How much have Manchester United spent? They seem to be turning into Everton | OneFootball

There was definitely a degree of introspection here. I think for younger fans it’s difficult to convey how much heartache Man Utd have caused us down the years.

Denying Newcastle United each of the major English trophies at the final hurdle, inflicting defeats ranging from the routine to the humiliating and doing it all to a backdrop of sniping and cat calling from a limitless pit of sad cases, with every school and workplace in the north east surely having its share of plastic Mancs.

I hope they all questioned their life choices when our community came together to celebrate the Carabao cup win, but if they didn’t, they certainly will have done today.

I went into this game with a worrying level of optimism.

I will have to absolutely insist the Editor of The Mag does one of those thing where he links up to an article HERE that I wrote several weeks ago about how the European fixtures would benefit us massively in this run in.

Man U have their entire season/imminent future invested in the Europa League and this match falling between the legs of their delicately poised tie with Lyon was absolutely perfect. Given the fact that the erstwhile Newton Heath have neither European ambitions via the Premier League, or relegation fears, there was always a chance of a mixed up side turning up, with Onana’s latest calamities meaning Bayindir made his Premier League debut in goal.

The disarray in Manchester’s ranks was fairly irrelevant to an extent, as if you remove the context of the past, everything was heavily in United’s favour. The fact remains that this was Champions League battlers versus a benign bottom half opponent. Man Utd had one win in their last 19 games against Premier League opposition if you exclude the gimmes against the well-adrift bottom three, whose inadequacies are the only reason the soccer satans have avoided a hilarious relegation battle.

For United, this needed ruthless professionalism. If anything, the visitors’ lowly status was a threat, given the stuttering we’ve seen at SJP against middling opposition. The absence of Eddie Howe was a worry, as the man who has transformed this club had to watch from his hospital bed. Hopefully what he saw unfold served as a tonic.

United started exactly as hoped, storming out of the blocks with a clearly offside effort hitting the net before Murphy lashed a vicious drive narrowly wide. Barring a sharp reaction save from Pope from a Zirkzee effort, the entire game was one way traffic and United ultimately got their just reward. Trippier drove a pass in to Isak, who controlled it and knocked a delicate wee pass over the top for Tonali to run onto. The technique on Sandro is something I’ll never cease to marvel at, as he struck a volley with trademark style and power into the far corner for a deserved lead.

There was almost a quick doubling of the lead as the excellent Livramento produced one of his mazy runs and crosses that ended with Isak firing a shot in. The back up keeper made his case on this occasion, diving to push the ball away as United threatened to run riot.

Manchester then pulled off their old trick of trying to spoil the game with ill-deserved injustice. Burn was drawn to Dalot’s run infield and when he released Garnacho the Argentine had time and space to pick a finish inside the far post. A scabby goal that should never have happened but to see Garnacho celebrate you’d think he was some kind of ice cold assassin playing for a top club, as opposed to struggling to get into a side in the bottom third of the table. This kind of peacocking was foolish in the extreme, given the inevitability that Newton Heath were going to get heavily beaten second half.

Very little of said second half had elapsed when righteousness was restored. Livramento again, tormenting Dalot down the left before driving a ball in that went past all advancing into the penalty area. It was fantastic work by Murphy to race to get on the end of this ball and pure brilliance to have the presence of mind to pick out Barnes amidst five Manchester players. He had the simplest of finishes to set us back on track.

Young Harvey was clearly buoyed by his goal, as 15 minutes later he extended the lead with a strike that pretty much sums these two teams up. Mazraoui dawdled in possession and wilted under pressure from Barnes, falling flat on his daft face. Barnes was ushered through the non-tackles of three Manchester players before smashing in a decisive and very lovely third. That made him only the second player to have scored a Premier League brace against this lot, but he’ll do well if their silly little fans are still singing about him in 30 years time like they are with Shearer.

The fourth was reminiscent of the goal that killed off Arsenal in the league cup semi final, as an awful pass out from the keeper went straight to expectant head of the lurking Joelinton. He nodded it straight to Bruno, who had the time and space to pick his spot.

Moments later there was tremendous entertainment on offer as the Brazilian pair were subbed off. A clearly infuriated Joelinton was exchanging words with Ugarte, words which were indiscernible from distance, but I know when someone is being offered a straightener. Big Joe was pointing towards what may have been the tunnel, the car park or the pool room at the Strawberry, while the cowering opponents scanned the East stand for alternative full-time exits and Bruno had the unenviable task of marching his mate off before cards started waving.

We have no way of knowing how this ended but in this post-truth world you can say anything and people take it as reality, so let’s presume Big Joe marched into the away dressing room and picked Harry Maguire up by the ankles to swing him round and batter the rest of them with his big massive colossal slab of a head. Lovely stuff.

With the game won and half an eye on Palace on Wednesday, Tindall made the full quota of substitutions, including a return from injury and suspension for Anthony Gordon (although he’s got a hell of a fight on his hands to dislodge Barnes or Murphy). This maybe lost a bit of momentum, which was a shame, as some of us have happy memories of knocking five in against these.

Four would do nicely though, as things shaped up an absolute treat. I have to say I thought winning this game would be necessary to keep pace on a weekend of generous fixtures for our top five rivals, but some unexpectedly brilliant results came in, with Leicester and Ipswich gaining valuable draws at Brighton and Chelsea respectively, while Everton’s win at Forest was very welcome indeed. We now sit fourth but even a draw against the Eagles on Wednesday would see us go above Forest. A win should be the ask though, given how tight things are with some tricky fixtures ahead.

Now, here’s some lovely things about this match: this was our first double over Man Utd in 94 years and our heaviest win in the fixture since Keegan’s lads hit five. The defeat ensured the visitors would return their worst ever Premier League performance, certainly in terms of points but surely when it comes to league position as well. The record of five wins in the last six meetings is a change of course that it would be very welcome to maintain when it comes to these battles of the Uniteds.

Hopefully, this demoralising beating (both on the pitch and whatever Joelinton did) will shake Man Utd off track ahead of their season defining clash with Lyon on Thursday, as we need this mob knocked out of the Europa League. For us to kick on we need the greedy establishment to flounder, and it wouldn’t do for them (or Spurs) to grasp the undeserved lifeline of a Champions League place.

Not that the riches it brings would do any good, as it’s astonishing how much this lot have spent in recent times to manufacture a squad where you wouldn’t accept most of the players if they were offered to you for free. They seem to be turning into Everton.

The sense of satisfaction was undeniable, but this was rightly viewed as just another necessary win. While our rivals have the distractions of various cups, ours is safely in the cabinet, allowing laser focus on the job of CL qualification.

A great day, where really there was only one thing missing. Get well soon Eddie, we need you for this.

Newcastle United 4 Manchester United 1 – Sunday 13 April 2025 4.30pm

Newcastle United:

Garnacho 37

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 48% (47%) Man U 52% (51%)

Total shots were Newcastle 12 (7) Man U 9 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 (2) Man U 5 (3)

Corners were Newcastle 7 (5) Man U 2 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 37 (18) Man U 12 (7)

Newcastle United team v Manchester United:

Pope, Trippier (Krafth 78), Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton (Longstaff 85), Tonali, Bruno (Miley 85), Barnes, Isak (Wilson 78), Murphy (Gordon 78)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Targett, Osula, Neave

You can follow the author on BlueSky @bigjimwinsalot.bsky.social

(Newcastle United 4 Manchester United 1 – Match ratings and comments on all the NUFC players – Read HERE)