Thursday, August 20, 2015

Manchester United 3-1 Brugges

I'm not getting carried away, it was only Brugges and Belgian football isn't what it was, but still, the second half especially was the most I've enjoyed the football on show at Old trafford since the City win.
I thought there would be a few changes, given we've now got a squad that can be rotated. But he kept Januzaj in, which was a surprise, a pleasant surprise for me. Carrick started, when I'd thought Schweinsteiger would definitely start. Mind you he came on even earlier than during the first two games.
We didn't get off to the best start, with that own goal from Carrick, that was unfortunate, but also a bit sloppy. It didn't take long for United to get back on level terms as for the first time we started to see what all the hype over Memphis Depay was all about. He took the first goal excellently, he was cool under pressure and didn't just blast it when he got a sight of goal, he placed it expertly, a natural goalscorers goal. He looks far better on the wing, I can see why Van Gaal tried him in the middle, but it didn't really work, he just looked lost. Now he's out wide it's as if he has come alive. The second goal was the type of goal Young actually scores. And you wonder when he will come back into the picture and if so, who for?
Schweinsteiger came on at half time and gave his most convincing performance in a red shirt as United played some pretty exciting stuff. The third goal took it's time in coming though, there was relief all round at the thought of taking a two goal cushion across the channel next week. To be honest I was reasonably happy with a goal cushion, we should have enough to not get beat over there, they didn't really look much. A final word on the last goal, it was a fine finish from Fellaini in his brief cameo, but it was an excellent cross from Memphis to cap off a possible man of the match performance from the Dutchman.

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