Also how would you class our performance? Who impressed for us tonight and who let us down. Hoping Herrera showed us more reasons why he should start most games this season?
For our second game back, it was really encouraging. Both teams were a bit sloppy with the ball, particularly long passes. I think the altitude may have affected that. It was pretty physically intense and technically scrappy from both teams for the first half hour. They started on the front foot but we slowly wrested control back and by the time Rooney scored we were in control and they were trying endless fruitless balls over the top for Destro.
Rooney's goal was fantastic, his pass for Mata's equally so, and Mata's finish was lovely too. Welbeck and Herrera (I think?) linked up nicely to win the penalty, which Rooney hammered home very confidently.
The second half was fairly shambolic in a general sort of way. Very 'pre-season'. For much of it we didn't have a single midfielder on the pitch, just loads of forwards. Roma scored twice but neither really came from good play - one was a brilliant shot from inside their own half catching Amos off guard, and the other was a very questionable penalty.
The formation is suiting our central defenders and forwards, but not our 'wing-backs', who are struggling to have an impact. We're attacking well through the middle but not at all down the flanks.
The overall play is already a massive improvement on last season. Crisp passing - sloppy at times tonight like Roma's but always at a good tempo - good movement, and incisive forward play.
Rooney was comfortably MOTM, Mata and Herrera good in flashes. Pretty much every CB who played was impressive, with Smalling really standing out, justified runner up MOTM I'd say. Johnstone was really impressive.
Cleverley didn't take his chance to impress. James was ok for a youngster but basically he, Shaw and Valencia didn't do anything much wrong or right between them. Young was eager, if a little ineffective. Amos was very poor. Nani was awful again.
I can see why Van Gaal wasn't that happy because the system didn't work perfectly and we didn't dominate the game, but he's not had to sit through the shit we produced under Moyes - compared to that, this was beautiful. And all in horribly taxing conditions.