NEWCASTLE VS MAN UNITED
Saturday 2nd December, 8:00pm
Newcastle @ 19/20
Draw @ 14/5
Man United @ 11/4
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The Bright Young Things were a 1920s Bohemian society clique – noted for their talent, as well as their headline-making, exuberant nightlife excursions.
100 years later and some of the brightest young things of the Premier League will be looking to continue this tradition – making headlines of their own under the lights on Saturday night. Potentially the most entertaining, party-like game of the weekend; Newcastle United v Manchester United, is an 8pm kick-off.
Over the course of the last few days, many middle-aged men will have been reaching for their lower-spines with a wince upon their face. The cause? Attempting to re-create Alejandro Garnacho’s extraordinary late Sunday afternoon bicycle kick. In many cases, simply visualising how to re-enact his acrobatics will have led to a sharp vertebral spasm.
It has been a mixed season overall for the 19 year-old Argentine international. One can’t help wondering, though: if he has got that in his locker…what else is lurking in there? But while Garnacho’s heroics were most prominently featured in the highlight packages, in many ways, the midfield display of Stockport-born Kobbie Mainoo (18) was equally impressive – a performance of tenacity and composure way beyond his years.
There have been frequent twinges in lower-spine of the Manchester United midfield so far this campaign too. Niggling injuries and an inability to adapt quickly to new surroundings have affected the stalwarts (Casemiro and Christian Eriksen) as well as the new arrivals (Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat). Could the youthful Mainoo be the necessary, soothing salve for this troublesome region?
If so, only the goal-keeping position will remain as a cause of major concern for the Red Devils. On Wednesday night, André Onana again found himself delivering weeks-premature Christmas gifts to his opponents.
Although the outcome was the same for Newcastle as it was for Manchester United in the Champions League – with both clubs now finding themselves in precarious positions – the gift given to their opposition was provided by the generous inhabitants of VAR-land.
A handball decision that was more of a Minority Report-style ‘thought crime’ than an actual, physical offence; Premier League observers might be left wondering, as we approach Gameweek 14, when will the mechanism that was introduced to reduce the number of embarrassing and persistent refereeing talking points, itself cease to be one?
While the late penalty may have soured the evening in Paris for Newcastle; on reflection, the following morning, the impressive performance of County Durham’s Lewis Miley (17) will have been a source of sweetener for their pause-café.
Last weekend, in defeating Chelsea, Miley became the youngest ever Newcastle United player to register a Premier League assist. And on Tuesday night he started his first ever Champions League match – against PSG, at the Parc de Prince – where he was lining-up opposite a certain Kylian Mbappé.
Which is a bit like going on your first date…only to find out that it’s actually a blind date…and then discovering, when you get to the fancy restaurant, that the date in question, somehow, is Margot Robbie. Remarkably for Miley, there were no reports of any – perhaps forgivable – premature gifts from his end.
Newcastle’s injury list just keeps on growing. There are now currently more unexpected absentees from their squad than there are in the company office the day after the work Christmas party. A situation which has led to Anthony Gordon (22) quickly becoming a guaranteed starter, as well as being something of an elder statesman of the Tyneside XI.
How will these four young things fare under the bright lights of St. James’ Park on Saturday night? Will they ripen? Or will they wilt? Will their exploits generate headlines that will see them also being fondly recalled in another 100 years’ time?
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