Talking Points: Matchday 28: Manchester 1 - Newcastle 0
Manchester United traveled to St. James Park needing a win after rivals Arsenal, Tottenham, Southampton and Liverpool all picked up 3 points over the weekend. It took an Ashley Young strike 2 minutes from time assisted from Tim Krul - who had an outstanding game otherwise - but the game was notable for United returning to a formation that brought them success in the 2010 - 2011 season. Rooney started in his favored lone striker role, with Fellaini, Di Maria and Ashley Young forming the midfield three, anchored by Herrera and Blind further down midfield. Valencia, Smalling, Evans and Rojo made up the back four in what looks like Van Gaal’s favored defense line-up, with the ever-present De Gea showing once again why he needs to be tied down to a new long-term contract ASAP.
BLIND HAS A FORGETTABLE GAME
Daley Blind’s greatest asset is his knowledge of the football game. In the absence of Carrick, he has smartly positioned himself on the pitch to try and stop attacking midfielders, although this game showed his frailty despite having the knowledge of his role in this team. In this game, he just seemed a bit behind the pace, jumping early for headers, mistiming key tackles and allowing players past him too easily; this game proved to be a mixed-bag for Blind. His lack of pace and size exposes him to strong midfielders who boss him around the middle of the park, before skipping past him and surging a pass out to the channels. Sissoko and Cisse were able to bump him off the ball easily, and too many times during this game to launch counter-attacks. Newcastle set themselves up to soak pressure and hit United on the counter with pace and power - with Cisse in particular highly effective in the hole behind Riviere, who was not clinical enough to put a few promising attacks into the back of the net. This game featured one promising long punt down the middle for a Rooney run-in behind the last line of defense - which was incorrectly ruled offside. We saw it at the World Cup last year in that assist for Robin Van Persie, and it'll be interesting to see this aspect of his game develop into a more potent weapon.
Blind has been an ever-present in the team under Van Gaal, and it will be interesting to see whether he holds his place with Carrick's return to full fitness. Carrick, got a few minutes in this game which sent Blind to left back, but his lack of pace surely puts him below Rojo and Shaw in the pecking order for that position. If Blind can grow in stature and start to dictate some of United’s play more, he’ll more than make up for his lack of pace. But on evidence today, he still needs experience to start to run the show in front of the back four. However, what’s clear to see is Blind’s courage, he doesn't shirk away from asking for the ball, and his teammates seem to trust him with the ball under pressure. It’ll be interesting to see where Van Gaal fits him in with a full-strength squad at his disposal.
ROJO GIVES LUKE SHAW SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT
At the start of the season, the Red Devils welcomed 2 Argentines to the squadsince the departure of Gabriel Heinze under the Ferguson era: Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo. The former from Real Madrid, the latter from Sporting Lisbon in a part-exchange for Nani's loan. Halfway into the season, it is Rojo who has cemented his personality into this team and made his name known to United supporters. Worryingly prone to some wayward passes, this game was a testament to Rojo’s courage and inventiveness going forward. He was constantly providing width down the left hand side and is showing a burgeoning connection with Ashley Young, who wasn't as involved as he usually is until his goal in the second half. Rojo rifled a shot from the edge of the box that wasn’t far off, and commands more than a few set pieces in every game. It won’t be soon before Rojo rivals Smalling’s goals from defense. Here Rojo was a constant outlet for United, with Newcastle giving him space and time on the ball in the final third to look for his pass or shot. With Newcastle drilled well with their defensive shape, and Fellain failing to add some creativity to his role, Rojo was an unlikely option in United's attacks. With United’s lack of pace up front failing to draw out Newcastle, Rojo’s runs would attract defenders out of position and give his teammates another pass option. Rojo can just as easily play on the left of the center two, but when Van Gaal has Smalling, Jones and Evans fit, Rojo may be best served on the left wing for this season to give United some attacking verve without a liability at defense. Even though today he gave away 4 fouls, the most of any of United's defenders, Rojo still had a great game and deserves some credit for the win. Smalling, on the other hand, had one of his shaky games that gives some validity to questions on his consistency. Smalling won't get away with a penalty like that vs. Arsenal in the FA Cup.
