MATCH REVIEW - MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST BROM

Manchester United have picked up just 1 pt from 2 matches against the leagues bottommost clubs

TALKING POINTS

It was a terrible start to that game from the Red Devils as they gave away a very early goal to West Brom within 3 minutes. Diagne wrestled with Lindelof and stuck the header home from close range following a world-class ball delivered by Connor Gallagher. West Brom did not let up as they continued to be physically dominant against a Man United side who was taken by surprise. But then again many would not have been surprised as Manchester United are predictably unpredictable. Moments before half time, Luke Shaw lobbed a ball which was met exquisitely by Fernandes who yet again tried to dig the Red Devils out of a hole.

Manchester United's start to the second half was in stark contrast to what they showed in the first half. The movement was a lot quicker and balls were being fizzed into the box. All the sign seemed to show that Man United would find a way but West Brom were resolute in their defending (classic Sam Allardyce) and in the end, it could have been won by Diagne - not one but two times but was denied by David de Gea and then him shooting over the bar. Mason Greenwood after coming on looked lively but it just wasn't to be United's day.

TACTICS REVIEW

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stuck with his favoured 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 and to be honest this variation doesn't work. I like the 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 where Pogba plays in the midfield along with Matic/McTominay but Mc Fred is too slow especially in games where teams sit back and defend. I believe that McTominay and Van de Beek should have started today because we missed that extra bit of creativity. Another mistake I think Ole made in terms of selection was picking Lindelof over Bailly. Bailly was fit for selection and when he plays, we look a changed side. McTominay has the license to roam forward and so do the full-backs because they know that Bailly has the strength and pace to deal with threats.

Maguire-Lindelof, not the way to go

VERDICT

This was a performance that has become symbolic of the inconsistency at the club. One day we can thrash a team 9 - 0 and then drop points against relegation candidates. If I am being completely honest, West Brom deserved to win that game more than use and if it hadn't been for David de Gea, we would have lost that. Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes aside there was no hunger to win the game. Edinson Cavani looked bad because he had nothing to work off (not even a single cross). At the moment it looks like Luke Shaw is our best player because the way he bombs forward is reminiscent of Patrice Evra. To sum up it just wasn't good enough.

The title race now looks to be over. I am still not giving up (until the derby at least) but our chances look slim. That defence needs to go. Lindelof should not have started over Bailly and why was he the one dealing with Diagne and not Maguire. I have no sympathy for him either because he almost cost us the game had it not been for David de Gea. I just don't think Maguire is good enough to be a Manchester United centre back let alone our captain. There was absolutely no communication from him throughout the game. Also, Mason Greenwood should have started today. I can't fault Ole for picking Martial but Greenwood looked the best player on the pitch when he came on.

MAN OF THE MATCH

LUKE SHAW: Unpopular opinion. But he was the best Man United player on the pitch and he also created a goal. 

Shaw keeps impressing despite the other Reds falling short