I was as apprehensive as ever, ahead of the game, yes it was an improved performance in midweek, but it was still a display based on the philosophy and we have seen how that generally fares in the premier league, loads of possession with actual chances, never mind goals few and far between.
That's generally how Saturday went, United completely bossed the game for the first 80 minutes but chances did not come thick and fast. In fact it took a super goal from the once again excellent Jesse Lingard. to break the deadlock. A goal that didn't really owe anything to "the philosophy"
I had heard and read people saying that it would be a tough game against a Tony Pulis, but in actual fact his record as an away manager aty Old trafford is pretty woeful. His Stoke team were an almost guaranteed three points and he didn't let us down again. It was only during that ten minutes after we had scored that they really had a go. And they showed what could have been when Berhaino missed what was as good a chance in the game with an atrociously bad header.
Van Gaal picked Carrick and Schweinsteiger in central midfield and once again it didn't really work. A lot of people seem to have a lot more time for the German than I do. I think he's alright, but not much more. The bigger problem is Carrick, he just seems to have gone. I find this hard to understand. During that run of fixtures where we actually saw good football last season, the geordie was at the heart of things. In fact it was when he went off injured in injury time against City that the season that our season basically ended. And here we are, just a few months later and all of a sudden he seems either finished, or is he just completely bereft of confidence, I can't really work it out.
It's arguable that the biggest cheer of the day was for Rooney being replaced by Hererra late on. I had no problem with him being replaced, it's just that if you were going to replace him, it should have been earlier. At the time of Hererra coming on, West Brom were having a bit of a crack at us, and to me it was screaming out for Schneiderlin to come on for Carrick or Schweinsteiger. As per usual it was hard to see the logic in Van Gaal's use of substitutions.
Results wise it turned out to be a pretty good weekend with City and Arsenal dropping points and Liverpool getting beat at home. What is says about the quality of the present day premier league that this United side are two points of the top, I'll leave you to ponder.
That's generally how Saturday went, United completely bossed the game for the first 80 minutes but chances did not come thick and fast. In fact it took a super goal from the once again excellent Jesse Lingard. to break the deadlock. A goal that didn't really owe anything to "the philosophy"
I had heard and read people saying that it would be a tough game against a Tony Pulis, but in actual fact his record as an away manager aty Old trafford is pretty woeful. His Stoke team were an almost guaranteed three points and he didn't let us down again. It was only during that ten minutes after we had scored that they really had a go. And they showed what could have been when Berhaino missed what was as good a chance in the game with an atrociously bad header.
Van Gaal picked Carrick and Schweinsteiger in central midfield and once again it didn't really work. A lot of people seem to have a lot more time for the German than I do. I think he's alright, but not much more. The bigger problem is Carrick, he just seems to have gone. I find this hard to understand. During that run of fixtures where we actually saw good football last season, the geordie was at the heart of things. In fact it was when he went off injured in injury time against City that the season that our season basically ended. And here we are, just a few months later and all of a sudden he seems either finished, or is he just completely bereft of confidence, I can't really work it out.
It's arguable that the biggest cheer of the day was for Rooney being replaced by Hererra late on. I had no problem with him being replaced, it's just that if you were going to replace him, it should have been earlier. At the time of Hererra coming on, West Brom were having a bit of a crack at us, and to me it was screaming out for Schneiderlin to come on for Carrick or Schweinsteiger. As per usual it was hard to see the logic in Van Gaal's use of substitutions.
Results wise it turned out to be a pretty good weekend with City and Arsenal dropping points and Liverpool getting beat at home. What is says about the quality of the present day premier league that this United side are two points of the top, I'll leave you to ponder.
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