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Manchester United missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on second-placed Manchester City as they lost for only the second time in 20 games. Although they took the lead in the first half, thanks to Ander Herrera, goals from Ki Sung-yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis was enough for the Swans to secure their first league double over Manchester United, in the Premier League.The win also ended Swansea's run of three games without a win at home and moved them to within a point off eighth-placed West Ham who face a tricky away tie to Tottenham on Sunday.Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Is this really the third-best defence in the league?
For all the talk of how bad United have been defending this season and their need for a leader at centre half, before the start of the game, they had the third-best defensive record in the Premier League and had conceded just five league goals in 2015. But on the evidence of the game against Swansea, you wonder how they even managed that.
Throughout the first half, they made a flurry of silly errors, that could have been easily avoided. Their defending from set-pieces and crosses into the box was far from convincing and it was a surprise that they didn't concede more than they did against Garry Monk's side. Typical of their play was the fact that Paddy McNair, a teenager who was later substituted, was marking Gomis at set-pieces.
#2 Battle of two battering rams
For all the undoubted the technical quality that was present in both sides, the game boiled down to a clash of the two big battering rams. It was Bafetimbi Gomis against Marouane Fellaini. In the first half, the Frenchman certainly got the better of Fellaini, who was curiously playing as a No. 10 instead of playing further forward. Although Shelvey will count himself unlucky for not getting the goal that won the game, it was no more than what Gomis deserved, as he bullied the United centre halves.
At the other end, it was only after going behind that United employed the big-haired Belgian up front. Although they resorted to simply pinging long balls at his direction towards the end, he didn't get the support he needed and ended up racking fouls and can count himself lucky that he didn't get sent off.
#3 Forwards finally starting to link up
Arguably the most-important statistic to come from the game is that Wayne Rooney finally got his first shot on target in the league this year. Not only did he do that, the Englishman showed just why he is put to much better use up front. The link-up between him and Robin Van Persie, although not direct was a reminder of late Ferguson years.
The little flicks in the attacking third, the passes into the channels and simply the runs he was making for the midfielders showed just why the Red Devils are a much better side when he is playing as a striker. Rooney also managed to elevate Van Persie's game. The Dutchman looked a lot sharper, was making intelligent runs in behind and even dropped deep and held onto the ball well. Even in defeat, there were signs that this partnership up front, was working and only time will tell whether Van Gaal decides to stick with them.
#4 Has Van Gaal finally found his formation?
In the build-up to the game, Van Gaal spoke of being close to finding his perfect team. From the performance against Swansea, it certainly looks as though that is the case. Although he made changes to the side from the last game, the shape and the way they approached the game was in keeping with what the Dutchman wants from his players.
Although there are some areas, like Fellaini at the tip of the diamond, which needs working, for large parts, the team looked settled and the attacks were the result of good inter-play in attack, rather than from a mistake or a moment of individual brilliance. Slowly but surely, the progress being made is evident and as long as the results keep coming, the fans will certainly not mind waiting.
#5 What do the United fans want?
Performance or results? That certainly is the million dollar question isn't it. Do you want your team to play attractive, free-flowing football even if it meant they lost or would you rather they play more resolutely and rack up the results and make their way up the table. For the last two decades, United have shown that they can do both and that is perhaps one of the reasons why some questioned Van Gaal's methods early in the season.
Although they lost, they gave their best performance of the year so far. Their attacking play was fluid up until they went behind and they showed genuine signs of carving Swansea open and makin the most out of their possession. Those fans who were complaining they weren't playing well enough but just sneaking results, would now gleefully accept a point or all three in favour of better football.
