0-0, first points dropped and the familiar pattern of the solid back four, full backs supporting well, tidy midfield then the ball gets in the final third and nothing happens. Here’s the manager’s view:
On the result…
“I think we can be satisfied about the performance but not about the result because we don’t reward ourselves. I think we have created a lot of chances and we were unlucky.”On missed chances and whether there is quality missing…
“It’s also luck. I think it was a great dribble by Chicharito after getting the ball. I think you also need luck in football and it’s not only what you say about quality. I think the quality in the third phase in the crossing positions, we didn’t do so good, we didn’t make the right choices. Also we can do better with the speed of the ball and, of course, we had open chances, alone with the goalkeeper, and we have to score there normally. But I think we were very unlucky. But we played fantastic as a team and we have fought until the end and that’s fantastic to see. I like this type of game, only the result was bad.”
Obviously Paul Scholes was at a different game:
Yep, if the squad remains the same United will win far more than they lose, finish in the top 4, reach the Champions League knock out stage, and maybe win a cup. But this is Manchester United, and even though Van Gaal has already done an excellent job of restructuring, reorganizing and rebuilding, he does need some magic in the transfer market. There are nine days left and the big teams are making big moves. Chelsea and John Stones is a certainty, and maybe even Pogba arrives at the Bridge to supplement the Pedro signing. City have had a terrific transfer window. Sterling, Otamendi, Delph and De Bruyne, is 140 million pounds or so of very good business. So what can United come up with? Out there in no particular order are Scholes favourite Zlatan, (Oh God I hope United sign him).
Then there’s Bale, Muller, Benzema and Cavani. Anyone else? Perhaps, because what United needs is pace as well as a predator. Maybe Reuss or Gruizeman complement one of the above if United is to be as ambitious as City or Chelsea. I still don’t quite understand what happened with Pedro. Play him on the right today with Mata in the middle and Memphis/DePay wide and to me you are instantly more of a threat. But then of course there’s the Craziest Transfer Of The Week rumor…..Neymar. Like everyone else I think it’s nuts. But could Woodward’s Monday trip to Barcelona have had nothing at all to do with Pedro? Is Woodward lining up one player who combines all the necessary elements? Dream on United fans. What’s next Messi to Watford?
4728 miles from the Stretford End 