Remember the Four Tops hit? “It’s the same old song”?, well here we are again. The Stretford End boo birds and “attack, attack, attack” surfaced in the 70th minute, as for the third game in a row United’s patient – others say pedestrian, pedantic or boring football, and lack of finishing delivered a draw.
A few headlines:
Insipid and ineffectual the Manchester Evening News.
Fans jeer dull stalemate The Guardian
Fans vent fury Irish Independent
I must have watched a different game. C’mon it wasn’t that bad. Fellaini hit the post and had one kicked off the line. Martial, Mata, Schweinsteiger and Lingard all missed chances. West Ham could have had 4 as the post saved United twice, De Gea outwitted Moses and Zarate missed a sitter.
The brief second half cameo from Memphis/DePay was the most positive, least fussy and direct performance I’ve seen from him this season.
United are in 4th but only three points off the top and with the same amount of points as City, who were well beaten at Stoke. By all accounts the 3-1 Arsenal home win over Sunderland flattered to deceive, Tottenham drew at WBA, and of course Chelsea’s defeat at home to Bournemouth proves once again why this year’s league is to say the least unpredictable.
It’s a logjam up there and if United can open the check book in January they will not be far away. I’m sticking to my guns on that. The question is who can they get?
Cavani? Can he take the Premiere League’s physical side?
Vardy? Maybe.
Kane? No chance.
My guess is if someone comes it will be from Europe. But price shouldn’t even be a consideration. This January unlike others may be the time to buy because the league is wide open.
Meanwhile whither Van Gaal?
There’s no doubt there is tension behind the scenes at Old Trafford. The rumors and leaks of the players being unhappy with his methods, discipline, and organization are too frequent to ignore.
On Friday he said if he loses the dressing room he’s gone. That’s not an empty threat. He’s given himself his own walking papers at Bayern, Barcelona, Ajax, and AZ Alkmaar. In Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal’s world it’s always been “My Way or I pack my bags and drive off down the highway”.
Remember Alex Ferguson’s first two seasons at Old Trafford? You should. Van Gaal’s record is too good to throw away easily**** Update since this post was first written much has been written about how the Old Trafford hierarchy is happy with Van Gaal and his methods, and are ready to sit down with him to discuss extending his contract. Good.
Now for Tuesday and Wolfsburg. Now that is a BIG game.
4728 miles from the Stretford End 