Everton 0-3 Manchester United | Thoughts
It was a different sort of United performance at Goodison Park on Saturday, one we haven't seen for a while. By lacking the usual over-reliance on possession football that the manager seems to be obsessed with, we appeared to produce a far more adventurous, confident performance rather - one devoid of lack-lustre, slow passing in favour of more attractive attacking football.
Instead of the usual 60-70% possession that United seem to enjoy against teams outside the top four, the game ended 50/50. Naturally at times the opposition were granted greater freedom and time on the ball - especially on the left where Rojo looked poor (although he produced a peach of a cross for United's second) - however the flowing football and decent chances we created when we were in possession was the difference.
In our four other away games so far this season United have averaged 60% possession...yet we lost half of those games while conceded seven and only managing to score five. Against Everton however we witnessed one of our most ambitious and exciting displays in front of goal all season, with seven shots on target compared to an average of 3.5 in the other four games away from home.
From looking completely lost and out-of-it after less than 20 minutes in United's last game at the Emirates, to performing brilliantly against Everton and record our first win at Goodison Park in in four seasons.
So, what happened?
Firstly, the manager made a number of changes to the dire defeat away to Arsenal two week's earlier. These included playing Martial out wide, Herrera in at number 10 and Rooney up-front ahead of him, dropping the ineffective Depay to the bench.
Secondly, we looked solid and stable at the back thanks to yet another inspired change by van Gaal - bringing Phil Jones back into the starting XI to partner Smalling for the first time all season.
I, like a lot of people playing the Premier League's Fantasy Football game last week, found myself with money to spend on a new striker since Sergio Aguero got injured on the recent international break. Lukaku, who had already banged in five goals in nine games this season, seemed like a logical replacement. However after hearing through the grapevine that Blind may be dropped to make way for the fully recovered Phil Jones, who has been injured since the pre-season tour of America, I knew the Everton striker would struggle against United. And that he did.
In silencing Lukaku we managed to keep a clean-sheet away from home for the first time since the second game of the season at Villa Park. Clearly a change was needed and by reuniting the successful centre-back pairing of last season, both brought in by Sir Alex I might add, they brought a level of resilience and reliability that has been lacking when the more fragile Blind has played at the back.
Perhaps Van Gaal’s "philosophy" doesn't include fielding two out-and-out stoppers who are comparatively limited in "possession", however it makes perfect sense when facing such a threat. A similar threat awaits United's defence this weekend as we host City and Wilfried Bony who, like Lukaku, has the power and pace to trouble a lightweight centre-back.
Our best period last season was a fantastic run from March to April where we comfortably beat the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City. These sides, usually so assured in attack, struggled to break our defence down thanks to the forceful, physical central-defensive partnership of Jones and Smalling. A rock-solid, albeit rather unglamorous, pairing that, on the basis of last weekend's performance, has been instantly rekindled to the delight of United fans everywhere.
Instead of the usual 60-70% possession that United seem to enjoy against teams outside the top four, the game ended 50/50. Naturally at times the opposition were granted greater freedom and time on the ball - especially on the left where Rojo looked poor (although he produced a peach of a cross for United's second) - however the flowing football and decent chances we created when we were in possession was the difference.
In our four other away games so far this season United have averaged 60% possession...yet we lost half of those games while conceded seven and only managing to score five. Against Everton however we witnessed one of our most ambitious and exciting displays in front of goal all season, with seven shots on target compared to an average of 3.5 in the other four games away from home.
From looking completely lost and out-of-it after less than 20 minutes in United's last game at the Emirates, to performing brilliantly against Everton and record our first win at Goodison Park in in four seasons.
So, what happened?
Firstly, the manager made a number of changes to the dire defeat away to Arsenal two week's earlier. These included playing Martial out wide, Herrera in at number 10 and Rooney up-front ahead of him, dropping the ineffective Depay to the bench.
Secondly, we looked solid and stable at the back thanks to yet another inspired change by van Gaal - bringing Phil Jones back into the starting XI to partner Smalling for the first time all season.
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| Image via Liverpool Echo |
I, like a lot of people playing the Premier League's Fantasy Football game last week, found myself with money to spend on a new striker since Sergio Aguero got injured on the recent international break. Lukaku, who had already banged in five goals in nine games this season, seemed like a logical replacement. However after hearing through the grapevine that Blind may be dropped to make way for the fully recovered Phil Jones, who has been injured since the pre-season tour of America, I knew the Everton striker would struggle against United. And that he did.
In silencing Lukaku we managed to keep a clean-sheet away from home for the first time since the second game of the season at Villa Park. Clearly a change was needed and by reuniting the successful centre-back pairing of last season, both brought in by Sir Alex I might add, they brought a level of resilience and reliability that has been lacking when the more fragile Blind has played at the back.
Perhaps Van Gaal’s "philosophy" doesn't include fielding two out-and-out stoppers who are comparatively limited in "possession", however it makes perfect sense when facing such a threat. A similar threat awaits United's defence this weekend as we host City and Wilfried Bony who, like Lukaku, has the power and pace to trouble a lightweight centre-back.
Our best period last season was a fantastic run from March to April where we comfortably beat the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City. These sides, usually so assured in attack, struggled to break our defence down thanks to the forceful, physical central-defensive partnership of Jones and Smalling. A rock-solid, albeit rather unglamorous, pairing that, on the basis of last weekend's performance, has been instantly rekindled to the delight of United fans everywhere.
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