Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United

[JaMoUsE 0]

A nice little read from a cockney rag! unbelievably

 

Keegan's badge of courage is rewarded as Martins goal pegs United back

 

Manchester United 1 Newcastle 1

 

Kevin Keegan has been lampooned in Manchester for many years, since his neurotic TV outburst during the heat of the 1996 Premier League title race.

 

Today, however, English football owes the Newcastle manager a debt after his team came to Old Trafford with rare courage and ambition to deprive Manchester United of a winning start to their season.

 

Ask any of the few managers who have enjoyed success against United over the years and they will tell you that half of the battle is in the mind.

 

In short, it's about attitude.

 

 

 

Ball-watching: United's defence can only stare as Obafemi Martins puts Newcastle ahead

 

 

Yesterday Keegan brought his team to the north-west and instructed them to try to beat Sir Alex Ferguson's formidable side.

 

Newcastle played with two banks of four and deployed Damien Duff as a slightly deeper foil to goalscorer Obafemi Martins.

 

 

It made quite a difference to the negative 4-5-1 used by so many visiting managers at this stadium.

 

Newcastle were not reckless or cavalier in the way they went about their work, but they were ambitious.

 

 

As such, a draw was the very least they deserved. For Ferguson and his depleted ranks, this was a dispiriting day. The afternoon began with home fans holding up coloured paper spelling out the missive: 'More Goals Please'.

 

 

Howay the lads: Kevin Keegan salutes the travelling Toon fans

It was a little rich in some ways, given the number of goals United plundered on the way to securing a league and Champions League double last season.

 

And, in truth, it was unlikely to happen yesterday. With Cristiano Ronaldo — scorer of 42 goals last season — sitting in the stand injured and other attacking players such as Louis Saha, Nani, Ji-Sung Park and Anderson similarly unavailable, United look a little blunt on paper and that was very much the case on the field.

 

The Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov would enhance any team in Europe and he would certainly be useful at the moment.

 

Ferguson's team looked a little one-dimensional, especially when injuries deprived them of the sprightly Ryan Giggs and their best passer, Michael Carrick.

 

Wayne Rooney was on tenacious form but — as is often the case when United are not on song — he did much of his most noticeable work in the wrong areas.

 

Berbatov would bring United some much-needed shape and structure. The Old Trafford board are intensifying their efforts to sign the Bulgarian and quite right too. If they need to pay over the odds for this one, then they should.

 

Ferguson continues to insist that United will be okay if they don't add to their squad in the next two weeks. On this one he may be wrong.

 

There is no guarantee that Ronaldo will be as influential when he returns from injury in October. Both his physical and mental condition remain difficult to predict.

 

'We are working on bringing in another top striker and having added strength up front is a situation I really enjoy,' said Ferguson in his programme notes.

 

 

 

Leveller: Rooney celebrates with Fletcher, who scored United's equaliser

 

'But if our plans don't come to fruition then it's hardly the end of the road, because we certainly won't be going backwards with the players we have.'

 

Ferguson's faith in his young players is well-placed. The jury is out on young Fraizer Campbell but the Brazilian trio of Rodrigo Possebon and Rafael and Fabio Da Silva appear to have an immediate comfort when in possession that characterises players of real quality.

 

Players like this will be part of United's future, however, and the present merely sees Ferguson's team two league points behind Chelsea already.

 

 

Plenty to ponder: United's lack of firepower is a cause for concern for Sir Alex Ferguson

The home team certainly started brightly and would have taken an early lead had Campbell's diving header from a Rooney cross not struck Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given square on the forehead.

 

Given also saved well from Rooney — low to his right — and then when Paul Scholes tried to follow up, but Newcastle were always in the game.

 

Their goal came in the 24th minute after defender Steven Taylor's volley was deflected over for a corner.

 

Danny Guthrie delivered a routine corner and when Martin's escaped the attention of the dithering Darren Fletcher his powerful header proved too much for Scholes, guarding the far post.

 

Briefly, Newcastle sensed something really special. But United are expert at trampling on people's dreams and back they came within a minute.

 

With Taylor off the pitch injured, Newcastle were short of numbers as United attacked down the left.

 

Patrice Evra fed Giggs and in turn the Welshman's low cross was adroitly turned past Given by the outside of Fletcher's right boot.

 

From then on, the game was an even contest. United perhaps enjoyed the greater possession but Newcastle attacked vibrantly on the counter.

 

Nemanja Vidic headed another corner down and on to the cross bar while Campbell saw a fierce low shot turned aside.

 

But Newcastle did not deserve to lose. New signings Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez both enjoyed terrific debuts as Newcastle's season began with unexpected promise.

 

Perhaps there is hope, after all. For Newcastle and the rest of the Premier League.

[tinofbeans 91]

in my opinion, a very good debut for both hm and collocini.

 

jonas looks fearless going forward and seems two footed. loved the bit where he murdered brown for pace after faking a cut inside.

[Tom 14013]

I liked it when he skinned Rooney twice

[Craig 6700]

First time I've seen Guttierez play and I thought he was quality. His spidey senses were tingling all game.

