United XI vs Palace: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Young, Rooney.
United subs vs Palace: Valdes, Evans, McNair, Pereira, Januzaj, Falcao, Wilson.
So, with both ourselves and Palace losing three on the bounce without scoring a single goal then something had to give. With The Bin Dippers away to a hungover Chelsea (recently crowned Champions) tomorrow, it was vital we picked up three points to cement that all important 4th place, something we never thought we'd hear ourselves say just 48 months ago. The teams were announced and a few reds on Twitter were a bit puzzled as to why no RvP and Di Maria, but it was quickly announced that RvP was suffering with a virus and that Di Maria's luck went from bad to worse as he was hurt in training in midweek.
Firstly this was a welcome return to winning ways but it was far from a vintage United performance, in fact our defence seems to have developed a nervous streak again and it was back to De Gea to keep us in the game with a string of world class saves. Palace to their credit didn't sit back and 'park the bus' and sensed that victory was theirs for the taking which would have happened but for De Gea. Although I must give praise to Young who played one of his best games of the season today and contributed with some fantastic runs as well as being credited with both assists...though his crosses still wouldn't even scare a vampire, nobody can fault his effort today. Young has been hit and miss all throughout his United career but when he is one of these moods he is hard to live with. Jones as well played after a successful run out midweek for our U21's, in fact he played a beautiful ball which lead to a goal and returned today and looked the most composed of our back four.
We started brightly though and Blind belted a lovely shot from outside the box that had to be palmed onto the post by the Palace keeper, and this was how it was for the first half as we comfortably had the upper hand. Sadly Herrera seems to have lost his shooting boots recently and he had two shots fly past the goal in the first half...a far call from his stats a few weeks ago where everyone of his shots had been on target. Our penalty in the 17th minute was a right call as well despite much home objections...though they would as we would too if we were in their shoes, Dann leaned in to cut out Young's cross and hand ball was given by the ref, and quite rightly too. With Rooney dropped down the list (but now ahead of RvP) it was left for Mata to take the spot kick, three misses in his last four penalties did not inspire me to be truthful but he did manage to beat the keeper who dived to his right and almost got his hands to it. 1-0, and thank Christ because we really needed a goal to settle a few nerves.
Valencia again made a few mistakes but did his usual not too good/not too bad performance, though if he ever realised his left foot was for something other than standing on then he might improve his performances, instead he has to completely move his body at times so he can pass the ball with his right foot which can slow down some attacks.
The usual injuries are building up again and it would surprise few that one of them is Shaw again, in fairness to the lad he did face an elbow in his face that lead to him being stretchered off...hopefully he will be back for the Arsenal game. Evans replaced him and instead of this former Left Back going to the, well, left back slot, he went to centre back and the right footed Phil Jones slotted in there. This still baffles me but it is testment to Jones that he played as well as he did out of position. Rooney struggled for about 15 minutes late in the first half before finally being pulled off at half time by Van Gaal, this one is a dilemma as there is no doubt he weakens our midfield when placed there, but he is struggling up front as well. Being undroppable it is a catch 22, expecting Wilson to come out for his pace, and as Palace were attacking and this would suit Wilson, I was a bit disappointed to see Falcao out. It didn't take Falcao long to continue his recent tribute to Steve Gerrard by randomly slipping/falling over for no reason...he managed to do it twice today. Whether he is more of a legend than we know and he is mugging Gerrard off I can't say...it would be nice to be true. Smalling didn't look comfortable today and went off in the final third of the match for McNair which could lead to bad news unless he was really just having a terrible day, virus? We'll soon find out.
Both halves were littered with half arsed penalty claims from dives and idiotic claims for hand ball at every opportunity that some of them were embarrassing, the most comical was Puncheon falling over a trailing foot so dramatically that he deserved a standing ovation for his efforts to the theatrical arts.
The second half witnessed a swing that even labour would have wished they had last Thursday, and Palace really came out all guns blazing where as we seemed to be lost and uninspired as if we were lacking a leader. I am not a fan of Rooney but could the team miss him? Sadly nobody stepped up to take the mantle and Palace got their just desserts in the 56th minute when for the second week in a row we were beaten by a set piece free kick, this week though our wall didn't move and the ball flicked off the head of Blind who looked like he was in a Coma and not a bloody wall defending. De Gea was beaten and cue more nervousness and side to side football with no pace in attack...or 'probing' if you will.
Young again looked electric in the second half with his breaks (are you watching Di Maria?) and was unlucky with one shot which was deflected across the goal for a corner, it wasn't long after that before Young drifted in a inviting cross and when the Palace CB was holding off for his keeper to collect he received a 'cheeky' push from behind by Falcao that lead him to collide with his keeper. The ball fell to 9ft tall Fellani who simply headed the ball into an empty net. 2-1. Game set and match bar a few scary moments where De Gea again thwarted Delany, who on another day could have got on the score sheet...Van Gaal if he is going to Madrid then don't you dare let him go for half the price we will have to pay to get Lloris.
Three points, seven point cushion to the bin dippers, two goals after a long baron spell, away win after three defeats, 63% possession - the stat that seems to impress Van Gaal more than anything....job done. Bring on Arsenal.
