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Dreadful AGAIN! Reaction to Newcastle's 1-0 defeat to Man United
12 Plays1 month ago
Michael Grahamslaw is back on the mic with a slightly delayed, but brutally honest reaction to Newcastle United’s 1–0 Boxing Day defeat away to Manchester United.
Under the lights at Old Trafford, Newcastle dominated possession, huffed and puffed, hit the woodwork, and still came away empty-handed thanks to a stunning Patrick Dorgu volley and another afternoon of missed chances, sideways football, and big questions left unanswered.
In this episode, Michael breaks down:
- Why this defeat was more frustrating than damaging
- Newcastle’s sterile 65% possession and dreadful crossing numbers
- Aaron Ramsdale’s role in the only goal
- The VAR handball call – and why it wasn’t a penalty
- Standout moments from Lewis Hall and the lack of impact from the bench
- Whether Eddie Howe is running out of answers – and patience
- If January signings or tactical changes are now essential
Is this just an opportunity missed, or a deeper warning sign that Newcastle’s players aren’t responding anymore?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, subscribe for more Newcastle United content, and keep an eye out for a more in-depth review later this weekend.
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Transcript
Introduction and Apology
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the daily Newcastle my name is Michael Grahamslow and today we're going to be talking about Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and I do have to apologize that this is going out a little bit late but if I recorded my immediate post-match reaction it probably wouldn't have gone down very
Post-Match Frustration
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
well. An intoxicated Michael would have woke up with a very, very bad, anxious hangover. So, Boxing Day is gone. We had the Boxing Day football, unfortunately, just one game, and it wasn't a very good one. It was at Old Trafford under the lights, and Newcastle United left empty-handed, and Manchester United kept only their fourth clean sheet against Newcastle at Old Trafford, in 17 now think of the managers that have gone through in that period yeah very very scary that it was only their fourth clean sheet and honestly it was probably the easiest clean sheet they've kept in that time um on paper it is ah it's another hour away loss let's be honest it's another terrible terrible away loss um in reality, it's one that I think most people will leave frustrated, disappointed in thinking how Newcastle didn't come away with at least a point.
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, it left me wondering when the hell Newcastle United's players are going to start playing for their manager once again, because it was a completely abject and pathetic performance from Newcastle.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
While not as bad as the Derby defeat, It certainly had the potential to be. and With a great strike to win the game from Patrick Dogu, there were missed chances on both ends, really. Benjamin Shesko hits the bar. Fabian Share playing them online, sitting 10 yards behind the rest of the defence.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice one, Fab. VR drama, which, to be honest, I didn't actually think was as dramatic as others have. But 65% possession for Newcastle United, which translated into 500-plus backwards or sideways passes. Probably a record, but I haven't been counting.
Initial Optimism
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
A cross success rate of 15% from 46 crosses and an absolutely dreadful game of football which leaves you wondering when the goy gonna get a second plan, a plan B.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Believe it or not, coming into this, we actually had a bit of reason for optimism. Just one defeat in the last five league games. Chelsea, we started brilliantly. And Man Utd were missing a number of the talisman. Brian Mbwemo being one. Ahmad, both of those away on the national duty. Mazurawi also joining them. No Bruno Fernandes, injured and watching from the stands. Lissandro Martinez came back to captain the side. And you're thinking,
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's 5'1", or whatever it is. I know it's 5'6", or something. But he's a midget. e We've got a six foot seven Stryker.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Surely putting crosses in the box is going to work. Nope, we we failed on 39 crosses. Okay, um and Casemiro returned from suspension, which, to be honest, kind of seemed like a positive for Newcastle, the way that he's been playing in recent years. um For Newcastle, it was the same side that played against Chelsea or started the game against Chelsea.
