Five Talking Points: Manchester United v A-League All Stars

Manchester United responded to their disappointing first pre-season match defeat at Bangkok with a comprehensive 5-1 win against A-League All Stars in Sydney, which earned David Moyes his first victory as Manchester United manager.

The effects of an extra week of training were quite evident in United’s display, as they showed much improved sharpness and incisiveness in their play as compared to last week.

On a night where United’s youngsters shone, and the team got another ninety minutes under their belt, let’s have a look at the five major talking points.

Manchester United players celebrate their second goal against Foxtel A-League Allstars during an exhibition match in Sydney

1) United’s line up

The pre-season games can be a good indicator as to how David Moyes is planning to set up Manchester United in the season ahead, and looking at the first two matches, it is no surprise that Moyes wants to use the same recipe that United had feasted upon in most of their last two decades of successful reign.

Just as they did against Singha All Stars a week ago, United started with a 4-4-1-1 formation, with the difference being that this time they had more natural width in the form of Wilfried Zaha on the right and Jesse Lingard on the left. Instead of Januzaj, Giggs was given a free role in front of Carrick and Cleverley in the midfield, while Danny Welbeck held the forward line on his own.

Anders Lindegaard was given the responsibility between the posts, and he had the usual faces of Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones and Evra in front of him.

Although, there might be some experiments in formation expected from David Moyes in the upcoming matches, but, as of now, he seems to be content with the modern twist of the 4-4-2 that has yielded United so much success in the past.

Jesse Lingard of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his second goal

2) First Half Performance

If it was Adnan Januzaj and Wilfried Zaha who caught the eye of United’s supporters in the first match, it was the turn of another young duo in form of Jesse Lingard and Danny Welbeck, who stole the limelight in first half at Sydney.

Unlike thier last outing, United were quickly out of their blocks this time and took just eleven minutes to open the scoring. A neat ball from Cleverley was very well dummied by Welbeck onto the path of Lingard, who went through on goal and finished with aplomb.

Lingard, 20, had a part to play in the second United goal as well, which included a series of good touches, until Welbeck sent it into the back of the net past a hapless keeper, and in the process, got himself a much needed goal.

Carrick and Cleverley pulled the strings from the midfield, while Zaha proved to be constant nuisance for A-league defenders with his pace and trickery on the right wing.

The defense, too, produced a much better display as they pressed the ball high up the pitch, and didn’t let the opposition attackers too much time and space on the ball.

Robin van Persie was rapturously applauded by the crowd when he finally came on in the second half

3) Second half performance

United started the second half with Michael Keane coming on for Rio Ferdinand, and the youngster won’t be too pleased with his defending in the 52nd minute when he let the All Star striker too much space just outside the United penalty area, and allowing him to slot one home to halve the United lead.

The goal, however, spurred United on as they almost immediately restored their two goal cushion with a wonderful strike, again by Jesse Lingard, that went into the top right corner.

Robin Van Persie substituted Ryan Giggs amidst rousing reception, and produced an immediate impact with a delighful delivery from a corner, that was expertly headed home by Danny Welbeck for his second, and United’s fourth on the night.

The icing on the cake came in the 87th minute, when Robin Van Persie, the crowd favorite, scored the fifth for United with a low drive off his right foot that went into the bottom left corner

United made further substitutions to allow everyone get some minutes on the pitch, and thereby, a huge boost in their fitness ahead of a long season ahead.

Wilfried Zaha of Manchester United takes on Michael Beauchamp of the All-Stars during the match between the A-League All-Stars and Manchester United

4) Wonderful display by youngsters

If Adnan Januzaj stole the show last week, it was Jesse Lingard this time around, who did no harm to his reputation by scoring two beautifully taken goals, besides several other eye-catching displays.

Wilfried Zaha, too, started from where he left last week, and proved what a promising young talent he could be with his pace and trickery which couldn’t be handled by the A-League defenders. He was extremely unlucky not to have scored the goal on the night.

Danny Welbeck, on the other hand, got two important goals which must give his confidence a huge boost. He was a constant threat for the A-League defenders upfront with his strength and pace. However, he should take this forward into the matches ahead.

United manager, coaches and supporters alike must be highly impressed with the performances of their young brigade in the first two matches of the season, and must feel satisfied with the future being in right hands.

David Moyes

5) Way forward

“I want to see us step up from where we were in Thailand,” said David Moyes in his pre-match press conference two days ago, and the players responded in the perfect manner with a highly impressive display, which must have given their confidence as well as their fitness a huge boost.

The club now moves on to Japan in the final leg of their pre-season tour, where they’ll be joined by Shinji Kagawa. It remains to be seen how David Moyes keeps on lining up his side before the real action starts in August.

The players, on the other hand, must be expected to enhance their performance every time they go out on the pitch with their increased fitness and confidence.