In a lively afternoon of football, Manchester United smashed Huddersfield 3-1.
United have now won both games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and although Huddersfield made them work for it in the second half, The Red Devils saw out the victory. What did we learn?
1. Paul Pogba reborn
It’s been less than a month since José Mourinho allegedly called Paul Pogba a virus in front of the rest of the squad. The worst thing about this obvious mendacity is that so many of the United fans actually believed that a World Cup winning midfielder who bordered on the edge of world-class at Juventus had suddenly become a waster who deserved the tag of virus.
In the two games since Mourinho got deservedly turfed out of Old Trafford, Pogba has produced powerful and precise performances that show that not only has he ever been a virus, but he’s also Manchester United’s best player and talismanic presence.
Floating at the head of United’s midfield as a hybrid 8 and 10, Pogba was basically unplayable. He ran the show against Huddersfield even though he received no help from his midfield mates (more on that later). He threaded great passes, airborne and on the deck, he switched play, he won it back, he dribbled when appropriate; and hell, he even showed up to score twice.
Both of Pogba’s goals were absolutely brilliant; the first for the way the Frenchman calmly finished off an excellent team-move with a ripper of a finish, whipping the ball in at the near-post. And the second was just pure Pogba, absolutely smashing the ball into the back of the net from outside the box much as he did in the World Cup final and sealing the win.
Pogba looks reborn. A totemic figure happy at the heart of the Manchester United midfield and the superstar capable of carrying this club forward. The problem is he’s the only midfielder who looks comfortable.
2. Man Utd’s misfiring midfield
Nemanja Matic looks comfortable like Pogba, but that’s part of the problem. The Serb scored the opening goal of the game and wasn’t a defensive disaster (though he wasn’t exactly excellent) but his passing was still as slow as it was in the Mourinho days. Matic can make quality passes, but he takes two or three touches when only one is necessary and it slows the speed United play at.
Meanwhile Fred looks like he’s on the verge of spontaneously combusting every time the ball comes near him. It’s like Dennis Hopper attached a bomb to him that will go off if he ever stops moving. There is obviously brilliance in his boots and some of his passing was delightful and his energy was of course quite useful, but despite the urgency of his movement his decision-making moved at a glacial pace and as such he got caught on the ball and gave it away a bunch. It’s clear he’s still adapting to the Premier League and will eventually be brilliant, but for now he’s a problem and it was no surprise that he was removed for Ander Herrera early in the second half.
Herrera’s introduction brought a sense of serenity to United’s midfield and also allowed Matic to push forward into a box-to-box role that suits his skill-set. It’s clear that the Spaniard is as essential an inclusion in United’s midfield as Pogba is, perhaps the third slot could be occupied by Andreas Pereira? The Brazilian is a wonderful passer of the ball and could keep United humming
3. Hard-working Huddersfield lack quality
David Wagner will be so frustrated; not by any of his players individually but by cruel circumstance in general. Wagner’s blueprint to shut down Manchester United, especially in the second half, was perfect. Huddersfield hurried and harried The Red Devils and were much the dominant side for the first 15 minutes of the second period.
But they couldn’t make any of it count. Even in the first half they had a couple of great counter-attacks that saw clear chances wasted. And it wasn’t through individual mistakes; their players just don’t seem to have the required quality to execute Wagner’s vision under the increased scrutiny of expectation that comes with no longer being a plucky promoted side. They bagged an easy consolation, but they will need more in the future.
4. United need full-backs
José Mourinho had been bemoaning his side’s lack of quality for what seems like an eternity during his time as United coach. For the most part this was poppycock but in terms of his full-backs, the Portuguese had a point.
Luke Shaw is obviously a player of immense quality, but he’s injury prone. Time will tell how fit he can ever be to deliver on his obvious potential (he played well vs. Huddersfield). Antonio Valencia looks utterly finished, Diogo Dalot looks clearly unfinished, and Ashley Young is awesome but at 33 can only be so in spurts.
United need to enter the transfer market in January and sign a starting quality right-back (Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka makes a lot of sense) and then a good quality left-back who can push Luke Shaw for his place.
5. Ole’s Angelic touch
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been a breath of fresh air as Manchester United manager. The football is fluid where before it was foul, the side looks happy where before they were haggard, things look good where before they were grim. It’s an entire change in the vibe around Old Trafford.
All of this can be best summed up by the change Solskjaer made with 10 minutes left to play; withdrawing Juan Mata to bring on youngster Angel Gomes. The teenager is a bright prospect who Mourinho only played last season when the games became meaningless dead rubbers. He would never had played Gomes in a game that meant something, especially not a game like this one that was still very competitive even with United having a two-goal lead.
Playing youth team talent is one of the most important things for Manchester United, and United finishing the match with an entirely homegrown front three of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Angel Gomes said so much about how things are different now.
The post Five things learned as Solskjaer equals Mourinho Man Utd record in 3-1 Huddersfield win appeared first on Squawka News.
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