Manchester United made impressively comfortable work against Brighton, killing the game off in the first half and controlling the second in much the same fashion as they did against Sheffield United last week.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named exactly the same team which played the last league game which raised some eyebrows considering Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire played the full game on Saturday. But many of United’s early forages came from the left hand side, demonstrating that even though he is often criticised for this area of his game, Shaw was actually in good condition.
There was an early threat when Bruno Fernandes hit the post following good work from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Paul Pogba but the hosts did not hold out for much longer. Four minutes, to be precise. Wan-Bissaka rolled the ball into the path of Mason Greenwood. The youngster needed a big moment after a couple of games where the argument was growing more for him to be used as an impact player. Here he made a definite impression, cutting inside and finishing coolly inside the near post.
Cue the comparisons with Robin van Persie, but the 18-year-old is making that a trademark finish all of his own, and it should not be too long until the retired Dutch forward is the one flattered by being mentioned in the same sentence as Greenwood. The boy is sensational, and I don’t use that word lightly.
People are right to laud the production line at Old Trafford which has also took Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Brandon Williams into the first team, but Greenwood is the only one of those who actually knocked the door down demanding an opportunity because of his brilliance.
United were 2-0 up on the half-hour. Bruno Fernandes’ shot was heavily deflected – so much so it went from the far post to the near – but Brighton might have felt hard done by. They first felt the ball had gone out of play and then wanted Luke Shaw to be flagged offside. The goal stood.
Brighton’s big chance came in the early knockings of the second half. They would have to get an early goal to change the tide of this game but suffered the cruel fate that sides often do when committing men forward. From a home attack in the 50th minute, United swiftly broke. Maguire headed out, and Matic hit a quite exquisite long pass down the left hand side for Greenwood to race on to. With three to pick from, the youngster showed fine composure to clip the ball to the far post, where Fernandes was waiting. This time his finish was clean and decisive, across goal.
Gary Neville, on commentary for Sky, immediately compared the goal to some of United’s famous breakaway goals at Arsenal. It was generous and excitable; there was not quite the searing pace or clinical brilliance of teams in the past, but it was nonetheless hugely promising on its own terms, which is the best compliment you can give this Manchester United team without crippling it with unrealistic expectations.
Despite the many efforts of Leandro Trossard, Brighton were unable to get even a consolation, and United were able to do what they should have done on Saturday – kill the game off early and make five changes to give some tired legs a rest. But this is a minor grumble – when United can win, and look so good at times doing it, Solskjaer makes fools of all of us who quibble over one or two selections.
Rashford & Martial
Okay, okay, time for the elephant in the room to be addressed. It’s okay to love Marcus Rashford as the national hero he is and wonder if he’s a bit out of sorts. Maybe he’s learning to re-invent himself now he has all this quality around him. But even he would see that as an excuse. Some of the dribbles don’t seem to be coming off and his shooting seems rusty.
He’s even giving up free-kicks to Fernandes. Just a personal thing, I’d like to see him do what he was doing earlier in the season, and demanding the ball. Yes, it might not go in straight away. But the second that one does, a weight will surely be lifted.
As for Martial, well… the problem is never one of low expectation. He has all the ability in the world and the hat-trick last week was both welcome and long overdue. The issue has always been wanting him to do it consistently. You can’t score every game. But we have to see better than the highs of last week and the sort of contributions like yesterday that would be generously described as peripheral. His greatest skill appears to be managing to find a hiding place in a front line where there isn’t one. There is a world class player in there but he needs to start showing it. Maybe the problem is in the perception? That we are so used to the marginal contributions that we judge them more harshly?
Still, it’s hugely promising that United can play this well with two strikers spluttering for some kind of form. When they do – as they surely will – even better is to come.
Changing times
Should I be complaining about this in these circumstances? I’m not a hipster, I promise. But I opined that United had an unfair advantage over a lesser team last week when they were able to see the game out with five changes.
Here they faced a team who have defeated them twice at home in the two seasons since they have been promoted. There were occasions where Paul Pogba comfortably held off challenges from two players and whilst he certainly has the talent, his performances on this ground before suggest he has struggled in the atmosphere. So. Is this really fair on Brighton? Is it a level playing field?
It’s great to watch football and even better to be entertained by United but if games like this end up costing Brighton their place in the top flight they will certainly find some sympathy in this observer. For that reason it still feels odd to “celebrate” wins like this when it still feels premature that the country is gingerly preparing itself to recover.
Selection
Nobody would suggest that this wasn’t a very strong United team – in terms of what is available, anyway. The quibbles might have been in four areas – playing Maguire and Shaw after 120 minutes on Saturday. Playing Matic when Fred and McTominay are available. Playing Greenwood when he hadn’t made an overwhelmingly convincing argument for his inclusion over James (or an argument that he isn’t better as an impact sub).
It is always pleasing when the manager gets it right, and as emphatically so as he did against Brighton. Maguire and Shaw showed no signs of tiredness. Matic indeed showed the intelligent interceptions that were perhaps missing at a crucial moment against Spurs. And Greenwood – well, what can you say? A star was already born, but what a sight to see him shine.
Team :
De Gea 6
Wan-Bissaka 8
Lindelof 7
Maguire 7
Shaw 7
Matic 8
Fernandes 8
Pogba 7
Greenwood 8
Martial 5
Rashford 5
Subs :
Andreas 6
McTominay 6
Williams 6
Ighalo
James
