THE OBSERVER
Reports of Manchester United's demise have clearly been exaggerated, although not as wildly as claims that Newcastle United might be capable of overtaking them in the Premiership table.
Even without Roy Keane, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Manchester United were far too strong for possibly the most feeble opponents seen at Old Trafford all season. Ruud van Nistelrooy looked almost sheepish afterwards when receiving the man-of-the-match award for scoring a hat-trick.
Newcastle were so bad, it might be advisable to reserve judgment on Manchester United's revival until the forthcoming matches against Liverpool and Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson could have put out a team of reserves and collected all three points here, which is more or less what he ended up doing.
THE INDEPENDENT
It would be erroneous to read too much into a victory that was only Manchester United's second in the Premiership in their last six games. That would be premature indeed. In a contest when defending was in danger of becoming a lost art, Sir Alex Ferguson's men won principally because of their ruthless finishing and Newcastle's ineptitude.
Alan Shearer, who netted his 100th goal for Newcastle with a venomous 30-yard free-kick, a feat overshadowed by Ruud van Nistelrooy's second hat-trick for his club against that now managed by his former coach at PSV Eindhoven, described his side's defending as "crazy" and "a total shambles". That was an accurate description of a rearguard that repeatedly went AWOL.
THE TELEGRAPH
The question was rhetorical - "how many teams," asked Sir Bobby Robson, "would score three goals here and never look like getting a point?" - but the Newcastle manager answered it anyway. "Our insipid defending" had conspired with Manchester United's "attacking brilliance" to create a prolific score. One that, in my view, flattered the match outrageously.
Not that Ruud van Nistelrooy was bothered that his hat-trick, in 15 interval-interrupted minutes, came cheap. It took his total of goals for United to 50 in 67 appearances (six as substitute) and ensured that Sir Alex Ferguson's team will go to Basle on Champions League business with a spring in their step. Alan Shearer, by contrast, reached a milestone - a century of Premiership goals for two clubs - grimly.
Both teams, he said, had defended "very poorly", but Newcastle had been "a shambles".
Perhaps it was just as well no one sought his opinion on the Old Trafford pitch, which at times resembled a collection of green rugs. But - and you can call this sod's law - it brought Ferguson's players luck. Such key men as the manager was able to call upon, notably Paul Scholes, maintained the service to the remarkable Van Nistelrooy, who, it is safe to say, will never be accused of lacking gratitude for the patience Ferguson showed after he was seriously injured in training with PSV Eindhoven.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Football’s first clash of managerial knights left them both in a daze. On a day of diverse sporting interest, this chance-a-minute extravaganza could easily have ended in a score more appropriate at Twickenham, or Adelaide.
Newcastle have not won at Old Trafford for 30 years, and will have to wait another 30 if they keep defending like this. Conceding five — and it should have been more — is ominous preparation for their Champions League tie at home to Internazionale.
Alan Shearer scored his 100th Premiership goal for Newcastle, but was appalled by the poverty of his team’s performance. Their defending had been “crazy”, he said, adding: “It was a shambles, really.” His verdict was as accurate as the 30-yarder he thundered past Fabien Barthez. Not only were Newcastle wide open at the back, their vaunted midfield, featuring the lauded Kieron Dyer and Jermaine Jenas, were outplayed by make-do and mend opposition shorn of Roy Keane, David Beckham and Nicky Butt, and with Juan Sebastian Veron restricted to a 10-minute cameo as substitute.
Shearer’s completion of his second century, after the 100 he rattled in for Blackburn, was completely upstaged by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who capped his recent resurgence with a hat-trick. Including the goal he scored for Holland against Germany in midweek, he now has six in his past four games.
“He’s one of the best strikers around — and I mean in the world, not just in the Premiership,” Sir Alex Ferguson said, referring to RVN.