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MOTD: Burnley 0-0 Manchester United

By on August 30, 2014

You must have thought it had to end. Two games without a win at the start of the season, especially with one draw, left Manchester United still European challengers and the ship was still together. And Angel Di Maria would be playing his first game for the club. You must have thought that three would be the lucky number, and that United could at least beat newly promoted Burnley, who lost twice in their opening two games.

But United didn’t win. Burnley’s main problem has been keeping goals out so far this season, but they kept a Unites attacking of Robin Van Persie, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Angle Di Maria off the scoresheet. Di Maria played well, but all to often those in front of him failed to finish. Granted, United still await Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, and for Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw to return from their respective injuries, but even with Di Maria United are still looking for their first win of the season.

Early on United were slow and ineffective. David Jones slammed a free-kick onto the crossbar in the opening minutes, and United looked shaky. But then, United, and Di Maria, turned a leaf. In a wonderful show of their attacking flare, Van Persie was denied by a Tom Heaton reaction save following a brilliant diagonal ball, before Mata was tripped up just before converting a Di Maria cross. Another crisp ball from the Argentine sent Rooney in, though Van Persie failed to convert the Englishman’s cut-back.

Yet like most good things, it was short lasting. In the second half United failed to convert once more, and Jones’ effort was narrowly tipped over by David De Gea. Matt Taylor also shot just over from a free-kick, thus prompting a chorus of “he scores goals” at the sight of Paul Scholes at the away end. It must have been all to close to home for Van Gaal.

Van Gaal’s system worked with the Netherlands because he had pace down the wing in Arjen Robben. He doesn’t have that at United – at least not a world class one who confuses defenses, wins penalties, and scores goals. United desperately need a true center-back but might have to consider more options up front as well.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.