[ad_1]
For 14 minutes at St James’ Park, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unleashed the midfield that many Manchester United fans had been waiting for.
When Donny van de Beek came off the bench to replace Daniel James with United in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle, it was the first time in six games this season that the Dutchman was on the same pitch as Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. Just over a quarter of an hour later, United had scored three goals and a tense stalemate had turned into a riotous victory.
It was nothing less than what United deserved, playing with great character and confidence to shake off the pain of the 6-1 beating Tottenham hit two weeks ago, but for a long time it looked like it was going to be another day of frustration.
Instead, a late salvo ensured Solsjkaer got the answer he wanted to the humiliation against the Spurs, in terms of performance and points.
It was a bombardment inspired by Fernandes and Van de Beek, above all, and it was perhaps no accident that United began to look like a more menacing side when their top three midfielders were on the field.
Video not available
But this will not have been a lightbulb moment for Solskjaer. If anything, it only adds to the problems he faces in midfield. For starters, this wasn’t a natural midfield three. Scott McTominay continued to provide protection and Van de Beek and Fernandes took turns taking a role on the left side. That could become a long-term tactic, but it would leave Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial with nowhere to go.
Placing Van de Beek, Pogba and Fernandes in the same starting lineup at this point still seems difficult and their influence against Newcastle was due to the platform placed by McTominay and Fred.
Solskjaer had made it clear that he wanted energy on his side after the unfortunate nature of the collapse against Tottenham, which made the inclusion of Fred and McTominay fairly simple decisions.
The Brazilian and Scotsman formed an unlikely partnership last season, but they tend to bring out the best in each other and certainly set the tone for a more aggressive display in midfield on Saturday.
United’s pressure was evidently more intense against the Magpies and Fred is often a key figure in this regard. While Nemanja Matic does not have the ability to press high and still fold for cover in midfield now, and Pogba is rarely an aggressive presser when setting deeper, Fred does his job to pressure his opponents in midfield and does not give him any. gave Newcastle easy. way out.
With McTominay’s energy and drive alongside him, they’ve got all the bases covered in midfield when it comes to work pace.
They may not have the class of Matic and Pogba, but so far this season that quality has been overshadowed in all three Premier League games. United’s midfield, which appeared to be a strong point in the first few weeks after the season restart, has been off-balance so far this season and it has been too easy for the rival midfield to find a way out and run on defense.
Fred and McTominay put an end to that and gave United a platform. Now Solskjaer has to balance how valuable that platform is with the quality he gets from Van de Beek and Pogba, who started at the bank.
That was particularly cruel for the Dutchman and the £ 35 million summer contract should be close to starting now. The question is where it fits.
He was involved in Fernandes’ goal, the shot that broke Newcastle’s rear, making good possession in a deep position down the left before firing a low ball at Juan Mata’s feet that opened the attack.
But given that Fernandes is a certainty to start in the most advanced midfield position, Van de Beek appears to be fighting for one of the deeper roles. So far this season, Matic, Pogba, Fred and McTominay have been chosen ahead of him in those roles and it would be a surprise if Solskjaer opted for a more offensive option against Chelsea or Arsenal in the next two weeks.
The former Ajax midfielder can play from an attacking role down the left, but that would mean breaking all three forwards. There is no easy solution to putting Van de Beek in Solskjaer’s starting lineup, especially since Fred and McTominay gave him exactly what he wanted at Newcastle.
For 14 glorious minutes, United’s dreamy midfield ripped Newcastle apart. But at least two of them could be back on the bench Tuesday night and again Saturday.
[ad_2]
