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MAKING BUBBLES is a risky business in these Covid times.
And never again for the most erratic Manchester United of the last 35 years.
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At least under the previous managers, we knew what to expect. Maddeningly brilliant or spectacularly hideous. But at least consistent.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it changes wildly from week to week. Last night it was Good United’s turn to show up and bring West Ham’s recent streak of form to an unworthy end.
From defender Victor Lindelof raising his arms in despair at the shameful performance of the first half to Solskjaer on high in salute to the most unexpected comeback.
So it is with United right now. From the comeback in Southampton last weekend to a knockdown against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and then this, key substitutions that brought them back to life at the last minute.
Solskjaer was forced to take his bruised warrior Marcus Rashford off the bench to play in a game he was supposed to see in his tracksuit as he healed from a shoulder injury.
Rashford replaced Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes replaced Donny van der Beek, although no one really knew that the Dutchman was in first place.
The result was like an electric shock to the side. Three goals, among the first four and even Paul Pogba showed signs of life.
Pogba reflects his club at the moment. A flash of brilliance at 20 minutes into the second half and a 25-yard spike that leveled the game but also heralded United’s return.
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The goal was reviewed by VAR to see if the ball had gone off the field following a huge play by goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Then he clears down the right wing.
Well it held up despite the uncertainty, because the whole movement was fast, artistic and ruthless in execution once Fernandes took control, took two steps onto the field and then passed the ball to Pogba like a gunner charging a long-range cannon.
It was the best goal of the game by far, but it only adds to the debate that constantly haunts Pogba.
For over an hour he had been sitting comfortably in the pocket of West Ham captain Declan Rice, and it seemed that he did not feel like going out on a cold night in London’s East End.
It was a similar situation for the entire Manchester United team as they were intimidated by a West Ham team that is no longer so easy to handle.
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The Irons have lost only once at home this season and under David Moyes they are a much more stable proposition.
Tottenham and Manchester City have already figured it out and it’s not enough to just put the stiff and the kids against West Ham and wait for the goals to come.
Moyes’s team has been the one that surprisingly has seemed to benefit from the absence of fans during the pandemic.
One hundred and ninety-two Premier League games later and the fans were back, well, at least some.
And while Moyes is forging a new philosophy here, it’s still quite a ‘West Hammy’ to lose in the first game in front of the fans.
Those within this vast terrain did well to create some atmosphere.
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Not that it would take much to deflect erratic Manchester United in the first half.
By then West Ham were deservedly ahead, what was tough was that it was only by one goal.
Pablo Fornals hit the post and hit a header into the side net when it would have been easier to score.
Tomas Soucek gave West Ham the lead in the 38th minute, and lunged for the far post to finish off a Declan Rice header over the line from a corner.
Most weeks he would be the mainstay for this team, but Solskjaer bet again and won.
Fernandes was the missing creative spark. He set the tie and played a colorful role with a cheeky back heel that had Mason Greenwood spinning on his heel to shoot 2-1 from inside the box.
Rashford sealed with 12 minutes to go, played by Angelo Ogbonna and pushed his way into space, shrugging to lift the ball over Fabianski and then hit the post in the dying moments.
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