Game of two very different halves.
In the first, the changes appeared to open the rift between the static play under LVG and, Jose's pass and movement future. It spilled out with some players static or not moving very well and often looking like rabbits caught in the headlights. Once Jesse and Shaw wobbled the midfield crumbled as Mika found it difficult to adjust to the eb and flow of City's movement. Pogba looked isolated at times yet there were signs of some good movement up front. When the goal was scored we suddenly deflated. We looked finished with their second but then their goalie made a howler and Ibra opened the game up.
Second half Ander was all the difference. The energy and his biting play forced City back and Rashford brought threat to the pitch that was absent from the first half. Fellaini dug in and then we started to show our class. The penalties exposed more Ref inconsistencies and time now for the TV replay. They in the end made the difference because that goalie should have been off for the foul on Rooney. As City were reduced to fouling its clear they are not able to sustain their first half performance.
Rooney never gave up and showed a captain's performance for once. Ander easily man of our match. Fellaini showed his metal in a positive direction and deserves some accolades for his performance. Pogba is an excellent player but he's not the playmaker or change artiste many think he is.
Jesse and a host of players had a poor game and some looked exhausted from mid-week travel. That happens at this time of the season. Just dust themselves down and move on.
Jose took the blame for changing the squad and the gameplan. Fair enough but there had to be a blip, rather now than later. In the end the lads showed their metal and played the cavalier style in the second half the way we like. As for the Bitters feck em, its going to be a long season and we will be up there at the finish.