da wazamba：
da betway： The festive schedule is well underway now and Manchester United will certainly be in the spirit of the season after their 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.With Man United looking to get back into at least the top four race this season they knew how much a win was needed and they certainly looked like the only team that really wanted it.Palace, near the drop-zone, were very poor from the get-go and very rarely looked like a side thatÂwanted to win the game.That told, too, as Paul Pogba scored just before half-time.It was a fortunate goal, in truth, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic handled the ball in laying a pass to the Frenchman, who was offside. But it was a lead that the Red Devils had deserved.They looked as though they were going to throw it away, though, in a style typical of their season so far as James McArthur managed an unlikely equaliser for the Eagles. However, the relegation candidates could not hold on.It was that combination of Pogba and Ibrahimovic again, in reverse this time, that proved decisive as the former Juventus man played in the big Swede to fire home a fine left-footed finish with just minutes to go.2-1 it finished to Man United and here are FIVE things we learned from it…
Pogba is coming good
Let’s start with a positive for Man United – Paul Pogba actually had a decent game.
He looked like the kind of player we expected to see at the club with the way he strode around the pitch controlling proceedings. He scored a somewhat fortuitous goal but Red Devils fans will be pleased to see that he is getting in the right areas to get those chances and will hope for more of the same hereafter.
Crystal Palace need a playmaker
From one Frenchman to another, but this time it isn’t positive.
Yohan Cabaye just doesn’t look the player he once was for Newcastle, and Palace need to sign a new, fresh playmaker to give them a sense of purpose during games. The Eagles needed something to happen through the centre of the pitch but nothing was coming. A bright spark in the centre of midfield, therefore, has to be high on Alan Pardew’s January shopping list.
Man United are weaker without pace
Man United started with Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata out on the wings and whichever way you try to word it they are not wide-men.
Both like to play centrally and both do not have the pace to burn past a full-back, so immediately Man United were looking more stale than usual. The Red Devils have a slow team at the best of times so to limit their options out wide by playing aÂpair of meandering players seemed to make little sense.
Things improved, though, once the likes of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford came on.
Palace look disinterested
Palace looked out of ideas from a very early point in the game.
Whilst many wouldn’t have expected a result for the Eagles from this one, the fact that they didn’t really have a go will have worried onlookers most. From the back to the front they played things safe and certainly looked like a team that knew they were near the drop zone before the start of this one.
Something needs to change fast, then, and it could just be the man in the picture above that goes if application on the pitch doesn’t come.
Man United need to address their defence
Man United may have one of the best goalkeepers in the world but at the moment they are struggling to keep clean sheets.
They have now kept just one shut-out in their last six Premier League games – the 1-0 win over Tottenham. With Chris Smalling out, Eric Bailly only just getting back to full fitness and Marcos Rojo the world’s loosest cannon, you can see why that’s the case and it’s something Jose Mourinho needs to look at even if though they did win tonight.