Three games into the season and a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford is agonisingly disappointing for Manchester United fans who are hoping to see their side rise higher than 4th place this season. The club have had an impressive yet lackluster start to the campaign thanks to two 1-0 victories against respectable opposition in Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
On the surface an unbeaten opening through August sounds like fantastic news for the side that failed to kickstart last season until mid-September. But the reality is worrying. The side have only scored two goals in three games with one of those being an own goal. Three shots on target in two games makes for unconvincing reading. Whereas the shots on target increased against Geordie opposition, the club failed to hit the back of the net in a weekend full of plentiful goals.
Van Gaal played Wayne Rooney as a lone striker with a creative and expansive midfield line-up ready to supply the assists. But the out-of-form striker grew frustrated, as his game-time without goals has now risen to 858 minutes. New signing Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj also failed to make an impact out wide as Newcastle’s defence seemed durable to any threats from the hosts.
Better team performance but disappointed to drop two points. We go again Wednesday! ⚽️ @ManUtd #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0alNzMFBdn
— Chris Smalling (@ChrisSmalling) August 22, 2015
Possession but no pre-eminence
There were positives in Morgan Schneiderlin’s performance that continues to look like a fine capture. With an ageing Carrick and his partnership with Schweinsteiger commencing, Schneiderlin has cemented his place in the first XI and looks to offer United what they’ve missed in the last two seasons.
Sergio Romero also picked up his third clean sheet in three games as Daley Blind seems to have fitted into the Centre Back role very well. Defensively and with Schneiderlin protecting the back four the club has never looked so strong.
But once again it was up front that the club looked abysmal. Chicharito came on and didn’t pose a strong enough and failed to beat Dutch keeper Tim Krul. Newcastle held onto the points and MUFC dropped points that they should’ve clinched.
With over a week left in the Summer transfer window fans will be hoping that Van Gaal will bring in a replacement striker for Van Persie otherwise the club will struggle to score goals right up until the January window.
