Five Talking Points from Manchester United's comfortable 2-0 win at West Ham

Two goals from Wayne Rooney and a solid defensive effort meant that United continued on from their mid-week victory with yet another win, albeit a lot more comfortable one. Here are the five talking points.

#1 Rooney racing through the record books

With the injury to Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney led the attack against the Hammers and showed his manager that the Dutchman might not be missed after all. Rooney looked sharp from the first minute and was challenging for every ball and showed plenty of commitment. With his two goals, he took third place on United’s all-time goal scoring charts with 212 goals. Both goals showed two different facets of his game. His first was a thing of beauty as brought back memories of Beckham’s goal at Selhurst Park. From a clearance from Ashley Young, Rooney shrugged off his man and unleashed a ferocious volley from just inside the Hammers’ half. His second was a poacher’s finish and took him past Jack Rowley into third and gave United fans an idea of what the next few years will be like.

#2 Uniteds makeshift defence comes through against Carroll and co.

When the team sheets were announced, the sight of Michael Carrick in the middle of defense might well have made Andy Carroll’s day. Unfortunately for the Englishman, try all he might, he just wasn’t able to get too much change of either center halves. And, he was not alone, in that aspect. As expected, the Hammers kept pressure on United via long balls, but Carrick and Jones stayed strong and were helped out on several occasions by Marouane Fellaini, who showed his worth defensively. This was United’s 10th center back partnership this season and although most of which has been as a result of injuries, Moyes will be happy to note that, in Carrick, he has an able deputy should it come to this again.

#3 Patience a virtue with Fellaini

At the start of the game, it looked like Fellaini’s inclusion in the starting lineup was to help out defensively. For the first hour or so, the Belgian struggled with even that. He persistently fouled and conceded unnecessary free kicks, which on another day might have cost United dear. Although he won plenty of headers and put his foot in, every time he went forward, he slowed down the play and was indecisive to say the least. But in the final half hour, he showed the Red Devils what he is capable of doing, once he settles in. the Belgian started attacking with a lot more vigor and was unlucky not to have won a penalty at the end of his wonderful run from the center circle. His passing looked sharp, he started winning headers and was there at the right place at the right time. Given time, the Belgian can develop into what United have been lacking since the departure of Roy Keane, an imposing presence in the center of midfield.

#4 United rediscover their counter-attacking DNA

Over the past two and decades or so, Manchester United have been the dominant force in English football. One of the main reasons for that has been the pace on the break. United have had a long tradition of fast wingers who have a good cross on them. Although Moyes played with just one traditional winger in Ashley Young, United certainly enjoyed plenty of joy from the flanks. Although the Hammers overloaded the box, every time United went on the counter-attack, they looked menacing. Young put in some delicious crosses and Mata and Kagawa’s pace and precision on the ball meant that after a very long time, United looked like themselves.

#5 Will this victory spur United on

Last weekend’s humbling at the hands of Liverpool meant that the bricks were out for David Moyes. Thankfully for the Scot, United managed to overturn a 2-0 deficit in Europe for the first time in 30 years and are through to the quarters where they are set to face the reigning Champions Bayern Munich. Victory over West Ham is crucial as they now face a run of three straight home games that might very well decide their season. Their “noisy neighbors come into town on Tuesday, which is followed by a clash against Villa over the weekend, after which they face Bayern Munich. Three crucial home games in less than 10 days and with Kagawa and Mata linking up well and Fellaini and Fletcher forming a perfect base for the attack, United can go into those games, with a lot more belief than they had only a few days ago.