Smash n' grab win after an underwhelming performance. These are three big points after the draw at St. Mary's and right before the international break. It's always nice to enter these inactive fortnights without murmurs and grumbling in and around the club.
Tough game, overall. For yet another time, we didn't have any answers against high intensity press/closing down. The front-four were cut from the rest of the team and they were chasing lost causes most of the time. Credit to Wolves because they had done their homework. They anticipated that we were going to utilize both FBs higher up the pitch to compensate for the lack of penetration through the middle and they were killing us with balls down both wide channels. We were having a very hard time on the pitch and it seems that we were just waiting for their energy levels to drop off just to get a grip on the game. Which, eventually, was what happened at some point in the second half.
Congrats to the back-four and big Dave, they held their own. Varane had a convincing debute in the PL in a game where there was a lot of defending to do. Captain did reasonably OK, considering he had to cover for the most advanced of our FBs. Both AWB and Shaw were commited and they never stopped sprinting up and down the pitch. Finally, DDG made a miraculous save at the most crucial part of the game. He needs a confidence boost and we need his shot-stopping skills.
We looked slightly better in the middle of the park when Wolves couldn't turn on the volume off the ball any more. It's a very positive sign that Pogba wants to be involved and make things happen on the pitch for us. Fred, as usual, was running like crazy, which is a good thing when we play on the front foot, but it's a calamity when the opposition can find spaces to attack after they beat the initial press.
Sancho looked like he needs to spend a lot of time in the gym. He's a player who thrives on making things happen while running with the ball, but today he was just walking on the pitch. It was a performance that actually vindicated Solskjaer for not starting him until now and i guess he would have come on from the bench today too, if Martial had shown any kind of form last week.
Bruno had another bad game, but he'll refiscover his form. I wish people should stop complaining about James. We got the memo, he's not United quality. You have not rediscovered America, for crying out loud. We signed two players and we have another one coming from injury who'll make sure he'll stay on the bench more often than not. I was very pleased with Greenwood's goal. In the age of false #9s and inverted wingers, a classic forward's quality finish, his awareness and the touch to set the shot, remains one of the most beautiful things to watch on a football pitch.
The problems remain, but cheer up people. We broke a record in the toughest league in the world today and Ronnie will step on the pitch at OT in two weeks time wearing the red shirt!