Man Utd have double defensive change: Rooney and Van Persie

Manchester United laid down a marker yesterday, once again proving that when they play their worst they still know how to stay in contention.

Before yesterday’s game they had pretty much played their worst – against Everton and Spurs in particular.

Still they found themselves in a position where if they beat Newcastle away, they would be in the top four and within striking distance of league leaders Chelsea.

Then at the Sports Direct Arena Sir Alex Ferguson unleashed the new United – the one he had been tinkering and toying with to find.

A United team like few have witnessed since that watershed 1999 treble-winning season.

It was really simple. He played six defenders and eleven goal-scorers.

For the first time in years, every United player on the pitch looked like he could score. And wanted to.

In fact when the goals did come it was Johny Evans, Patrice Evra and Tom Cleverley that scored – a kind of Barcelona-esque feel to that.

Amazingly it was the solid and physical defending that kept United in front and in that respect, was Sir Alex’s secret – his defensive six – Rafael, Evra, Evans, Rio Ferdinand, and, wait for it, yes, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie.

In a breathtaking display of box to box football both Van Persie and Rooney showed they have the appetite to drive this United team back to the league title and in Europe as well.

The amount of times Rooney in particular, and Van Persie, were in their own half and box, clearing the ball, last-ditch tackles, breaking up plays, the works.

Newcastle found Rooney and Van Persie everywhere on the pitch – forward, midfield, defence – which is what completely unsettled them.

Even the roughhouse tactics of Newcastle were met by United’s own.

Cleverley survived being stamped on by Cheick Tiote.

Will Van Persie survive action for his Cabaye elbow?

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