Games can go wrong. You want to go with a front 3 of Amad, James, Martial and Greenwood? Give Amad Diallo a difficult defensive role right off the bat? Real Sociedad are a decent team who we had an excellent game against. They can return the favor if we play reserves and get too casual. If VDB was fit, he likely would've started for Bruno. Or Mata even. Possibly even Hannibal! As it is, all were injured, Ole went for the safe option and likely see it through til half time to kill any possible early momentum, instead of playing a youth team player in their first game a bit out of position with greater defensive responsibility as our 2 strikers aren't exactly the hardest of workers (Greenwood is fine and all, just not exactly a young Rooney).