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Another Manchester United home game, another draw. It’s become a bit of a running joke, that unbeaten run – but Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury-time penalty ensured that Everton did not climb above their hosts, leaving the Red Devils ensconced in 5th (for the moment i.e, Arsenal play West Ham in a crunch London derby tomorrow). They still without any momentum as they try to break into the top 4.
Here are the five major talking points from what was, at times, an utterly fascinating match:
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1. United look disjointed but are still better than the LVG-era version
There was an illuminating moment a couple of minutes kick-off in the second half when Jose Mourinho could be heard screaming at Ander Herrera to switch flanks with Ashley Young – Herrera had been made left back after Daley Blind had been hooked to accommodate the returning, but evidently still not 100% Paul Pogba... and the whole episode begged the question... why not have started the second half with Young in his by-now familiar left back role?
This lack of communication was evident throughout the game, with half-baked set-piece routines and players filling-in in unfamiliar positions. Despite all this, though, it has to be said that United are still a better – and an eminently more watchable – outfit than they were under Louis Van Gaal.
While the comparison of the records of the two managers (after 28 games, both had 53 points) is being used as a battering ram against Mourinho, what many fail to see is how much better United have gotten at getting shots away, at creating chances and ensuring the ball stays in the opposition third. Better finishing, and that league standing would look a whole lot better.
Here’s some more detailed statistical comparisons on the different managerial tenures United have had over the past five years (in terms of where United are amongst the competition)
| Parameter | Ferguson | Moyes | Van Gaal | Van Gaal | Mourinho |
| Shots on target p.g. | 7th | 8th | 5th | 13th | 1st |
| Shots per game | 7th | 8th | 7th | 15th | 2nd |
| Crosses per game | 5th | 1st | 4th | 11th | 1st |
| Passing accuracy | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 4th | 2nd |
| Big chances missed | 3rd | 8th | 4th | 16th | 1st |
| Opposition third | 12th | 3rd | 4th | 1st | 1st |
They are doing a lot of things right, but Manchester United’s footballers – to a man – really need to work on their finishing.
2. Everton display every quality they didn’t in the Merseyside derby
Desire, quality, passion – all qualities you would have expected to see in the Merseyside Derby, and yet were surprisingly absent on the day, were present in abundant quantities here. Ronald Koeman put out a much better mix of youth and experience, and it showed. Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams were immense at the back (even that sending off, what a save it was!) and showed the way for the rest of the team.. Ross Barkley showed that he was much more than the impetuous, and mostly useless, young man who trotted around Anfield a couple of days ago, Romelu Lukaku worked his socks off, and like a many a goalkeeper this season, Joel Robles came into his own under the lights of Old Trafford. Everton put in a near-perfect away performance – giving United problems all day long with their intrepid counter-attacking and intelligent movement while defending brilliantly for the majority of the 90.
Koeman’s men showed that they really could challenge the ‘establishment’ (top 6) a run for their money next season - as soon as the Dutchman can find a measure of consistency in this undoubtedly talented bunch he’s got with him.
3. United’s off-the-ball movement, especially inside the box, still leaves a lot to be desired
The sheer number of times that any of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Marcus Rashford... and especially Michael Carrick stood around waving their arms in the air at the sheer frustration of not having any runners in front of them was mind-boggling. When United had the ball down the wings, there was precious little movement inside the box – near post runs were not being made and neither were there any far post ones.
In the middle, Carrick was forced to go sideways or attempt hopeless hoicks – the movement, and passing, improved when Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on, but there is still a lot of work to be done. It has improved as the season has progressed, but United, at times, still seem to give off the impression that they need to un-learn the static passing of the LvG era.
Oh, they do, though, need to stop pumping in long balls to Maruoane Fellaini. It’s clearly not working
P.S Marcos Rojo and David de Gea both had one of their worst outings for Manchester United in a long time.
P.P.S. Looks like Jose Mourinho’s public shaming of Luke Shaw may finally pay off... for those blaming the Portuguese for his treatment of the left back, take a look at this:
4. Gareth Barry’s still got it
Tom Davies, Everton’s exciting young attacking midfielder, was born on the 30th of June, 1998. Gareth Barry, Davies’ slightly older midfield colleague, made his professional debut for Aston Villa on the 2nd of May, 1998.
It’s incredible just how long the 36-year-old from Hastings has managed to play in the top division for Aston Villa, Manchester City, and his current club, Everton. Despite the numerous brickbats he gets for being the unspectacular player that he is, today he showed just why he’s been around for so long. His presence in the heart of that Everton midfield was pivotal to both the rearguard that they mounted in the second half, and the attacking intent they displayed in the first.
With a display of old school will-and-heart, he stopped wave after wave of United attacks with an array of blocks, tackles and smart interceptions. His reading of the game, as ever, was excellent, and his calmness on the ball, invaluable. If Koeman can find a way to eke a season more from the veteran (maybe by using him only for the truly crucial games), he could prove just the ingredient for Everton to finally break through into the top quarter of the league.
5. Europa League is United’s best chance of European football next season
Jose Mourinho had hinted earlier this week that Europa League just may be the way. He’s right. After playing out what feels like the millionth draw at home against Everton, United let slip of yet another opportunity to close the gap to Manchester City and Liverpool and put daylight between them and Arsenal. As it stands now, Liverpool are five points ahead, Manchester City four and both Arsenal and Everton are just three points behind them.
It promises to be a photo-finish for the coveted top 4 places, and with Manchester United sitting in a position where they simply can not have one more season of being outside the Champions League, their best hope seems to be in putting all their eggs in the Europa League basket.
Winning Europe's second-tier competition will put them automatically into the group stages of next season's Champions League (the route that Sevilla took last year) and while it will not be easy, Mourinho would be well advised to prioritize the continental competition he last played in with Porto (and won, by the by, in 2002-03).
