Newcastle travel to Manchester United on Saturday but can Rafael Benitez’s side get their first win of the Premier League season at Old Trafford?
Robbie Elliott will remember a time when Newcastle United were one of the most positive and exciting football teams anywhere in England.
The former Magpies left-back was part of ‘The Entertainers’ era under Kevin Keegan in the mid-90s before returning to St James’ Park between 2001 and 2006, finishing in the top five three times under the legendary purist Sir Bobby Robson.
So it is understandable that Elliott wants to see this current Newcastle side play on the front foot away at Manchester United on Saturday.
Manager Rafa Benitez has come under pressure of late, even from some of his own supporters, for an approach that has been deemed by some as overly pragmatic and cautious. Newcastle have failed to win in seven Premier League games this season, picking up two points and scoring just four goals.
But, with their weekend opponents enduring a nightmare run under Jose Mourinho, Elliott wants to see Benitez throw caution to the wind on Saturday.
Newcastle have played against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City already in 2018/19, losing all three games with Benitez adopting a hugely defensive approach.
But with Manchester United in crisis and having collapsed in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham, perhaps now is the time to release the handbrake and get Newcastle’s season up and running.
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