Okay it was another 0-0, and it was game we didn't really deserve to win, a point a piece was reasonably fair I thought. But that performance had something of what I would recognise as Manchester United about it.
At half time I noted that whatever that was, it wasn't the philosophy, playing at pace, players not robotically under orders not to do this and not to do that and most importantly to this red, players seemingly being allowed to dribble and take men on.
Fair enough this attacking impetus made us a lot more vulnerable at the back, but that's because we aren't good enough at the back. I'd sooner watch that United than the one we've had to suffer for the rest of the season. It shouldn't be a team or squad good enough to win the league, but if allowed to play like that we would have a pretty good chance of making the top four.
But is it going to last? It looks like we're stuck with Van Gaal for the rest of the season. Again whatever that performance was, it wasn't one of a Van Gaal side. What has happened behind the scenes, was this game a one off, or will his ego get the better of him as he realises he's here to the end of the season? So many questions and no fucking answers!
As to the game we started it well, with Mata hitting the bar a couple of minutes into the game. De Gea had to make a fantastic save at the other end of the pitch moments later, but United started at pace, which they have always done under Van Gaal. But this time there was end product, well chances and exciting football at least. We were unluck with the two chances that hit the woodwork. Though I'm not his biggest fan Herrera did a decent job as a number ten, Schneiderlin brought a bit of solidity to our spine and Martial played like the player that had excited us so much during those first few games.
Yes it petered out during the second half and Chelsea missed the chance of the game when Matic blazed it horribly high and wide, but even then we did create chances. Herrera had one great chance after more good work from Martial on the left. Rooney a harder one near the end. The substitutions were as oddball as ever and Depay didn't help his cause with his brief cameo.
That Swansea encounter actually has me looking forward to a game for the first time this season, as much to see if the shackles have come off or whether the process is firmly back in the saddle!
At half time I noted that whatever that was, it wasn't the philosophy, playing at pace, players not robotically under orders not to do this and not to do that and most importantly to this red, players seemingly being allowed to dribble and take men on.
Fair enough this attacking impetus made us a lot more vulnerable at the back, but that's because we aren't good enough at the back. I'd sooner watch that United than the one we've had to suffer for the rest of the season. It shouldn't be a team or squad good enough to win the league, but if allowed to play like that we would have a pretty good chance of making the top four.
But is it going to last? It looks like we're stuck with Van Gaal for the rest of the season. Again whatever that performance was, it wasn't one of a Van Gaal side. What has happened behind the scenes, was this game a one off, or will his ego get the better of him as he realises he's here to the end of the season? So many questions and no fucking answers!
As to the game we started it well, with Mata hitting the bar a couple of minutes into the game. De Gea had to make a fantastic save at the other end of the pitch moments later, but United started at pace, which they have always done under Van Gaal. But this time there was end product, well chances and exciting football at least. We were unluck with the two chances that hit the woodwork. Though I'm not his biggest fan Herrera did a decent job as a number ten, Schneiderlin brought a bit of solidity to our spine and Martial played like the player that had excited us so much during those first few games.
Yes it petered out during the second half and Chelsea missed the chance of the game when Matic blazed it horribly high and wide, but even then we did create chances. Herrera had one great chance after more good work from Martial on the left. Rooney a harder one near the end. The substitutions were as oddball as ever and Depay didn't help his cause with his brief cameo.
That Swansea encounter actually has me looking forward to a game for the first time this season, as much to see if the shackles have come off or whether the process is firmly back in the saddle!
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