Manchester United: Nothing good from Goodison Park

With most of the key defenders missing, Manchester United‘s trip to Everton was always going to be a difficult one. For a team which had spent heavily on attack in the summer transfer window, it seems odd that the attack went missing at Goodison Park. Despite dominating possession for much of the game, the Red Devils failed to create any clear chances. The midfield was reduced to passing the ball sideways than forward on more occasions. United tried to link up play between the midfield and the strikers through Kagawa but the Everton midfield stifled Kagawa and negotiated with the threat. Honestly, United did not manage to really threaten the Everton goal in the entire match. But why?

To begin with was the poor showing on the ball by Nani. For a player dreaming to be the best in the world, yesterday’s performance was a big flop. Nani, mostly wasteful in possession, failed to create much. Also, his crosses were nothing short of awful. Cleverly did well to hold possession but lacked the creativity to create anything as Everton’s disciplined display closed down spaces in the midfield. Scholes had to put in some rash tackles to win the ball in the midfield, but when in possession failed to create much for the visitors.

Rooney was a few notches below his sharpness having a pass completion of only 87%. Kagawa linked up fairly well with Rooney, but the United talisman failed to create much out of it. Kagawa was the only player in the midfield who contributed significantly to the visitor’s attack, and is one of the positives to take out of the game for United fans. Welbeck got into some decent positions but the Everton back four ensured that he made nothing of them. The United midfield was harassed by Everton’s goal scorer Fellaini and it was impossible for United’s defense to pick up his runs.

But let’s not take anything away from Everton. They had put in a solid performance and played well to their strengths. If David Moyes had a game plan, his players executed it to perfection. Apart from Fellaini, who was the best player on the pitch, the performances of the Everton defense really won them the match. The confidence with which they closed down United and took the chances away, really was a performance tuned to perfection. Every tackle and challenge was well timed. All dangers in the box were well negotiated. Baines was a threat on the offense. He justified Moyes’ valuation of the player. Everton gave the visitors no space to operate in and create chances.

United found it very hard to create any clear chances over the game thanks to Everton, but that tells something about the lack of creativity in their midfield. United still misses a creative midfielder who would create chances in tough games where there is little space to operate in. Importantly, United were poor even in the final third as the slim chances that were created were not finished. Some of the link up play attempted was not coming together as the midfield passing is still not fluid enough.

United’s makeshift back four held as well it it could. They missed the presence of Evans or Smalling, who could win headers against Everton and deal with long balls better. The best United player on the pitch was David De Gea, who pulled off a string of impressive saves to keep United in the game. If he continues like this, he will surely cement his place as No. 1.

Next Saturday, United faces Fulham at home and would surely hope that the lack of chances would not be the problem. Nani, who seems to be in poor form, should be dropped as he was by far the worst player on the pitch. What was surprising was the lack of a response from United after conceding the goal. For a side wanting to reclaim the crown, Monday night’s performance was more than disappointing. If Ferguson wants to build a team on attack then his team’s display on the offensive must improve substantially.

The league is a long haul. United would surely bounce back from this defeat, but their response to a season without any trophy still remains to be seen. The side must have the hunger to drive them to raise their level of play when needed. The Everton display however gives no such indications.