, then definitely Scotland.
Now the task switches back to the Champions League and Marseille, with United looking to build on a decent winning run in Europe in what will be a ferocious atmosphere in France.
Keep the faith. HWTL
Things I disliked
Pope starting despite some horrible performances of late, all this did was show no matter how bad you play if you’re one of the favourites you get picked that and what a waste of time Ramsdales loan is.
People thought myself included that Vlac the Greek was a joke signing but here he is having a stellar season and proving he’s a good keeper, maybe Howe couldn’t/can’t see beyond Pope.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Hopefully Howe may be seeing past Joelinton a bit now as he is a liability, just too volatile and it looks as though he can’t control it.
Joseph(Quote)