Manchester United v Newcastle United - Preview
One single Old Trafford victory; 25 games lost against Manchester United, more than against any other team in the Premier League. Can Newcastle forget about these facts and conjure up three points this weekend?
Manchester United look comfortable with 6 points on the board, yet the stats fail to show the below par and somewhat 'boring' standard of football they have prodcued, despite consecutive clean sheets and a 100% win record. Their most promising game was earlier in the week against Club Brugge, where they won 3-1. New boy Memphis Depay, a former teammate of our very own Wijnaldum and a player we will have to keep a close eye on, bagged a brace and assisted the third, proving he is a much better player than his league performances so far have shown.
Depay: The new boy from PSV will need keeping at bay, particularly with NUFC's weakness at right back
While Depay will be a real handful, lets not forget the danger of our nemesis Wayne Rooney - the England man has managed 12 goals and 7 assists in 20 Premier League appearances against Newcastle, and although his record against us of late hasn't been great, you can bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow is the day he will regain form!
So what of the Toon? Do they stand a chance against a seemingly in-form side at the minute or can they successfully pull off their first win of the new season? The promise shown against Southampton wasn't replicated against Swansea, with poor discipline being one of the main faults on display - Daryl Jaanmat's red card and another yellow card for Mitrovic, again mere minutes after being subbed on.
Swansea were allowed 19 shots compared to Newcastle's 4 in another concerning defensive display. This rings alarm bells for a clear need to reshape and update the aging defense and the performance of whoever plays in the full back positions tomorrow against Depay & Mata could well determine the full time score!
Chancel Mbemba has been playing exceptionally well so far, and it is likely that he will be given the task to guard Depay, while the struggling Haidara will protect their right flank - it is imperative whoever starts in front of both of these boys does their fair share of tracking back and doubling up. With Moussa Sissoko likely to miss, it is probable that Gabriel Obertan, given a new lease of life under McClaren, will shift over to the right and young star Rolando Aarons being given his first competitive start on the left.
There is of course another new face to join the Toon's goal-hungry attack force - Florian Thauvin. It is unclear whether he will make his debut against Manchester United but surely McClaren will seize the opportunity to use the former Marseille winger, along with Cisse, Wijinaldum, Mitrovic and Aarons who have the potential to provide goals for a Newcastle team who are in dire need.
Will he start with Cisse though, or is this finally the chance to 'unleash the beast' and hand our crazy Serbian his first start?!
Probable XI:
Tactics: Flood midfield, stem their possession & cramp Rooney's space, hit them hard & fast on the break particularly via the flanks
Prediction: Manchester United 2 -1 Newcastle United
