[ad_1]
Pogba may still be needed
It says a lot about Paul Pogba’s current status at Manchester United that the pre-match reveal confirming his absence from the team didn’t generate much more than a flicker of interest.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that Pogba had complained in training of a ‘hit’, keeping him out of West Brom’s win, meaning Nemanja Matic teamed up with Fred in midfield, with Scott McTominay rested after your excursions to Scotland.
More fuel for that argument by Solskjaer, made after Everton’s win, after their players are under too much pressure.
But the truth is that United will have felt that Pogba was not a fundamental defeat, given his form this season.
However, the 90 minutes against West Brom could have changed his mind. This was exactly the kind of game Pogba could have thrived on, as Matic seemed a bit redundant, as United’s four defenders didn’t need the extra layers of protection he’s been receiving in recent weeks.
Donny van de Beek and McTominay were belatedly introduced in midfield, but it could have been a much easier night if United had had Pogba’s cunning alongside Fred. Sometimes absence can grow affection, but this game may have told United that Pogba still has a role to play.
(Image: FRANCK FIFE / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Win the VAR
Maybe they should change the old adage and say that VAR is a game of good margins, rather than soccer. Because it is clear that some people prefer to talk about decision-making technology rather than the action itself.
VAR is here to stay, whether people like it or not, although perhaps the masses are right to look at how United seems to have had a splash of green when it comes to penalties in recent months.
This time, however, referee David Coote and his assistants at Stockley Park did everything right.
Anthony Martial fell to the ground too easily in the first half when he felt a tap on his shoulder and did not deserve a penalty. Bruno Fernandes then had a decent touch of the ball when Conor Gallagher was challenged prompting a rethink of the VAR; and, for better or for worse, Darnell Furlong’s hand behind Juan Mata’s center was effectively a penalty under the law. Then the VAR rightly saw that Sam Johnstone was too far from his line to allow Fernandes a vital replay.
United needed a slice of fortune after a less-than-vintage display, but it was vindicated this time.
Telles first impressions
From the first two touches Alex Telles landed against West Brom, it was clear that this was a player whose debut in the Premier League was several weeks late. He looked strong from the start and was one of United’s best players on a boring night.
Having impressed for about an hour against PSG, only COVID-19 kept Telles away from first-team affairs so far, showing off his attacking attributes and set piece experience at Old Trafford.
He suspects the Brazilian will only grow in his role at United and make life difficult for Luke Shaw when he returns from a hamstring injury.
Manchester United managed a 1-0 win over West Brom to finally clinch a home victory in the Premier League this season.
It wasn’t pretty, but it means two wins in a row for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who have to balance League and Champions League commitments over a busy period in the coming weeks.
MEN Sport will bring you all the reaction and analysis of United’s victory against West Brom and you can have it all delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just enter your email address in the registration box at the top of this article, or just click here. It’s free and only takes a few seconds.
Johnstone key to Baggies resistance
You could have predicted West Brom’s game plan before the ball was kicked in anger, so it came as no surprise to see the yellow and green jerseys fill the midfield and try to deny United the space they craved all through. match.
But perhaps it was also inevitable that the former United goalkeeper Johnstone, who was unable to make an appearance in the senior category for a long period at Old Trafford after having gone through the academy, would try to make a name for himself as well. It was successful.
Johnstone made two good early saves from Martial, but United should have given him a lot more trouble. You were probably expecting a shooting barrage but, thanks to Slaven Bilic’s side and their fighting approach, United failed to really stretch Johnstone in the first half.
He then saved Fernandes’ first penalty, although when he was a yard or more from his line, he denied Rashford from close range at the 66-minute mark and walked away from Harry Maguire in 70 minutes. The 1-0 scoreline likely reflected United’s under-par performance, although Johnstone avoided a much simpler night for Solskjaer, as the Norwegian noted after the match.
Table movers
There were some members of the United hierarchy who weren’t happy to see José Mourinho concoct a magnificent Tottenham win over Manchester City, to lead Spurs to top spot in the Premier League before the Old Trafford action began. The harsh way in which the Portuguese left United will not have been forgotten and it was frustrating to see him do for Spurs what he never did for United.
Whatever your thoughts on Mourinho, however, Tottenham’s victory offered United a chance to overtake City, in the upper half of the Premier League, with their victory.
That fact – a clean sheet and ultimately a league home win this season for United, as well as Telles’ debut – were the only positives for Solskjaer. It is better for United to have a game on Tuesday night as it will not last long.
[ad_2]
