Manchester United ignore an opportunity to appease the masses. Louis Van Gaal was asked about the general feeling of ill-will toward the rather unexciting, albeit effective, style his team have propagated this season. His answer “I don’t feel that this is a general feeling… We are second on the table, and that is the most important thing.” He is, of course, right in many ways, and those who have lamented his philosophy would likely be just as unhappy were their team playing exciting, losing football. But here, at home, they were facing a Hammers team limping badly, missing so many key players, and seemingly without the ability to keep a clean sheet (none in their last ten matches). Surely this, more than any other time of late, offered the opportunity for Van Gaal to let loose a little, to throw caution to the wind. Stale possession might be refreshed, dull periods revamped into spells brimming with flourishing chances. The first half was evidence of Manchester United’s reluctance once again to illuminate their own ground. They had 60% of the ball in the opening half, but created far fewer chances than their opponents, who struck the post twice. There were grumbles as Mark Clattenburg blew the half time whistle. As for the second half, well, Mauro Zarate had the chance of the match for West Ham, and the visitors generally created more, bar a late application of pressure from the home side. A fifth 0-0 draw in nine matches for Manchester United, and the grumbles had turned to outright boos by the time the final whistle sounded.
Man Utd have played a greater proportion of backward passes (38.5%) this season than any other Premier League side. pic.twitter.com/snnuftsopX — Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 6, 2015
