'Just don't understand': Rio Ferdinand says one Newcastle star got it all wrong against Man Utd

Newcastle United’s use of Nick Woltemade against Manchester United left Rio Ferdinand stunned. 

Ferdinand has not always been the most popular figure among the Newcastle United fanbase following his backing of Mike Ashley but, frankly, it’s difficult to disagree. 

On Boxing Day, Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. 

A Patrick Dorgu volley in the first half was enough to seal the contest in a game in which Eddie Howe’s side disappointed yet again. 

While the Magpies did see a lot of the ball, they didn’t do an awful lot with it.

Indeed, Woltemade was a particular disappointment. The German was rarely in the game and lost the ball far too easily on the rare chance he got it. 

Pundit Ferdinand couldn’t believe how peripheral Woltemade was.

• READ MORE: German football expert has new theory about Nick Woltemade after watching him struggle for Newcastle

Rio Ferdinand says Nick Woltemade got it all wrong for Newcastle United at Old Trafford

The former England and Manchester United defender was reflecting on the game on his Rio Reacts Podcast. 

Ferdinand could not believe how Woltemade did not try and test Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw in central defence in a physical battle.

Though both are brilliant defenders, Martinez cannot get anywhere near Woltemade for height and shouldn’t really match his physicality.

Shaw, meanwhile, is a left back by trade but has recently been playing in central defence.  

It’s not clear whether it was a tactical instruction from Howe as much as anything else, but it certainly wasn’t a good display from Newcastle’s club-record signing.  

Ferdinand said: “I’ll be stunned if Newcastle are looking at their big number nine and Eddie’s looked at him and gone, ‘You know what? Let’s see their team sheet coming. They play Martinez and Shaw as left-sided, centre back and left back. We have to play on that.’ 

I’m fed up of hearing that Newcastle United are on the right track this season – prove me wrong! 🤔

Can’t see out a lead. Can’t come from behind. Can’t win away from home.

Can someone tell me what I’m supposed to be applauding?

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“They didn’t. I just don’t understand it.

“Big players used to play on Patrice Evra. Now, I’m not saying they got anything out of him, but it’s like there’s a reason why you do that a lot of the time.

“If you got a physical advantage somewhere on the pitch, surely you got to hone in on that. That’s one thing I was I was surprised with Newcastle about.”

The most embarrassing duel that Nick Woltemade lost against Manchester United

Woltemade lost an aerial duel with Martinez in around 39^th minute of the game.

That should never happen. Woltemade stands at over 6’5, while Martinez is around 5’7 and was once called “too short” to play as a centre back in the Premier League by Jamie Carragher.

In the striker’s defence, Newcastle’s attacking players were all dreadful against Man United and Woltemade was coming off his best performance yet, after scoring twice against Chelsea before Christmas. 

It is difficult to be too critical of the former Stuttgart striker, given he has been thrown into a team who are hardly functioning in an attacking sense.

However, he does need to be doing more. He did not give his side much in their latest dismal away defeat.

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