So, no De Gea...something we should be getting used to saying this summer, and Valdes made his long awaited first start for United. However we went to a club fighting for their Premier League lives and kept a clean sheet and came away undefeated so it wasn't all that bad....surely?
So what did we learn from today's match?
On a final note may I offer my best wishes to former United legend Steve Bruce. I hope you are back in the Premier League as soon as possible and hopefully still dropping points to us...but seriously, I hope Hull do start the next season with you in charge and you bring them back up.
So what did we learn from today's match?
- Valdes is an older De Gea. When De Gea first arrived he was a great shot stopper but seemed vulnerable at crosses, which if you was to sum up Valdes, making his first start in a United shirt, is exactly what you would say. He made two very alarming blunders from crosses, one was dropping a very basic catch whilst under no real pressure that would have lead to a goal had it not been for the offside flag, and the other was a failed attempt at a punch out that made more contact with Wayne Rooney than the ball. He did however make two very good reactionary saves to his credit that gives you optimism that with a good pre-season behind to remove the rust from him then he could easily take the reigns over from De Gea.
- Di Maria doesn't have the appetite. Finally brought back into the starting line up in the place of Fellani, he lasted just over 20 minutes...there again when Fellani came on he lasted the same time frame as well. Di Maria looks a shadow of his former self and I don't think it is as simple as telling him to have a family holiday and start fresh next season. No, the attempted robbery has knocked any willingness and confidence to stay in this country. His passion and hunger seems gone and he just seems to be running through the motions. Maybe more time in his preferred position and a quicker tempo team might change that for next season but I personally only see him wearing a PSG shirt in August.
- Fellani needs to sort his head out. Too often he is a prat on the pitch. He gets booked early on so his whole game is compromised - Everton away anyone? Today he was sent off after 20 minutes on the pitch for a disgusting challenge on Hull's McShane where he went in late and will surely lead to a three game ban at the very least. It was a match that was at times physical it was in no means dirty but you could understand the physicality as so much was on the line for Hull. The only two flash points in the entire match before Fellani's rush of blood to the head, was when Hernandez punched...yes literally punched, Phil Jones in the stomach as a boxer would do during a Hull corner. It was missed by the officials and seemingly everyone but Jones but not by the TV cameras so hopefully he will face a lengthy ban also, and of course the Rooney half arsed kick out but more about that below. Yes it does sound weird saying it wasn't a dirty game but it genuinely wasn't and there was no excuse or provocation for Fellani's challenge and he needs to cut out this needless physicality as it costs the team.
- Rooney will cost us. For some reason again Rooney was undroppable. No resting him, no substitution, no...as Van Gaal said earlier this season - He is undroppable. This will cost us dearly next season as we need a regular 20 goal a season striker and it is clear if we play one up front then it will either be Rooney, or Rooney will be forced into midfield at another players expense...and Rooney hardly proved he was worthy of a starting berth in the middle. Today again his movements seemed heavy and lethargic and he seems to wait for the ball to come to him rather than go attack it, he drifts out of position and even for one corner he was the furthest United player back...our striker, the furthest player back. He was also guilty of kicking out in the first half, yes it was a half assed attempt at a kick out but it was still a bloody idiotic thing to do, it remind me of the old Rooney who could not control his temper. No player should be undroppable, no player should be an automatic starter when they are not producing on the pitch and unless Van Gaal drops this favouritism then we will not win the league next season. End of.
- United travelling fans are the best in the country. They always have been and always will be whether it is out singing the scousers at Anfield to a non-stop 90 minute party at Hull. From the first minute they repeatedly belted out the new Georgie Best tribute 'Spirit in the sky' and although the fans at Old Trafford are regularly criticised for their quietness that is something you can not say about our vocal travelling support. It is a shame that our away performances have not rewarded them more than it should but here is hoping next season there will be more new chants at freshly arriving hero's and taunts about Liverpool sliding down the table faster than an oiled up stripper on a pole at SpearmintRhino.
On a final note may I offer my best wishes to former United legend Steve Bruce. I hope you are back in the Premier League as soon as possible and hopefully still dropping points to us...but seriously, I hope Hull do start the next season with you in charge and you bring them back up.