FELLAINI FAILS TO TAKE CHANCE IN THE MIDDLE
Fellaini, Fellaini, Fellaini…what do United fans make of this player? A unique blend of some useful strengths (heading, physicality, chest control), some of Fellaini’s glaring weaknesses at the top level (lack of pace, clumsy ball control) were on show at St. James Park. Apparently, Van Gaal and Fellaini seem to be in consensus in using him as a smash-and-grab striker. Fellaini seems to now prefer a role closer towards the opposition goal, contradicting his claims during his time at Everton that his best position was as a defensive midfielder. Moyes signed him as a box-to-box presence capable of helping on both sides of the pitch, but most of the time Fellaini has disappointed in the role, unableto link the defense and attack as quickly or effectively as Herrera, Blind or Carrick can in the middle of the park. When Wayne Rooney was busy trying his best to keep the ball or make some positive contribution with it with the service he received, Fellaini would find himself either breaking down quick passing moves or struggling to control the ball under his big feet.
While the commentators and pundits alike were screaming for Di Maria’s substitution as the second half progressed, this particular fan really wanted to see Januzaj come in for his Belgian teammate. Then our front three could have been a fluid Young-Januzaj-Di Maria behind Wayne Rooney, giving us more thrust and pace, although Van Gaal would have been worried about the lack of physicality in those three being knocked off the ball too easily by Newcastle. Say what you will about Di Maria adjusting to the Premier League, but he still had some neat touches and seemed to grow into the game. It would be great to see him get 90 minutes out, because he’s still capable of those single moments that can turn a game. If Di Maria took his break-away in the first few minutes of the game and squirmed a shot on goal, the game would have probably gone very differently. Fellaini, though, has done little to convince Van Gaal and fans alike that he’s got a long-term role in this team. Sure, he’ll last another season or two, but with the addition of technical quality in the center of the park, expect to see him as a Plan B that can be useful in the Premier League against sides like Stoke, West Brom, West Ham, Newcastle and Sunderland. But for the possession game that United are building with Van Gaal, it’s hard to see Fellaini keeping his place in the starting XI, let alone at number 10!
DON’T LISTEN TO THE MEDIA, UNITED ARE (GASP) PLAYING SOME GOOD FOOTBALL
What they lack is, ironically, continuity and fluidity in the final third. This game saw United controlling 40 out of 45 minutes of each half. Newcastle's best chances came at the end of each half, with De Gea being called into make his saves at precisely those times. United showed some crisp passing, players seem to know exactly where their teammates would be, and where to plug the ball into space, when to switch play from side to side and maintain possession while pulling Newcastle out of shape. The problem was that in the final third, players kept looking for the final-perfect-pass or failed to shoot from promising positions.
Many promising moves were strung together with a sequence of 15-20 passes, only for United to miscue a cross, or get to the byline and get a pass blocked by a swarm of Newcastle defenders. United have been growing in their game, and we need look no further than Johnny Evans, who is slowly but surely regaining that assurance that made him a bedrock of defense a few seasons ago. United, like Evans, is clearly buying into this system and with some growing confidence, (and a bit of pace wouldn't hurt!), United can surely book a place in the top 4, not to mention go toe-to-toe with the best. In a run of games against many of the contenders for the last 2 spots of the Champions League, we need to start winning against top teams convincingly if we want to be in the running for major honors next season. That starts with a top 4 finish and a FA Cup win. Arsenal provides a fitting test for United: an opponent that plays in a style that United favors, it will be interesting to see how United matches up to what looks like the team’s greatest threat to a top 4 spot (sorry Southampton, Tottenham).