After the Red devils secured a crucial and much needed morale boosting win against their opponents at Sixfields, attention turn to getting their Premier league campaign back on track, after back-to-back demoralizing defeats against neighbours Manchester city and Watford. Here we take a look at five key issues laid bare after the red devils 3-1 win against Northampton.
Defence still a major concern
Two clean sheets in their first three games of the season left many fans purring with renewed hope and optimism that the glory days of the Vidic-Ferdinand partnership was on the horizon. However seven goals conceded in the four games since the last gasp win over Hull city, has raised fears. Against league one opponents Northampton, the red devils backline were shaky--not least fullbacks Marcus Rojo and Fosu Mensah. Indeed Mourinho must find the right center-back defensive partnership to move his team forward. Daley Blind and Chris Smalling, or Bailly and Smalling or perhaps, persist with a center-back pairing of Eric Bailly and Daley Blind? Mourinho must decide.
Bang Bang Rashford
Not many would expect an 18-year old to come up with the goods often, at a club of Man Utd's stature. But for Marcus Rashford, his importance not just to the squad, but the first team, belies his tender age. Three goals in all competitions this season, puts him second only to enigmatic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as Utd's top scorer. Blessed with incredible pace, direct running, skill and a keen eye for goal, his stock rises by the minute. Surely now, a big decision rests on Mourinho's hands, if Rashford should start or not against Leicester city on Saturday.
Carrick and Herrera solution for Pogba
The world's most expensive player--Pogba has surely not had it all as he would have wanted, in his first five games for Manchester United. No goals, no assists. That tells it all. Paired with Marouane Fellaini in a two-man pivot, he has often found his awesome attacking instincts curtailed, and his defensive failings exposed. Indeed, as Jamie Carragher noted, "he was all over the place like a kid in a playground", in the Manchester derby. It should be noted however, that at Juventus, he flourished in a three-man midfield featuring Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, which gave him license to roam and hone his talents immensely. With the calm and assured presence of Michael Carrick, coupled with the legs and creativity of Ander Herrera, Pogba will be free from tasking defensive duties. A triumvirate of that manner, would however mean no place for a resurgent Fellaini. Mourinho must take a stance.
Fighter Rooney
He has never been short on fame, but his place in the team has always been questioned. At Sixfields, Wayne Rooney missed a glaring chance in the first half, and his overall presence in the box left a lot to be desired. A willing runner no doubt, but his body seems to be failing him, at a crucial point of his career. His experience and undoubtedly great quality makes him an immense asset to the team, but Rooney's continued presence in the starting eleven, robs his team of much needed fluency--especially with Mourinho's reluctance to play him in midfield. Rooney surely must reinvent himself, as he has always done.
Mourinho steers from crisis
After a morale sapping eight days, in which the red devils lost three times, some much needed confidence-- though little-- has been restored. Mourinho can at least turn focus towards reducing the gap separating United from their "noisy neighbours". Issues remain, such as the defence and the ever present Wayne Rooney conundrum, but the win at Northampton was at least a step in the right direction. Not a bad day's work, you may say.
