Manchester United vs Crystal Palace: Five key talking points

Wayne Rooney endured another frustratingly disappointing afternoon in Manchester United’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The draw left United fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Manchester City, and Palace in eighth position.

Here are the talking points from the encounter:

1. One hell of a reckless game at Selhurst Park:

The game saw a total of 26 fouls and 6 yellow cards including one for Matteo Darmian, suspending him for the next game. Anthony Martial and Yohan Cabaye were frequently on the receiving end of the tackles. The match officials would have to review their performance as there were many such instances where cards should have been brandished and weren’t.

2. United again had an abysmal start:

Manchester United again couldn’t find themselves during the first twenty or so minutes. The United defense, well known to be slack, were again disorganized in the beginning just like the 3-0 defeat against Arsenal. In the first fifteen minutes, Palace had made five attempts and United had already conceded four corners. If not for the sharp efforts from David de Gea, United could well be trailing in the beginning of the fixture as well.

3. Bolasie, Puncheon and Zaha form a formidable midfield:

These three were perfectly in sync and looked like real threats for the United back four. Bolasie’s effort inside 10
minutes forced De Gea into making the most decisive save of the night which could have given Crystal Palace an early lead which they deserved. The last half hour of the game saw the trio come to life again as they wreaked havoc on United’s goal. Marcos Rojo was barely able to handle the powerful and pacey Bolasie, while on the other flank Darmian had his problems with Zaha. United’s defense had their work clearly cut out in the final minutes.

4. Young at right back is not a bad idea:

Ashley Young came on for Matteo Darmian and had quite the job of containing Crystal onslaught at the United goal. But his positioning was quite formidable. Young had a defenders instinct for the night as his presence was felt almost immediately as the right flank was defused. Also, made sharp runs when United tried counter-attacks. Now that Darmian is suspended for the next game, Van Gaal has a really good option in Ashley Young.

5. For the better half of the last 11 years United hadn’t consecutively had 3 goal-less draws:

The heading says it all, doesn’t it? Manchester United’s players haven’t been able to create moves that result into goals and the team lack goalscorers. The new signing, Anthony Martial has been shifted to the left flank to accommodate an underperforming Wayne Rooney who even today was tracking back to the area center backs were playing, as the lone centre forward of the squad. Van Gaal’s strategy to bring Fellaini in an attacking role has now been well read by all the coaches in the league it seems, as he was not able to push Palace’s players back. The United side needs more creativity from open play and not just dead ball situations.