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#1 Slow build-up play
Manchester United had taken the field against a side that had scored just 4 goals and conceded 13 ahead of the game. Solskjaer had enough ammunition at his disposal to easily see off Newcastle, but what unfolded on the day was a totally different picture.
Instead of sticking to a fast, counter-attacking style of play, Manchester United once again tried to play possession-based football. They constantly attempted to keep hold of possession and were slow in their build-up play.
The visitors allowed Newcastle to close them down; they were not proactive enough on the field. There was a lot of space for the home side to exploit, especially between defense and midfield, and the Magpies made the most of United’s sloppiness with the ball.
The Red Devils ended the game with 69% possession but did very little with the ball at their feet. They lacked the intensity that was required to break the Newcastle defense.
United’s decision-making in the final third was also poor right from the start, and Solskjaer failed to sort it out during the break. Had the Norwegian managed to instill more urgency on the field, the result might have been quite different.
