Newcastle United’s 2022/23 FA Cup journey came to an unexpected and fairly abrupt end less than 24 hours after Manchester United’s.
The Magpies, who are now level on points with Manchester United in the Premier League table, suffered one of the shocks of the third round, losing 2-1 to League One club Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. A second-half double from Owls striker Josh Windass put Eddie Howe’s side out, leaving them to ponder on another early FA Cup elimination at the hands of League One opponents.
It was their first setback since losing 2-1 to Liverpool on August 31, and their first goal conceded in any tournament since beating Southampton 4-1 on November 6. It was, however, little more than they deserved, with their League One hosts putting in a tremendous display to advance to the fourth round draw.
Eddie Howe, the Magpies’ manager, has done an outstanding job this season in giving United an unexpected challenger in the race to clinch Champions League participation for next season. Wednesday wants it more than his team, leaving him with serious doubts about his team selection.
Howe made eight changes to the team that drew with Arsenal four days earlier, starting only Sven Botman, Sean Longstaff, and Joelinton. It was a far cry from the XI we’d grown accustomed to seeing this season.
Despite the changes, the team had plenty of experience and quality, with former United loanee Martin Dubravka, captain Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, and club-record signing Alexander Isak among the players. However, it was insufficient to derail a Wednesday side that is presently leading League One.
After falling behind 1-0, Howe called in the reserves, putting on Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, and Miguel Almiron. Kieran Trippier came on shortly after Wednesday had doubled their advantage.
But, with a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City on Tuesday night, Howe clearly felt secure enough to rest his key players for what appeared to be a much tougher test. That tactic, of course, backfired, and the Magpies will be under intense pressure to win against the Foxes and keep their title ambitions alive.
United manager Erik ten Hag played his strongest possible lineup against Everton on Friday night, with the exception of Tyrell Malacia, who was preferred over Lisandro Martinez. Ten Hag has established a pattern of choosing a strong and star-studded line-up for every cup tie during his United Premiership.
The Dutchman has yet to pick a ‘weakened team’ in the Europa League, Carabao Cup, or FA Cup. He has never called on merely the youth or his peripheral players, like Howe did at Hillsborough, naming a back-five (including Dubravka) that had only made 12 appearances between them all season.
The Dutchman has approached each game with the utmost professionalism. He has never neglected any fixture, which is unusual in modern football, particularly in domestic cups, and especially among Premier League managers.
United, who are aiming to finish in the top four this season, are anxious to break their trophy drought. As challenging as it promises to be, they are still in with a chance of winning all three cup competitions they are still alive and kicking in, which is testament to Ten Hag’s respect for the cups, both domestically and in Europe.
That is why he should keep doing what he is doing when United face Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night at Old Trafford. The Addicks will believe they have a chance to cause a great upset and stop the Reds’ dream of moving within two games of Wembley, backed up by a massive away following, perhaps spurred by Wednesday’s triumph against Newcastle.
While Ten Hag must manage his squad’s workload and prepare for Saturday’s derby against Manchester City, the game against Charlton gives United with a fantastic opportunity to bring themselves one step closer to concluding their search of silverware. He can get away with making the odd modification here and there, but the risk of making major changes and having them backfire may expose him to uncomfortable questioning.
He should stick to the strategy that has benefited United so well thus far.