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Garth Crooks with astonishing Manchester United comments after Newcastle United match

3 years ago
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Garth Crooks has picked his best 11 performers from the weekend’s action.

The Premier League team of the weekend that has most impressed him.

Included in his top 11 are three players from the game at Old Trafford.

No complaints with the identity of the Garth Crooks choices…

After all, I wasn’t exactly expecting any Newcastle United players to make it into a best Premier League eleven of the weekend, after this latest collapse.

Although I do think Miguel Almiron played really well in the circumstances.

As Newcastle United fans, we knew our club / team was simply lined up as cannon fodder for Saturday’s game and Steve Bruce made sure that we most definitely knew our place with his gushing pre-match comments about Man Utd compared to little old nobodies Newcastle United.

Garth Crooks picks three Manchester United players in his top Premier League eleven and fair enough on each of them, they are probably deserving to be there, or at least contenders.

However, I found some of his Manchester United comments quite astonishing, when explaining his choices.

Garth Crooks declaring: ‘It’s only right and proper that a team like Manchester United have the best players money can buy.  It is after all Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes fits that bill and his goal against Newcastle proved it.’

Quite incredible, just feeding the sheer arrogance we all get from Man Utd loving armchair fans and indeed, Man Utd loving media.

This is Manchester United who only five months ago were a key mover in trying to steal the future of football entirely, a European Super League where the likes of Man Utd and others wouldn’t have to qualify, would collectively take pretty much all the power and money year after year, leaving the rest of football to effectively die, with minimal / zero chance of involvement in the ESL and the chance of one day potentially making a breakthrough into the elite.

Manchester United were ‘punished’ by the Premier League by having to pay less than the equivalent of a week of their wage bill. No proper punishment of massive fines, points reduction, ban from European competition and / or transfer embargo.

Instead ‘It’s only right and proper that a team like Manchester United…’ can avoid suitable punishment and instead be allowed to buy top players in Ronaldo, Varane and Sancho, plus a green light to throw everything at winning the Premier League and / or Champions League…’It is after all Manchester United.’

No wonder so many Newcastle United fans (and neutrals) think modern football is so corrupt.

Garth Crooks explains why he picked these three Man Utd players in his Premier League team of the week and then the full eleven are listed below:

Bruno Fernandes:

“It’s only right and proper that a team like Manchester United have the best players money can buy.

“It is after all Manchester United.

“Bruno Fernandes fits that bill and his goal against Newcastle proved it.

“It was not only the best goal of the match but the midfielder didn’t appear to be the slightest bit overawed by the arrival or presence of his countryman Ronaldo.

“Talk by some supporters, mostly Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, suggested Ronaldo’s ego might destabilise the United dressing room. I get the feeling Fernandes is going to get on fine with Ronaldo and the United dressing room is far less likely to be intimidated by the Portuguese superstar than the teams I’ve just mentioned.

“Did you know? Since making his Manchester United debut in February 2020, Bruno Fernandes has scored more goals from outside the box across all competitions than any other Premier League player (8).”

Luke Shaw:

“Is it me or is Luke Shaw looking imperious at the moment?

“The Manchester United full-back brushed Miguel Almiron to one side in the game’s early exchanges as if the Newcastle United playmaker had no right to be on the same pitch, never mind tackle him.

“The England international then proceeded to take his game into the heart of the Newcastle defence to lay on an assist for Cristiano Ronaldo. I haven’t seen Shaw play with the authority he is displaying at the moment. There is something quite special brewing at Old Trafford and Shaw is very much a part of it.

“Did you know? Shaw created more goalscoring chances than any other Man Utd player v Newcastle (4), also assisting Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal.”

Ronaldo:

“I haven’t seen an atmosphere like this since Manchester United’s Treble-winning season.

“As one United fan put it to me, “I’m going to Old Trafford to see the return of the king.”

“Well, the king didn’t disappoint. I’ve seen Ronaldo have better games and score better goals but, at 36, with the attention placed on the five-time Ballon d’ Or winner and level of expectancy, it was a masterclass.

“The issue for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now is can he turn Ronaldo’s presence, and this glittering array of talent that now exists in his playing ranks, into trophies? If not I fear United may have to find someone who can.

“Did you know? Aged 36 years and 218 days, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo became oldest player to score a brace in a Premier League match since Graham Alexander for Burnley against Hull in April 2010 (38y 182d).”

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Thiago Silva (Chelsea)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Luke Shaw (Man Utd)

Bernardo Silva (Man City)

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd),

Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool)

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)

Stats from BBC Sport:

Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Saturday 11 September 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle:

Manquillo 56

Man Utd:

Ronaldo 45+2, 62, Fernandes 80, Lingard 90+1

(In brackets the first half stats)

Possession was Man Utd 65% (70%) Newcastle 35% (30%)

Total shots were Man Utd 21 (15)  Newcastle 12 (6)

Shots on target were Man Utd 7 (3) Newcastle 3 (0)

Corners were Man Utd 7 (4) Newcastle 3 (1)

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Newcastle United:

Woodman, Manquillo (Murphy 77), Hayden, Lascelles, Clark (Lewis 84), Ritchie, Sean Longstaff, Almiron, Willock (Hendrick 85), Saint-Maximin, Joelinton

Unused Subs:

Darlow, Schar, Krafth, Fernandez, White, Gayle

Match Report: The Return of the Magnificent Seven(s) : Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Read HERE

3 Positives and 3 Negatives from Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Read HERE

Newcastle United fans have been back 4 matches and this is what Steve Bruce is reduced to already – Read HERE

Steve Bruce reveals 3 new injury worries after Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Read HERE

Newcastle United v Manchester United player ratings results from NUFC fans -Fair verdict – Read HERE

Alan Shearer rave review for Ronaldo as Ian Wright identifies Newcastle’s biggest problem – Read HERE

Steve Bruce refuses to answer holiday question Newcastle United fans are asking after latest hammering – Read HERE

Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Ronaldo takes reds top as Bruce has NUFC in relegation zone – Read HERE

Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Saturday’s hammering – Read HERE

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