West Brom 0-3 Manchester United: Five Talking Points

Goals from Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck for United as they notched up a second-straight League win and extended their unbeaten streak in the League to four games. The 3-0 defeat heaped yet more misery on Mel, who is yet to win a League game as manager of the baggies and left the club, level on points with 18th place Cardiff.

#1 Moss makes a mess

The job of a referee is no easy task. But, more often than not, the referees make it tougher for themselves. Whilst it is difficult to get everything right,they too are humans after all, that shouldn’t stop them from getting the simple things spot on. Whether it is missing a clear cut foul or a nasty challenge or the goalkeeper handling the ball outside the area or sending off a player with a second yellow for a bad foul.

Take your pick because, in just 90 minutes referee Jon Moss managed to miss all of that and have a total clanger. It is easy to sympathize with referees if they make a couple of mistakes here and there. But Mr. Moss has demonstrated time and again that he is not up to the mark and the League better take note soon. Because, although his decisions didn’t have too big an impact on this game, chances are, it might well, in the next one.

#2 Return of Jones adds some much needed stability

With Vidic on his way out of the club to Italy and Rio Ferdinand not getting any younger, United were handed a boost with the return of Phil Jones to his familiar surroundings. Against West Brom, Phil Jones showed just how good he can be, when used the right way. The centre back, who was often deployed alongside Michael Carrick in midfield, showed that his best work is in defence.

Chris Smalling, who played alongside Jones, also showed that he too, is more at home in the center of defense and not on the right side. With the duo forming a formidable partnership an Rafael slowing getting back to full form and fitness, United suddenly looked assured in defence and notched up their third-straight clean sheet in the Premier League.

#3 Is Robin van Persie really settled at United?

The week before the game, all the talk was about how Rabin van Persie wants out of Manchester United. Although Moyes played down the claims, on the evidence of this game, it certainly looked a lot like the Dutchman wasn’t really enjoying the game. Much was made of the fact that he hadn’t really passed as much to Rooney in the past few games. And in this game as well, that continued.

Although he set up the first goal with a wonderful cross, the Dutchman lunged into tackles needlessly and was lucky not to have been sent off. With Rooney’s future at the club firmly secure, now is as good a time as any to get rid of the Dutchman, if the claims of a rift are indeed true. After all, with Welbeck and Chicharito waiting in the wings, it is not like they don’t have a replacement already.

#4 The Baggies have some tough calls to make

West Brom have always been thought of, as a sensible club. A club with values, a club that values history and tradition and a throwback to the good old days of English football. Hell, even Roy Hodgson looked like a world-beater in charge of the Baggies. They were always a well-run club and the sacking of Steve Clark surprised a few. Even more eye brows were raised when they replaced him with Pepe Mel.

For all of his qualities, Mel made his name as a manager who played with a counter-attacking team, something the Baggies are quite clearly not. So, it should come as no surprise that the players haven’t been able to adapt and haven’t won a single League game under his tenure. So, after sacking one manager already, the board now face another crucial decision, one they mustn’t get wrong.

#5 Fellaini slowly starting to prove his worth

Back from injury, Fellaini started his second-straight League game and started to show just why Moyes spent so much on bringing him to Old Trafford last summer. The Belgian put in an archetypal box-to-box performances, the likes of which, hasn’t been seen at the club for a long time. Fellaini started the game slowly, made a few silly tackles and gave a few balls away.

But, as the game went on, he grew in stature and by the end of it, his work on the defensive end, gave his side some much needed stability to build the attacks. The Belgian finished with four tackles, five interceptions and eight clearances, second only to Smalling. His aerial prowess was evident throughout and when the final whistle blew, he made the most passes of anyone on the park, with a 90% pass completion rate.

A few more performances like this will surely endear him to the United faithful.