Just 48 hours after Southampton, United were in action yet again.
I spent these 90 minutes drifting in and out of sleep after a heavy New Year’s
Eve that had denied me slumber and left me in a zombie like state. Isn’t the
Christmas period great?
Yes, yes it is, although not for the 2017-18 Old Trafford
vintage. 3 consecutive draws and 6 points dropped meant there was all sorts of
pressure on the Everton match. But the players delivered, with two wonderful
goals sealing the points to open up 2018 in style.
Having not actually seen a large chunk of the last two
matches, it is difficult to form a critical analysis. I’ll settle for the
freeing up of Paul Pogba as the main reason this game was won. The side he
captained lined up in a 4-3-3 for the first time in ages, with Pogba occupying
the left hand channel that was so successful at for Juventus. Maybe after the
triple draws, Mourinho had decided to get more out of his most talented player,
or perhaps it was just the formation which fitted the Christmas period
rotation, with Herrera coming in for his first start in the league since West
Brom. Lindelof played at right back again, deputising for Young, starting a 3
game ban for his sneaky little elbow on Tadic. Hardly worth a multiple match
ban usually reserved for violent conduct, mind. Rojo came in for him, Lukaku
missed out with concussion for Martial, and Mkhitaryan was dropped.Having two men holding the fort in midfield made the difference for Pogba. He showed off his full array of skills – the driving forward from deep, the coming in to open up the pitch from the left wing, the neat footwork and stepovers when 1 v 1 with defenders, the full range of his passing. In particular, it was the disguise on some of his passes that helped create chances.
The first half was tough and passed by with little incident. Big Sam’s newly resilient Everton side were flying into tackles and playing very deep. But as the game wore on, a tiring team began to leave gaps, where Pogba seized the initiative. United were a different side after the break, presumably after a bollocking from Mourinho. Maybe the players just needed time for their New Year’s hangovers to wear off.
Talking of hangovers, we’re used to a certain Mr Rooney dropping his levels over the festive fixtures, and he wasn’t very effective against his old club, apart from helping us break the deadlock when he gave it away to set up the first goal. United countered, and Pogba deftly poked a no look pass into the path of Martial, who opened up his body Thierry Henry style to place it into the top corner.
It had been coming, with Mata hitting the bar with a 25 yard drive, and Pickford saving from a similar shot as well- Mata had momentarily become Ronaldo, see. Pogba and Jesse Lingard also forced saves from the young England keeper, as we began to really turn the screw.
Rooney had received a warm reception from the travelling support, consisting of applause when he came to take corners, chanting of his name, cheers when his name was announced on the PA, and frequent renditions of ‘I saw my mate’. The articles afterwards focused on the ironic YSB’s, as is their wont, to paint United fans as ‘classless’ in their treatment of our record goalscorer. Hated, adored, never ignored and all that.
Lingard is another used to da h8ers, sometimes from his home crowd, or at least, the internet United fans from other continents. Not from me though – nothing makes me happier than local United fans coming through from the academy to live their dream, and no one is loving his devastating form more than me. He continued his purple patch with another thunderbastard, accelerating away from his old mate Michael Keane to launch it top bins and seal the points. What a fucking player. 7 League goals for the season, 10 in all competitions. Fergie always said he would be a late developer.
So, all good vibes on New Year’s Day. Luke Shaw had
completed 3 games in 7 days, Pogba was at his dominating best, two lovely
goals, and back to winning ways. Happy New Year.
United (4-3-3) De Gea 6.5; Lindelof 6, Jones 7, Rojo 6.5,
Shaw 7; Herrera 6, Matic 6, Pogba 8.5; Mata 7.5 (Tuanzebe 90+2), Martial 7
(Rashford 77, 6), Lingard 8 (Blind 87). |
| sssshhhhh |
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