 

 

He's certainly caught me in his web.

I'm going to do the Spiderman on your lass next time we get together.

 

 

I've already done it on your sis, she was dripping in 'my web' when I left her

Face like a painters radio man.

Plasterer's

 

I bet he says "make like a tree and get the hell out of here" as well...

[Happy Face 29]

FUCKING COM E ON YOLU TWATS.

 

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

Howay Spiderman!

[Tom 14013]

I have no doubt that there are quite a few threads regarding this match on the SMB however one is ten pages long.

 

Fucking obsessed

[Happy Face 29]

I'm drunk by the way.

 

Very well done to the lads though.

 

]

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:nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc:

 

 

 

:nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc::nufc:

[luckyluke 2]

Great result. If only Taylor wasn't off the pitch for their equaliser...

[Papa Lazaru 0]

What a start to the season, Keegan already working his magic as that was a Keegan team and no mistake.

 

Given was back to the player i remember from 2 years ago and what a bonus that was. The defence may have had the odd dodgy moment but they looked steady second half and Colicini settled in nicely with hopefully Enrique to come in as well.

 

Jonas was pure class and worked his arse off getting back to tackle mau players, which the whole team did to be fair.

 

Also if you inculde the pre season match and this one Guthrie has taken 3 corners, all have been class and we've scored from 2 out of the 3 so the guy has to take them from now on!

 

And the thing i never thought i'd say, Mike Riley was outstanding in a macth at Old Trafford, he was unbiassed, up with play, gave every decision fairly, booked their players for fouls and R9ooney for his usual dissent, and the only thing ppl could say was he could have maybe given them a pen and us a freekick for the Milner handball and Jonas foul, i still can't believe it and i feel dirty for saying it but Mike Riley was excellent!

[Jimbo 175]

Hansen was practically knocking one out over Gutierrez on MOTD

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Riley was very hit and miss tbh.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

Hansen was practically knocking one out over Gutierrez on MOTD

 

And rightly so!

 

I'm sure you were actually knocking one out over him!

[Jimbo 175]

Hansen was practically knocking one out over Gutierrez on MOTD

 

And rightly so!

 

I'm sure you were actually knocking one out over him!

 

 

[Papa Lazaru 0]

Riley was very hit and miss tbh.

 

I'm the biggest critics of refs going and i don't think he was at all. Every time i saw a toon player fouled he gave it, he booked 2 or 3 of their players *rightly) and none of ours (again rightly), i've never witnessed a ref give us even close to a fair go at Old Trafford, and for that i give him a shitload of credit.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

I've seen worse don't get me wrong, he was decent throughout out overall but he messed up on a couple of decisions. But as you say, didn't seem biased or anything of that nature and put in a good shift overall.

[Tooj 17]

I never knew Papa Laz never liked officials. Next he'll be telling me playing three at the back is just wrong.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

I never knew Papa Laz never liked officials. Next he'll be telling me playing three at the back is just wrong.

 

 

I don't know what you mean, that's clearly the best formation for English teams to use without question, i mean the performances of our team under that formation speak for themselves!

[smoggeordie 0]

Only fault with Riley today IMO was when Gutierrez was through early doors and he was nudged out the way, it was a definite free kick for us just outside the box. Correct decision for the penalty appeal on Milner IMO, arm fairly low down and didn't move towards the ball, since he was flinching.

[OTF 7496]

Have to give plaudits to Taylor as well. I think he had a very good game - just a shame he picked up a knock in the Martins goal.

[Jimbo 175]

Have to give plaudits to Taylor as well. I think he had a very good game - just a shame he picked up a knock in the Martins goal.

 

Did you see the way he steamed into the back of Martins when he was in mid leap ? clearly judging by the way he sprinted back on the pitch there was little wrong with him, had he been less of a tart and stayed on the pitch we might not have conseeded, surely even he knows you're at most risk after scoring ?

[Guest Stevie]

Riley is a bastard. He is the only man I genuinely hate in football. He wasn't that bad today though.

[smoggeordie 0]

One of the main positives today when you looked through our team was the amount of pace we possess now. Duff, N'Zogbia, Martins, Beye and Gutierrez are all quick and the other's who were playing aren't exactly slouches, plus we've got Owen still to come back as well.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Clearly judging by the way he sprinted back on the pitch there was little wrong with him, had he been less of a tart and stayed on the pitch we might not have conseeded, surely even he knows you're at most risk after scoring ?

That thought crossed my mind too.

[Jimbo 175]

From The Guardian review of the match:

 

Man of the match Steven Taylor

 

It sums up his influence in the Newcastle United defence that his brief absence from the pitch to receive treatment coincided with Darren Fletcher scoring Manchester United's equaliser

 

[NJS 4411]

Did you see the way he steamed into the back of Martins when he was in mid leap ? clearly judging by the way he sprinted back on the pitch there was little wrong with him, had he been less of a tart and stayed on the pitch we might not have conseeded, surely even he knows you're at most risk after scoring ?

 

 

He has the habit of flinging himself in recklessly when going forward for set pieces - too many fouls given away and knocks incurred without a goal return.