When
Manchester United got Angel Di Maria earlier this week, it was thought that the
journey back to the top will finally start for the 20 times League Champions as big
names seemed to resume their journey back to Old Trafford as players
like Arturo Vidal and Daley Blind are also coming to join the ship. However as it unblocked,
it was only the new comers that are coming without any sort of fresh hope to an
already strutting ship. Angel Di Maria was lively as long as he was on the
pitch from the start but as it came out it was believed that the problem is
bigger and fierce than was probably thought.
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Angel Di Maria was
starting Manchester United attacks right from his own half, justifying the
price tag and showing versatility.
Looking at the 3-5-2 formation that is introduced for
the 1st time in the Premier League, it was thought that it will take
some time for the Manchester United team to be in reason with it. Still with
the way senior players like Wayne Rooney and former Van Gaal trainee Robin Van Persie
finding it difficult to make it through, it seems all isn’t very good for the
former Dutch boss. And if seasoned players will take some time, you can imagine
what the new breed will be feeling right now.
Looking at their game at Burnley and keeping that as
a point of focus, Angel Di Maria was by far the most influential player for a
beleaguered Manchester United side and keeping in mind that it was his first game, it is now clear what is wrong with Manchester United now, the absence of
quality in the midfield.
While Ashley Young hadn’t found his foot since
signing for Manchester United in the Luis Van Gaal era, the sudden drop in form
of Antonio Valencia from last season is a point of concern for new manager,
While Ashley Young is famous for his crosses, Antonio Valencia was famous far
too predictable in the right flank. Everytime he seemed to find himself in the
hole, and tried to get the ball in the final third from zero-range however in
the absence of any in-form striker it made him far too predictable and in a
3-5-2 formation where wingers are the most important part in attack as well as
in defense, this is the problem Luis Van Gall had to sort out quickly.
As Tom Clevery has been sold to Aston Villa already
in a clear indication of more arrivals, 9million pound seemed to be more than
reasonable for the Englishman. However, we have to look if United would be able
to get Vidal and if they can do it, they have certainly replaced Andy Carrol
with Luis Suarez there. And with players like Juan Mata, Angel DI Maria to his
company, the Chilean midfielder might feel a bit easier here.
Real
test lies ahead:
One thing that can add salt to the wounds of
Manchester United fans in their fixture list now. While all Liverpool, Chelsea,
Manchester City and Arsenal been handed tough draws relatively early in this
campaign, Manchester United was given a much needed less frightening fixture
list and this is what that can back-fire for them later on. While they can pick
up their form against mid-table teams after last match, they have lost 7 points
against teams they felt they should have won. So even if they can pick up their
form against relatively smaller teams off-late, their real test is waiting for
them in the near-future.
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