Tactical Preview: Manchester United vs Newcastle United – Man United News And Transfer News

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Manchester United entertain Newcastle United this Wednesday evening in the final Premier League game at Old Trafford this season.

Should United fail to beat their visitors, it will almost certainly mean no European football for Erik ten Hag’s side next year.

Therefore, it could well be the Dutchman’s last game in the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams after a wretched campaign which has left United languishing closer to midtable than the top of the league.

Ten Hag is contending with a huge injury list tonight, as he has for the majority of the season, so tactical discussions will depend who can pull themselves off the treatment table.

A turbulent season has descended into pure chaos in recent weeks with Ten Hag fielding patch up XI’s, desperate to salvage something from the campaign and save his job in Manchester in the process.

United were a touch more solid in the recent defeat to Arsenal, yet still looked way off the pace in the 0-1 defeat to Mikel Arteta’s men.

Should Ten Hag revert to his erratic man-to-man style tonight, it will lead to chances galore and United will just hope their front men can catch fire.

With Bruno Fernandes absent, United will likely look to bypass midfield when in possession and get Alejandro Garancho and Antony into areas they can cause damage.

Rasmus Hojlund has fed off scraps for the most part of his maiden campaign in a red shirt and he will need to find a way to get himself involved in the game to cause an issue tonight.

On their day, the front three do possess the ability to get goals and isolating their wide men against Newcastle’s fullback’s will be the best chance of getting a result here.

Casemiro’s disastrous recent performances at centre-back should see him dropped to the bench or, at the very least, back into his natural midfield role with the fit again Willy Kambwala likely to partner Jonny Evans in defence.

The mix of experience and youth will be tasked with keeping Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak (or potentially both) quiet but United’s fullback’s will be key to stopping the major threat of Eddie Howe’s men.

Anthony Gordon has been Newcastle’s best player this season and given Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s defensive qualities, he will play at right-back to combat Gordon and allow Diogo Dalot to continue on the left.

Dalot will also be asked to move into midfield to create an overload in the middle of the park as he did against Arsenal, which did cause the Gunners problems at times.

Any kind of tactical discipline seems to have been replaced with a playground-like approach over the last few months and United will look to win the game in moments rather than with control of the ball.

Ten Hag and the player will be desperate to end the season at Old Trafford on a high note and pick up some confidence as they trudge toward to the massive FA Cup final against Manchester City at the end of the month.

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