Manchester United kept their perfect start to the season alive with another solid, if at times unconvincing 1-0 win at Villa Park. Adnan Januzaj calmly put away the game’s only goal in the 29th minute after being played through by an inch perfect pass from Juan Mata.
Van Gaal’s best XI still open for debate
Despite returning 10 starters from the team that defeated Tottenham on the opening day, van Gaal’s second XI of the season had a distinctly different look about it.
Clearly underwhelmed by the performance of his forwards to generate scoring opportunities, Van Gaal reintroduced Adnan Januzaj to the starting line up, playing behind Wayne Rooney. The Belgian scored the winner for United, but endured a frustrating evening, often losing possession under close marking from the Aston Villa midfield.
Memphis Depay was pushed out onto the left-wing in favour over Ashley Young, who was relegated to the bench. Memphis showed flashes of his class but failed to leave any serious impact on the game, guilty of missing a glorious chance to seal the result and put United 2-0 up after 73 minutes.
The game finished with more questions than answers in regards to van Gaal’s best XI but if the current dysfunction continues it may be a matter of time before Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera are introduced into the starting line up.
United’s unheralded defence deserves more credit
There has been much scrutiny placed on United’s defence this offseason. The club was open about their interest in Mats Hummels and Sergio Ramos, but looks set to miss out on both. Yet after two games, the United defence has looked impervious.
Fill-in goalkeeper Sergio Romero has barely had to make a save in the United goal. Chris Smalling has been excellent, looking assured and in total command at the heart of defence. Daley Blind has been routinely targeted with long balls by both Villa and Spurs and has withstood all that has been thrown at him.
Luke Shaw looks to be a totally different player to the uncertain teenager United signed last season. While Matteo Darmian has slotted seamlessly into the side and has arguably been the team’s best player through two games. It is early days, but Uthe solid defence deserves far more of the credit than their anemic attack for this winning start to the season.
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Micah Richards could be the signing of the season for Aston Villa
For fairly understandable reasons the bulk of the preseason attention goes to the big name and big money arrivals. Will Raheem Sterling work out for Manchester City? Can Falcao save his career at Chelsea or can Bastian Schweinsteiger hold together United’s midfield? But more often than not, the best signing of the season is often an unheralded name, a player who’s stock is low but comes in and has an enormous impact on his new surroundings.
Micah Richards fits that bill perfectly. It is sometimes difficult to believe that Richards is only 27. After a career at Manchester City that started so promisingly but then fizzled following the arrival of bigger names, the Englishman failed to reignite with a loan move to Fiorentina last season. His move to Aston Villa almost felt like a desperate last shot to make it in one of Europe’s top leagues.
But so far things could hardly have been going better for the Englishman. He was appointed captain on arrival and has demonstrated the right balance of physicality, leadership and aggression that once made him one of England’s brightest prospects.
Rooney copped plenty of criticism for his poor performance at Villa as he struggled to get involved in the game. Part of the credit must surely go to Richards, whose physical checking and tight marking made life difficult for the striker all night.
His aerial threat at set pieces also appeared Villa’s most likely route to goal for most of the evening. If Richards can prove to be the rock around which defence can be built then he will be instrumental in their fight for Premier League survival. If he can lead the Villans back up the table, then he may well end up being the best signing of 2015-16.
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