I had actually forgotten what happened the last time Manchester United played against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford but the commentator reminded me of it during the match and it all came flooding back. It was the 2nd of May 2015 and it was my birthday! But what a horrible day it was! I had a huge falling out with my ex, spent most of the day sullen and sour, just when I was getting some joy in my day, my day was compounded further by United losing unluckily against West Bromwich and I had to return to my hotel in the rain. Bad memories but enough on my personal drama in my life. A lot has changed since then. If you want to know, I met someone else just weeks after that and now I am engaged to her. On the United side of things, in terms of points and standings, they are doing better than they did this time last season but drawing more flak than last season. There have been changes in the personnel since that dark day in May (it was at least for me).
Leading to this match, I found the criticism the team was taking to be nauseating. I have had enough of hearing the same thing being repeated over and over again by pundits and our former players. As pundits, they have to be fair in their assessment of the team as a neutral despite their allegiance to the club and I can understand if they are upset at what they are seeing because in their minds, they have only known United to play in a certain style under a different manager, a colossal figure, Sir Alex Ferguson but this is not a Sir Alex team, its a different manager with a different philosophy. I wouldn't say our former players and legends are being traitors with their repeated criticism and opinions on the current United team but I would just hope they would tone it down a bit. The football might not be what they expect of United but it is getting the results it needs and the fact remains that football is a results based business (like it or not, it is a business now). United fans want to be entertained but they also want to see the team winning. Sometimes in life, we just can't get everything and I feel what is most important now are the results. It would be great if it comes with the performances to match but if it doesn't, be glad that at least we won. Since Sir Alex left, every manager would be compared to the great man, his legacy, results and style of play. What people remember are the trophies won and the legacy left behind. What people don't remember is the struggles of the man before he achieved all this success. The man himself have been supportive of his successors and that is an example for everyone to follow. I understand our ex players/legends who have turned to punditry, have to be honest in their assessments and speak their mind but it would be good if there's some balance in their assessment and expectations. The truth of the matter is that despite all the spending over the last 2 summers, this is still a team in transition. How can you expect a team to gel so quickly and start producing good football as well as results to match with lots of changes in the squad?
On to the game now, I was surprised that Michael Carrick started after completing his first 90 minutes against CSKA Moscow alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger. I had thought Juan Mata could have been dropped in place of Jesse Lingard on the right wing but both kept their places and it was basically status quo from Tuesday. The team dominated all throughout but failed to create any clear cut chances. The best chance fell to Mata who finished a sweeping move by placing his shot wide. Anthony Martial then created a chance out of nothing to only shoot straight at Boaz Myhill. It was tensed once again as the first half ended but no jeers were heard. United tried their best to keep a high tempo and pass quicker. Sometimes it came off, sometimes it didn't and sometimes the passing was slower. In the second half, it was slightly quicker but the breakthrough came when Lingard collected a loose clearance and placed it first time beyond Myhill. The boy has deserved it. He hit the bar against City, the post against Middlesbrough, assisted Wayne Rooney in a Man Of The Match performance against CSKA Moscow and finally scored his first goal. If there is something United fans love seeing it is seeing players from the youth academy graduate and play in the first team. Lingard did that and went on to score his first ever senior goal for the club he has been at since he was 7 years old. There was no-one more deserving to open the scoring and no-one can begrudge him for that goal. He went on to put in another Man Of The Match display.
United wrapped up the victory with a rare penalty. It is odd to say that because we have been accused of getting easy penalties at Old Trafford in the past. Martial was put through on goal by substitute Ander Herrera and he was brought down by Gareth McAuley. Juan Mata stepped up to convert the spot kick. Even when penalties are awarded nowadays, it is not a given that United would score from it. It has gone better for United since Mata was assigned spot kick duties but in recent times we have seen some unexpected and shocking misses from the penalty spot. United sealed their first win of the season just before an international break after losing to Swansea City and Arsenal before the last 2 international breaks. That is 2 wins in 2 now after 2 successive draws. A positive would be that this is United's 4th clean sheet in a row in the Premier League and 5th successive clean sheet across all competitions. I was surprised that Carrick and Schweinsteiger completed their first 90 minutes together, Carrick's second consecutive 90 minutes in a row. Carrick did misplace some passes which is unusual for a player who is always expected to find his target with his passes. Schweinsteiger was tenacious and industrious. I would just like to see him take a shot from outside the box. More players should take that option when in space instead of trying to lay a through ball. Lingard's goal is the first goal United have scored with a shot from outside the box and that is telling on the number of attempts United take with shots from distance. Marcos Rojo is putting in some good crosses but no-one is making runs into the box and gambling on them. That is also another feature of their play that United needs to improve on. Oh and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was brought on in the second half and had an assured performance as a teenager. I have never heard of him before yesterday but looks matured for his age. Louis Van Gaal, like Sir Alex is not afraid to field youngsters if they feel they are good enough. Overall, winning breeds confidence and the more United win and the more they score, the more confident United would be and that would be translated in their play. I repeat the team needs support and there has to be balance in their judgement and expectations of the current United squad.
To end off, it was very nice to see Darren Fletcher again at Old Trafford and can you believe the performance Jonny Evans put in? He always seem like a calamity and an accident waiting to happen when he played for United but there he was putting in a strong performance in a defensive West Bromwich performance. I would like to wish them, Anders Lindegaard and Ben Foster good luck for the rest of the season.
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