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6 months ago
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Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United.
Chris Sutton speaking ahead of tonight’s game at Old Trafford.
Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players looking to stay top six.
Whilst Erik ten Hag and Manchester United know that only a win would keep their faint hopes alive of ending the season in sixth.
Chris Sutton talking to BBC Sport – 14 May 2024:
“We have started to feel sorry for Manchester United, haven’t we? Saying things like ‘they put up a good fight’ in their defeat by Arsenal, or talking about how they pushed them and made it edgy.
“I agree they did all of the above, but surely with Manchester United you want to see a bit more quality in their performance as well? At the moment, they are showing about as much quality as the roof at Old Trafford did during the downpour after Sunday’s game.
“It’s hard to see anything different from them this time so, with apologies to Manchester United’s fans, I am going to back their team to lose again.
“I might have been wrong with the exact scoreline in the Gunners game, but Arsenal were always going to win – more than 57,000 of you voted on the outcome on my predictions page last week and 74% of you agreed with me. I don’t think anyone was surprised by the result.
“I thought Newcastle United would beat Brighton on Saturday, but they missed Callum Wilson, who was ill. He could be back for this game, though, and would give them the cutting edge they were missing against the Seagulls.
“Scoreline prediction – Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 2”
Started to feel sorry for Manchester United?
Hmmm.
Is this because their fans haven’t seen the team win a trophy for 15 months?
Man U are undoubtedly a total shambles and personally, I don’t see how tax exile Ratcliffe is any great white knight coming to save them, more like getting his snout in the trough alongside his mates the Glazers.
On the pitch, I thought on Sunday in reality they looked no better than previously, as they made it only one win in their last eight games and that sole victory was home to rock bottom Sheffield United. A strange game at the weekend as Arsenal went 1-0 up after 20 minutes and both teams appeared to just settle for that as the final result. Man U only two efforts on target and not a single serious save for the Arsenal keeper to make.
As for Newcastle United, the BBC Sport man maybe getting things partly right.
Against Burnley, Eddie Howe finally decided to play both Wilson and Isak, the home side totally unable to handle them and the likes of Anthony Gordon and Bruno.
On Saturday, Wilson looked a loss through illness, but Chris Sutton not acknowledging that Isak had also been ill and Eddie Howe saying afterwards that was why he’d subbed him.
To be fair, Brighton played well and Newcastle United only did so in patches. Conceding a soft goal from a corner didn’t help and NUFC more than deserved their point and if anybody should have won it was Newcastle, as they pressed for that winning goal to the final whistle.
The BBC Sport pundit predicts a 2-1 away win for United over Man U and I think if no gifts given such as the goal Brighton scored from a corner, then Newcastle will win.
Manchester United are the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League top 12 with only 52 goals, whilst only the top three have scored more than Newcastle United’s 79. United actually 26 goals better off than Man U when it comes to goal difference.
Whilst interesting to see that Newcastle United have scored more goals (30) away from home than Manchester United have scored (28) at Old Trafford.
Man U have already lost at home to the likes of Palace, Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham, if Newcastle United can play anywhere near their best then then they can add to them and make it four wins in a row against Man U, including that 3-0 hammering in the League Cup at Old Trafford back in November.

 
