GARY NEVILLE said Ruben Amorim fielded the most bizarre Manchester United team ever in their victory over Newcastle.
Amorim ditched his usual 3-4-3 system for a 4-2-3-1 against the Toon – with match winner Patrick Dorgu playing right wing.
Diogo Dalot operated as an out-and-out right-back, with Luke Shaw over on the left.
Ayden Heaven partnered Lisandro Martinez in central defence and Manuel Ugarte joined Casemiro in midfield.
But Casemiro was stunned to have been replaced on the hour mark for defender Leny Yoro.
Jack Fletcher – son of Darren and appearing in the matchday squad alongside his twin brother Tyler for the first time – came on at half-time for Mason Mount.
Starlet Tyler Fredricson, Joshua Zirkzee and Tyrell Malacia also came off the bench for Martinez, Shaw and Benjamin Sesko.
United had SIX at the back before the end of the game in a crazy bid to hold on to the three points.
It sparked United legend and Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville to say: “I’d go as far as to say it’s the most bizarre Manchester United XI I’ve ever seen on the pitch at the end of a game.
“But they’re hanging in there. They’re fighting for their lives and Newcastle are pushing them.”
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After United won the match, Neville said: “An incredible second half.
“I thought Manchester United edged the first half. I thought they did really well, but then the substitutions came.
“The shape, the players on the pitch got even more bizarre, but they hung on. He [Ayden Heaven] was absolutely outstanding, that young man.
“He was absolutely brilliant. He headed everything clear, and he rightly gets a hug from Luke Shaw and the coaching staff.”
Amorim explained he changed to a back four to create more chances on the inside of Newcastle’s defence.
He said: “In the first half, I think we showed that I felt that was the only way to create more danger, to have more opportunities was with the back four with a lot of guys inside.
“Even to keep the ball, because I remember the game last year we lost one against one outside.
“We just tried to imagine the game and to help the players to feel comfortable.”
Heaven, starting only his fifth league game this season, said: “It was different again, I was playing on the right side, obviously, my weaker foot.
“The manager, we play loads of formations with him, whatever he does we know it’s going to work, you saw today. I’m so proud of the team.
“I think as Manchester United, we belong in Europe. We want to get back there next season so we can even push for top four, possibly win the league, anything’s possible. We want to keep trying.”
