The biggest week of United’s season and perhaps Louis van Gaal’s tenure in Manchester started positively, if not in largely forgettable fashion.
The Red Devils secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals and a clash against West Ham after a comfortable 3-0 win over an uninspiring Shrewsbury side.
Dominance increasingly rare
United comprehensively dominated this game from start to finish. Once, this would have been expected by all fans and spectators, yet now the faithful were forced to sit nervously until the result way put beyond doubt with their third goal.
Shrewsbury, for their part, did their bit to play into United’s hands. The hosts were prepared to sit back and allow the visitors to control as much as 80% of possession. The home side’s plan, while lacking originality, was clear. Defend and frustrate an under strength and demoralised Red Devils. It was a tall task to demand such concentration for 90 minutes and they certainly could not afford to be hurt by set pieces.
The visitors went ahead when Chris Smalling stayed forward following a corner, somehow avoiding detection before picking up the recycled ball and finishing with a strike that would have put some of United’s more salaried figures to shame. They doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime, when Juan Mata lifted his delicate free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner of the net from right on the edge of the area.
Shrewsbury were forced to throw more men forward after the break and were eventually stung. After a quick counter, reminiscent of more hallowed times, Ander Herrera found Jesse Lingard unmarked at the back post with a pinpoint cross. Following that goal the game completely fizzled out, finishing with the intensity of a preseason friendly rather than a winner-takes-all cup tie.
Their dominance was reflected in a ridiculous stat sheet that read a 75% share of possession and 26 shots to three.
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Back to the future
If the game finished with the intensity and effortlessness of a preseason friendly, then United’s lineup at the final whistle certainly reflected that. Van Gaal finished the game with Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Memphis Depay occupying their front three spots, with an injured Will Keane sitting on the bench.
Debutant Joe Riley and Uruguayan youngster Guillermo Varela saw out the final minutes in the fullback slots.
It was the kind of lineup that looked shaped out of necessity rather than choice, but did give United’s fans another glimpse into the young talent the club has stored in its wings. Pereira, in particular, displayed plenty of energy off the bench, although Memphis’ up-and-down evening did little to encourage viewers that he had rediscovered his early season form.
Despite the overload of youngsters on the pitch, it was the relatively experienced duo of Morgan Schneiderlin and Mata who controlled the tempo of the game for United, setting up a fairly routine win.
Injury crisis deepens
United will face a West Ham outfit in the next round which is more than worthy of their place in the last eight. After a run of Championship and League One sides including Derby, Sheffield United and Shrewsbury, this will be a true test for a side that has had the softest possible passage through the first few rounds.
However, Louis van Gaal will have to draw his attention to more pressing concerns. including their Europa League second leg clash with FC Midtjylland on Thursday and a crunch game against Arsenal in the league on Sunday.
Failure to progress in the Europa League would all but end United’s chances of securing a Champions League place next season and would wrap up them to one of their most dismal continental campaigns. United’s 3-0 thumping by Arsenal in October arguably triggered a form and confidence crisis from which they have yet to recover. Another such result could be equally as devastating.
The Red Devils’ injury problems look to have worsened as well. In perhaps the only piece of bad news to emerge from the match, substitute striker Will Keane limped-off with a serious looking abductor injury. With Wayne Rooney still ruled out for six weeks, the blow is a cruel one due to United’s painfully short reserves in the front third. With 14 players already missing with injury, United are placing dangerous amounts of pressure on their young brigade to deliver much needed results.
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