Game Analysis and Defensive Issues
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only real surprise was that Amorim, Reuben Amorim, ditched the usual back three and went with the four at the back. I'll be honest, it's not something that we haven't seen before. They've done it they've started to do it a bit more in games. We saw it against in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. Didn't really defend all that well that day.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wonder what's changed. I need calm down. But they pushed Patrick Dogu into the right wing slot. um And to be honest, he was probably man of the match. um It was a gamble. It ultimately paid off. And the the nicest thing I'm going to say about the Daners, I quite like him as a player. I think he has got the potential to be a fantastic player. Yeah.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if there was that ever a game not to do it, I would have preferred it if it wasn't this one. um But yeah, we started okay as well, to be honest. um We had a little bit of a press. We were moving the ball all right, mainly around the back. We had a decent amount of possession.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
There really any danger from either side, was there? You were looking at set pieces, maybe. Casemiro had a free header, which would have gone out... Well, to be honest, it would look like eclipse in the ah the sky at Old Trafford rather than actually going in the net. Terrible header. Our best chance came as Sandro Tonali whips in a corner. Bruno Gamares gets a header on it at the near post and forces a sharp save from Sene Lamens.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be honest, it was it was probably the best save of the game. But both teams very comfortable and very unremarkable. And then, as mentioned, Patrick Dogu, the one that changes the game. Corner comes in for Man United. Nick Vultomar heads it straight in the air.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ends up on the edge of the box. Patrick Dogu gets away from Jacob Ramsey. Volleys it home. and ah To be honest, it's an excellent volley. it goes towards the corner.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then when you see the replay and you see that Aaron Ramsdale... crisp packet hands gets a full hand on the ball you're thinking how is he only palmed that into the side netting and it's yet another game where a goal has gone in against Newcastle and you're thinking should Ramsdale have done a bit better there and the answer is always yes uh unfortunately There is a saying in football, and I'm going to apply it to Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale, the best thing for Nick Pope's career at Newcastle was getting injured and being out of the team for Aaron Ramsdale coming in because now Nick Pope feels like it's going to be a blessing in disguise having him back. We're forgetting, well, we're not forgetting, but we're putting the back of our minds, Brentford, West Ham, etc. Because I'm thinking, andy I need a goalkeeper that can save a shot.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there certainly haven't been any in Newcastle this year. But realistically, the warning signs were there for Newcastle with Dogu, particularly against Lewis Hall.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I saw so many people saying Lewis Hall had a great game. Defensively, I thought he was really poor. If you look back on the highlights, most of them are Lewis Hall running 10 yards behind place, sprinting as fast as he can to get back because he's out of position. um And yes, he didn't get a lot of help from...
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anthony Gordon realistically I think that was because out of possession we were trying to move to a five at the back with Jacob Murphy going right wing back which means Gordon then has to stay a bit further forward to support Nick Valtomada which didn't do that really well either either to be honest but It's one of those. Seshko actually looked alright from the Man United side. um He had probably a little bit more service than what Valtomar did, but not mine much. Neither team really got that striker into the game.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hall, I think one of the the reasons a lot of fans are commenting on how good of a game he had. was probably because of the driving runs he was making from midfield. and There's a few in the first half where he takes on like four players and gets past them and you're thinking, all right, fair play, well done. um And then there was one in the second half where he makes a driving run, very similar, gets to the edge of the box and a dip and strike smashes against the underside of the bar.
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And thinking, wow, a shot from outside the box?
Controversial VAR Decision
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't do that very often. um It was almost a rarity and it nearly went in. it's You almost think, well, why don't we try this more often? um And then following that, it's the the air the weekly VAR shambles um of is it a handball, is it not? To be honest, in my opinion, I don't think this one is. And I am fully aware That is going to piss off every single Newcastle United fan because I'm saying this isn't a penalty.
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a gullemouth scramble, goes to the far post, um a shot is blocked, and the ball hits off Lissandro Martinez's chest, then onto his arm, then onto his hand. um And it's it's one of those where the VAR checked it, waved it off, in my opinion, and rightfully so, because, it hit as I say, hits the chest, hits the arm, then hits the hand.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
First reason is, let's be honest, that shouldn't be a penalty. If it hits off the chest and then onto your arm, The second is the proximity between Martinez and the ball. They're really close together. There is no way he can react. And realistically, you've got more of a chance of getting a penalty for the holding of Malik Chow, which the reason the arms are in that place and that position in the first
Attacking Play and Substitutions
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
place. and it does There is a still where it looks like he's holding the ball like a rugby player. um But...
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's holding on to Malik Chow. It's the usual seventy thirty holding that you see in the box. 70% from the defender, 30% from the attacker. But because the attacker has still got a hold of the defending player, it's never going to be given.