United subs vs Palace: Valdes, Evans, McNair, Pereira, Januzaj, Falcao, Wilson.
So, with both ourselves and Palace losing three on the bounce without scoring a single goal then something had to give. With The Bin Dippers away to a hungover Chelsea (recently crowned Champions) tomorrow, it was vital we picked up three points to cement that all important 4th place, something we never thought we'd hear ourselves say just 48 months ago. The teams were announced and a few reds on Twitter were a bit puzzled as to why no RvP and Di Maria, but it was quickly announced that RvP was suffering with a virus and that Di Maria's luck went from bad to worse as he was hurt in training in midweek.
Firstly this was a welcome return to winning ways but it was far from a vintage United performance, in fact our defence seems to have developed a nervous streak again and it was back to De Gea to keep us in the game with a string of world class saves. Palace to their credit didn't sit back and 'park the bus' and sensed that victory was theirs for the taking which would have happened but for De Gea. Although I must give praise to Young who played one of his best games of the season today and contributed with some fantastic runs as well as being credited with both assists...though his crosses still wouldn't even scare a vampire, nobody can fault his effort today. Young has been hit and miss all throughout his United career but when he is one of these moods he is hard to live with. Jones as well played after a successful run out midweek for our U21's, in fact he played a beautiful ball which lead to a goal and returned today and looked the most composed of our back four.
We started brightly though and Blind belted a lovely shot from outside the box that had to be palmed onto the post by the Palace keeper, and this was how it was for the first half as we comfortably had the upper hand. Sadly Herrera seems to have lost his shooting boots recently and he had two shots fly past the goal in the first half...a far call from his stats a few weeks ago where everyone of his shots had been on target. Our penalty in the 17th minute was a right call as well despite much home objections...though they would as we would too if we were in their shoes, Dann leaned in to cut out Young's cross and hand ball was given by the ref, and quite rightly too. With Rooney dropped down the list (but now ahead of RvP) it was left for Mata to take the spot kick, three misses in his last four penalties did not inspire me to be truthful but he did manage to beat the keeper who dived to his right and almost got his hands to it. 1-0, and thank Christ because we really needed a goal to settle a few nerves.
Valencia again made a few mistakes but did his usual not too good/not too bad performance, though if he ever realised his left foot was for something other than standing on then he might improve his performances, instead he has to completely move his body at times so he can pass the ball with his right foot which can slow down some attacks.
The usual injuries are building up again and it would surprise few that one of them is Shaw again, in fairness to the lad he did face an elbow in his face that lead to him being stretchered off...hopefully he will be back for the Arsenal game. Evans replaced him and instead of this former Left Back going to the, well, left back slot, he went to centre back and the right footed Phil Jones slotted in there. This still baffles me but it is testment to Jones that he played as well as he did out of position. Rooney struggled for about 15 minutes late in the first half before finally being pulled off at half time by Van Gaal, this one is a dilemma as there is no doubt he weakens our midfield when placed there, but he is struggling up front as well. Being undroppable it is a catch 22, expecting Wilson to come out for his pace, and as Palace were attacking and this would suit Wilson, I was a bit disappointed to see Falcao out. It didn't take Falcao long to continue his recent tribute to Steve Gerrard by randomly slipping/falling over for no reason...he managed to do it twice today. Whether he is more of a legend than we know and he is mugging Gerrard off I can't say...it would be nice to be true. Smalling didn't look comfortable today and went off in the final third of the match for McNair which could lead to bad news unless he was really just having a terrible day, virus? We'll soon find out.
Both halves were littered with half arsed penalty claims from dives and idiotic claims for hand ball at every opportunity that some of them were embarrassing, the most comical was Puncheon falling over a trailing foot so dramatically that he deserved a standing ovation for his efforts to the theatrical arts.
The second half witnessed a swing that even labour would have wished they had last Thursday, and Palace really came out all guns blazing where as we seemed to be lost and uninspired as if we were lacking a leader. I am not a fan of Rooney but could the team miss him? Sadly nobody stepped up to take the mantle and Palace got their just desserts in the 56th minute when for the second week in a row we were beaten by a set piece free kick, this week though our wall didn't move and the ball flicked off the head of Blind who looked like he was in a Coma and not a bloody wall defending. De Gea was beaten and cue more nervousness and side to side football with no pace in attack...or 'probing' if you will.
Young again looked electric in the second half with his breaks (are you watching Di Maria?) and was unlucky with one shot which was deflected across the goal for a corner, it wasn't long after that before Young drifted in a inviting cross and when the Palace CB was holding off for his keeper to collect he received a 'cheeky' push from behind by Falcao that lead him to collide with his keeper. The ball fell to 9ft tall Fellani who simply headed the ball into an empty net. 2-1. Game set and match bar a few scary moments where De Gea again thwarted Delany, who on another day could have got on the score sheet...Van Gaal if he is going to Madrid then don't you dare let him go for half the price we will have to pay to get Lloris.
Three points, seven point cushion to the bin dippers, two goals after a long baron spell, away win after three defeats, 63% possession - the stat that seems to impress Van Gaal more than anything....job done. Bring on Arsenal.