by Faith in Manchester United is so low, it was little surprise to see them teeter. Two goals up and cruising, then two goals from Newport and lurching, this is Manchester United 2024, like Manchester United for the past 10 years.
Even if they escape back across the Welsh border in relief, there are still many more miles to travel, the gains required infinitely more than marginal if greatness is to return. Even when visiting Newport, 16th in League Two, swapping glasses of cava and prawn sandwiches for styrofoam cups and sizzling onions, United can’t be counted on for composure.
Related: Manchester United gave Newport County a huge scare before Antony struck
Just like Sir Dave Brailsford, who was present at Rodney Parade, and who inspected United from top to bottom, there are big plans for a South Wales club that has fallen on hard – and even harder – times. For Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos read Huw Jenkins and County, former Swansea chairman facing takeover. Replays on TV would have done very well for starters. It remained possible until the dying seconds when Rasmus Højlund celebrated with an energy that reflected the frustration of the former within a team that had previously done little to accommodate him.
The talk of the town was that County fans were paying £400 a ticket. Manchester United may have faded greatness and a rotten heart but they are, after all, Manchester United. Besides, this Manchester United will always smell blood.
Altay Bayindir, clad in tights, was making his debut, the United goalkeeper’s jersey on short loan now that the Africa Cup of Nations André Onana – vital statistics for one game, no save, two accidents and on at least one private jet – approx. . Bayindir was booed by home fans from the warm-up but one who has been bred within Turkish football should not be taken too seriously. This wasn’t even his first time in Wales; in Cardiff during the Euro qualifiers in November his save denied Rob Page’s side automatic qualification.
A Will Evans save, and a read on James Clarke’s curling header, suggested some nerves, but then Newport’s goal came through Bryn Morris, a deflection off Lisandro Martínez and beyond the goalkeeper. Within two minutes of the second half restart, Evans’ low finish was in the net. The young Turk was riding his first Manchester United rodeo.
Furthermore, Erik ten Hag’s team selection was almost certain to avoid a “morning stoppage” as the home fans loudly predicted, those chants louder after Evans’ goal. Marcus Rashford’s latest absence as an “internal matter” remains a mystery. Martínez and Luke Shaw in defense and Casemiro partnering Kobbie Mainoo in midfield for the first time since last summer’s tour suggested the strength, belt and braces of the first team to prevent Sir Jim and Sir Dave from making quick decisions make the manager’s future.
The crowd was calmed by Bruno Fernandes’ opener, dragging the Newport defenders over with an overload. The same thing happened when Diogo Dalot set up Mainoo for his first ever United strike. Both have been the overloaded-plus-cut template of United’s goal-scoring goal every week in the Premier League and they usually fail. United fans, spread across a temporary stand that pushed the attendance towards 10,000, were not celebrating those early goals too enthusiastically. To get a ticket to see United play in South Wales required almost every other game this season, and the knowledge of how capable they are of soiling themselves.
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In a posthumous weekend for Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, the German’s ability to make the most of his club’s recruitment comes in stark contrast to the grind of United’s continued victories. Of the blond attacking trio at Rodney Parade, at least Alejandro Garnacho is not yet mired in the torpor that has enveloped so many of United’s signings. Although Højlund looked like the latest victim to his goal.
As Newport, after coming back, pushed forward to make real history, they left space at the back. Højlund went into the darkness when Garnacho flashed a cross beyond his arrival. Meanwhile, Antony in the back post was nowhere to be found. At least he was there for United’s nerve-soothing third goal, scored with the Brazilian’s less spotty right foot.
Like Højlund later, Antony’s celebration suggested personal defence, another hint that Manchester United 2024 is made up of players thinking for themselves first, rather than the team, or the club afterwards. Perhaps from there the rebuilding can begin.
