Poor United draw more blanks.
Louis van Gaal described United’s performance as “concerning” after the match. Others in the stands may have described it as boring. Once again United did painfully little to trouble the opposition goalkeeper. The Dutchman has a very real problem on his hands.
United has dominated possession all season long. Their midfield is filled with talented ball players adept at recycling possession with smart movement and short sideways and backwards passes.
However as teams become more prepared to give up possession, United have shown precious little ability to break down even moderately well-organised defences. In United’s past two league games their most likely avenue to goal has come via a couple of speculative Ander Herrera penalty appeals. Neither was awarded and rightfully so.
Much of the attacking inspiration was left to the youngest man in the starting line up, teenage striker Anthony Martial. Martial has a natural predilection to do the very thing that United have been dreadfully lacking; he is a player willing to take on opponents and put balls in behind the defence.
Martial was involved in nearly all of United’s positive moments in their front half. His through ball to Wayne Rooney just after the half hour mark was probably United’s best chance of the game. The fact that Rooney failed to turn that glorious chance into a shot probably encapsulates just where United’s captain is right now.
Martial was also involved in United’s other genuine chance to score, squaring up the disappointing Ander Herrera whose slip before he got the shot away just about summed up United’s below par outing.
