Manchester United's disappointing Premier League campaign ended with a 1-1 draw at St. Marys' in a game that wasn't particularly high on action.With neither side having anything to play for, the game wasn't particularly entertaining. Here are the five major talking points from the game.
#1 Michael Carrick changes the game
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The first half at St. Marys’ was probably an accurate description of what has happened all season long for United. The Saints dominated the possession and although they didn’t create too many clear cut openings, they didn’t have too much to worry about at the back, as well. After a thoroughly disappointing first half which saw United play with Darren Fletcher and Shinji Kagawa in central midfield, something had to give in the second half.
The introduction of Michael Carrick turned the game in United’s favour. The presence of the Englishman in the centre of midfield brought calmness to the proceedings for the Red Devils that was otherwise absent thus far. Not only was he calm in possession, Carrick was crucial defensively as well as he capped off an otherwise disappointing season with a fabulous 45 minutes to end it.
#2 Maybe David Moyes was right about Shinji Kagawa
David Moyes’s ill-fated tenure in charge of the Red Devils saw the Scot take the Premier League champions and transform them into a squad of also-rans. For all the mishaps and perceived errors of judgment, maybe the Scot did get one thing right.
With every passing day, his assessment of Shinji Kagawa is proving to be right after all. Earlier in the season, the Japanese international’s disappearance from the side was seen as everything that was wrong with Moyes. But, ever since being signed from Borussia Dortmund, the playmaker has done little to stake his claim for a place in the side.
Although he hasn’t always been played in his preferred position, on the occasions he had, Kagawa has done nothing other than give the ball away and slow the play down. With Reus linked with a move to United, a swap deal with Kagawa going the other way might not be the worst piece of business after all.
#3 A game of farewells at St. Marys
Although Nemanja Vidic was the only player on the park who was officially playing his last game for the club, there was more than a slight sense of farewell surrounding quite a few other players as well. Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra might have just played their last games for United, with both being constantly linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
The past few months has also been rife with speculation about the future of Southampton duo Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana. Whilst the former has been courted by Chelsea and United all season long, the latter only recently admitted his interest in playing for Liverpool.
So it isn’t too far of a stretch to assume that the duo had player their last game for the south coast club.
#4 Roy Hodgson has plenty to ponder
On a day when the Premier League was on the line, the fact that the national team manager was at St. Marys’ was proof of one thing. It was a proof of how far the Saints had come this season and also the fact that this match was one that involved a whole group of probable England players. Whether it was the often forgotten Michael Carrick or the ever-improving Chris Smalling, there were plenty of options to choose from for the manager.
While both the aforementioned players, along with Danny Welbeck, having a good game, the performances of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert would have certainly pleased the manager a whole lot more. For, if the United trio represented the present, the Saints trio represents the future and where Hodgson might go to for the World Cup.
Whatever be the case, the England manager certainly has his work cut out for him as he pencils in his squad on Monday.
#5 Where next for Mauricio Pochettino
After guiding the Saints to their best-ever points tally and Premier League finish, you would have thought that Mauricio Pochettino would certainly continue the good work. But the Argentinian, who has a year left on his contract, is still yet to decide on whether to stay or to leave with crunch talks to be held on Monday.
"We're going to sit down and talk," said Pochettino. "This is the end of a five-season project, to take the club from League 1 and establish it in the Premier League. Now a new project has to start. The board has to decide how that happens. Whether it's a two-year, three-year, four-year or five-year project, we'll see."
If Southampton are serious about their ambitions, then they could do a lot worse than to hand Pochettino a new contract and reward him for making the Saints play some free flowing, high pressing attacking football all year long.
