With Chelsea and Manchester City on the horizon, this was
not the calm, settled performance that Louis van Gaal would
have been looking for. With only one striker, Robin van Persie,
leading the line ahead of what was a five-man midfield,
Manchester United only really threatened from wide areas and
still looked suceptible to pace and tenacity.
Chelsea may be a little more measured on Sunday afternoon
but they will be thoroughly capable of exploiting United's
weaknesses, and several were on show here.
It's hard to know what to make of the 2-2 result at West
Brom, given the topsy-turvy nature of the match. Van Gaal's
players certainly looked dejected walking off at full-time after
Daley Blind had snatched an equaliser, but while they may feel
they had the chances to take three points, it goes to show,
once more, that nothing can be taken for granted with a
makeshift defence and few defensive-minded midfielders.
There will be plenty of matches like this to come. The last
away game, at Leicester, was very similar, and the Baggies
looked like they were going to replicate the Tigers' second-
half energy right from the off. Stephane Sessegnon tucked
away a delightful goal as United reeled.
For all Blind's quality on the ball and his ability to read the
game, he cannot tie the whole thing together every time,
especially with little help from his midfield cohorts. Ander
Herrera, perhaps rushed back from a broken rib, had a night
to forget. Contributing to the early pressure by giving the ball
away deep in his own half and then failing to help build
momentum with some wayward passes on the edge of the
hosts' box, he was duly hooked at half-time.
Compatriot Juan Mata lasted longer, but often disappeared
into the space he worked so hard to find. Adnan Januzaj,
making his first start under Van Gaal, did not beat his man all
night and looked to cut back and play the ball inside, when
Rafael was not arriving from deep.
Even Angel Di Maria had a quiet night, with his most
inspirational moments failing to either reach a team-mate or
the back of the net. The Argentine will be the key man for
United this season, as has become blindingly obvious this
season, and without his magic his side struggled for long
periods. Subbed late on and given an ice pack to soothe his
thigh, United will need him back on form at the weekend.
Van Persie, used to at least one partner this season, was
isolated for most of the match and didn't make the most of the
few chances he did get in the first half. It was only when
Marouane Fellaini, and later Radamel Falcao, was brought on
to add some hustle and bustle did the Dutchman, and United,
actually offer a sustained threat.
Shortly after the West Brom Twitter account had mocked the
Belgian's entrance he had taken the ball down on his chest,
shifted it on to his right foot and lashed it into the roof of the
net. He was deployed in that agricultural No.10 role in which
he thrived under David Moyes at Everton, and after scoring he
actually looked like he was going to get at least another.
These were heady times for the much-maligned midfielder.
Fellaini has now taken his tracksuit off, fortunately he has
a Man Utd strip on underneath.
But after a brief spell of pressure - with most of it coming
down the wings - it was another defensive lapse which
allowed West Brom back into it and made it one of those
nights for United and Van Gaal.
Before the match the Dutchman said the catalyst for a title
charge could come at any time but it seems very unlikely that
it will be soon if his side keep giving goals away, especially
with Chelsea next up. The charge could be over before it has
begun.
"I don't think West Brom have created any chances, I think
zero, and we gave two chances away," he said.
But if matches like these are inevitably to crop up throughout
the season, it would appear that Sunday's match will be more
straightforward.
When Jose Mourinho comes to town - "another biscuit"
compared to West Brom, according to Van Gaal's colourful
English - they will be more than capable of fashioning their
own chances.
At this moment in time United need to be at their brilliant,
attacking best to get near a victory. The Blues haven't been
beaten this season, even at the home of the champions, and
not many would back them to lose at Old Trafford on current
form. Three points for the Blues would essentially eliminate
United from the title race.
Van Gaal does believe his team are starting to come together,
and even in the midst of this inconsistency things do look
brighter than they did in the final months of Moyes' reign. No
mean feat considering the turnover of players this summer,
regardless of the money spent.
While that will not be good enough to win the Premier League
considering the strength of the top two, it could yet produce a
top-four finish given the inconsistency of United's other rivals.
But too many nights like these, against sides hoping to stay in
the division at best, will put paid to those hopes too.
Van Gaal has said a lot in his time at Old Trafford so far and
he recently admitted he wished he hadn't revealed he would
take three months to get his players singing from the same
hymn sheet.
And well he might regret it. After eight games, many of which
supposed to be winnable, United sit 10 points behind Chelsea.
The Van Gaal revolution is under way, but so far it poses
more questions than answers.