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And to be honest, probably rightfully so. If it was given against us, we'd be furious. um but back into the game anthony gordon had a few good chances for newcastle dragged one wide where he should have hit the target and then the best chance of the game newcastle actually creates a really really good chance down the right hand side barnes cuts it back for anthony gordon and gordon skies it above the bar and i'm sitting there going no no that was the chance and then the replay plays
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I see the position of Johan Wisser on the other side of the goal. The near post, we've got Barnes, who gets played through brilliantly. He could take a shot himself and hit it across the goalkeeper.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He could cut it back for Anthony Gordon or he could play it across goal where Johan Wisser has got ahead of the defender and would have had a tap in. Now, to be honest, go Barnes probably doesn't see Wisser. He's probably focused on knocking it back to Gordon. But all you have to do is lift your head and just see Johan Wisser in the best position possible. And even if he takes a strike at goal, very likely Lemans gets a hand on it or it goes in. Even if he gets a hand on it, there's a chance it goes to Wisser. But knocked back to Anthony Gordon. Great move all in all.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon blasts it over the bar. And by that point, you were thinking, yeah, we've lost this. 100%. hundred percent um Newcastle made quite a lot of substitutes. Obviously, I mentioned Barnes there. He didn't really have, you know, he's probably the only substitute that actually had an impact on the game. was one of the few players who had any urgency.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And while we mentioned art Newcastle needed substitutions earlier in the game against Chelsea, the substitutions themselves, I think this time were were wrong.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What I wanted to see was Wissar and Vultamana playing at the same time. I would have took off Jacob Ramsey. thought he was decent in the first half, except from the fact that he fell over outside the box when he should have had a shot.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's getting quite hard to defend those particular moments, but his all-round play is decent. still I did think he was better than Tonali. ah don't Maybe not Bruno. He was on par with Bruno in the first half. Bruno was significantly better in the second when he played.
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Tonali had a terrible game, I think, again. um He just seems a bit offered at the minute. I don't know if there's an injury. Maybe his head's been turned. I'm i'm not 100% sure, to be honest. But it's one of those where it's ah it's a pretty damning look on the season when Sandro Tonali's not even playing well. And he was the one that, in the last season and the season before, you get criticised 10 of the players, you'd still be able to say Sandro was a solid 7 out of 10.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So hopefully that's just a little knock and, you know, he's just not fully fit, but I highly doubt that, to be honest.
Manchester United's Effective Strategy
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, Man United to that credit. Defended like their lives depended on it.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bodies are on the line. Clearances. Time management. And when Lammons makes that late claim from a cross, it was celebrated like a goal. And that's all she wrote, really. Wasn't a very good game. Yeah.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Man United probably, i don't want to say they deserved it, but out of the two sides, they were probably the slightly better in my opinion. um I think we had a lot of the ball, but we didn't really do anything with it. Their game plan was actually better than ours.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And credit, I guess, to you and you Ruben Amorim for changing up the system, realising the five at the back wouldn't work. um Yeah, it's it's a painful time when I have to give credit to Man United against Newcastle. Neither team were very good, but the sheer change in system, taking the risk with Dogu, is what won them the game.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But for Newcastle, Serious, serious questions need to be asked now of what the issue actually is.
Management and Future Strategy
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Has Eddie Howe lost the dressing room?
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he has, just cut. Take the risk. Because let's be honest, we're going with nowhere at the minute this season. um Is the issue a sheer lack of a plan B?
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
We went to five at the back against the likes of Arsenal, etc. last year. We knew we had that plan B, but that's not going to work against opposition that like to sit deep. Is it time for a plan C maybe where we test Wissar and Volta Mata together? That's what I want to see. Volta Mata sitting slightly deeper so he can get those intricate touches and more players around him.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
when he When he does get the ball, let's say, 10, 15 yards away from any other player, he's lost. He doesn't really know what to do. He isn't that kind of player. Get him and Wissar on together and fix it.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that fits it. Well, I say fix it and fix it. I think that fixes a lot of our problems. And this is it just a simple case of we need to sign a few more players who are more creative in January? We've got the athletes, but maybe in games where we are going to have a little bit more of the ball,
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need someone who can, not a maverick like an Alain Saint-Maximin, but as an ah attacking midfielder who can play through the lines, um take a shot from deep and really, really test the goalkeeper. They're all questions that can be asked. I don't have the answer, um to be honest. it's It's early in the morning for me. um And I'm sitting here thinking, you know what?
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I had the answer, I would love it. But it could be a sheer number of things. I'm going have a sit down with Ian sometime over this weekend and we will talk about it. And hopefully, you know, we can sort of think of a few things there. But let's be honest, it's not down to me and Ian. It's down to the boardroom at Newcastle United to figure out what's been going on. And we need to do it quick.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let us know your thoughts in the comments. Do you think it's time for Eddie Howe to go? I personally don't just yet. But if it's going to be a case of where we need to cut our losses, maybe it's time to do so. um Let Howe Mugoni's own accord at the same time or wait till the end of the season. I'm not sure when it is, but I i mentioned earlier, I can't see him lasting longer than this season. um Is it sheer lack of a plan B?
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it a sheer lack of attacking quality? Can we fix it in January?
Conclusion and Audience Feedback
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let em me know in the comments what your thoughts are. I've been Michael Graham, so this has been the Daily Newcastle. We will have a more in-depth review later this weekend. But for now, ta-ra.