How Tiote and Cabaye embarrassed Man United's dysfunctional midfield

Newcastle United’s famous win at Old Trafford on Saturday—their first for 41 long years—was a product of careful tactical planning and midfield excellence the likes of which David Moyes can only hope for at this stage.

The stark contrast in how the two sets of central midfielders got on is indicative of Manchester United’s struggles, and that the Magpies had more of the ball (53 percent possession) should come as no surprise.

At Old Trafford it’s important to win the midfield battle for as long as possible, and Cheick Tiote’s presence in the deeper areas of midfield was as destructive as it was efficient.

His physical dominance is evident in his Heat Map and Pass Map, as he completed short simple passes and fed the creative outlets further up and wide of his position.

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He, along with Vurnon Anita, broke up play superbly and stopped many of United’s attacks before they began. Robin van Persie ended up dropping in on them when the Magpies had possession, but Tiote is so physically overpowering he shook the Dutchman off with ease.

Yohan Cabaye, meanwhile, played in a slightly unorthodox No. 10 role—almost as asuffoco, if you will—and pressed United’s ball-players when picking it up in their own half.

His pressurised role was well-crafted and in picking up a booking after nine minutes there were concerns, but he settled down eventually and put in plenty of hard yards ahead of Tiote and Anita.

All three players had a simple passing game to subscribe to on the ball, with even Cabaye holding back on the cutting through-balls and instead opting to dump it off wide for Moussa Sissoko and co.

The only goal of the game, scored by Cabaye, was a product of Sissoko matching up to and beating Patrice Evra one vs. one, then firing it into a dangerous area.

It summed up everything fantastic about Alan Pardew’s gameplan, but at the same time everything wrong with Moyes’.

Tom Cleverley and Phil Jones failed to find any form of chemistry in the middle and didn’t appear to dish out and designated roles.

Whereas Tiote, Cabaye and Anita hashed out a stopper-sweeper-presser system, their opponents were outnumbered, outgunned and unorganised. Who holds? Who breaks forward? Who’s on the edge of the box and who’s sweeping in midfield?

Cleverley was caught 20 yards off the pace when Cabaye scored, failing to recognise the danger and ending up a long way from where his marker struck the winning goal. Jones was dominant in no aspect of the match and the lack of clarity as to his role was a major factor.

Ideally, Moyes sees Marouane Fellaini return to form and play like the man he thought he’d signed in August. Until either that, or January additions arrive, United will continue to be bested by well-organised, solid midfield threes.