7 Ups And 1 Down Of Man United 6-2 Leeds United

Christmas gifts don’t get much better than a 6-2 win over your fierce rivals in the first league meeting for 16 years.

 

Little rumblings of a title challenge, yes I have said it, were being quietly talked about previous to the game and now that small talk could have some Christmas meat behind it.

 

Many had nerves going into the game, but all those fears were eradicated in the first 3 minutes when Scott Mctominay turned into prime Zidane and scored a brace.

 

It might not be the Christmas we were expecting but let’s rejoice in the glory glory of Man United in this up-heavy article.

 

DOWN – ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A DEFENDER

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves with this win, our defence was still as incompetent as they have been in recent months. We all knew Leeds would score but we conceded a bucket load of chances and if the festive gods were looking down on Bielsa’s men then the result could have gone a very different way.

 

We have an attack that can put us in a title race but a defence that can put us in a relegation battle. That is the reality and with the January transfer window fast approaching, the board NEED to get their chequebook out for a centre back that’s not called Ben White.

 

Wan Bissaka is dramatically out of form but does have a future at the club, Luke Shaw played well in transitioned from the back line to the front attack and the centre backs were just there. We got away with it as Leeds weren’t as clinical as us but those warning signs should persuade the board to get their money out and give Ole a late Christmas present in January.

 

UP – DAVE STOPS THE CALVARY

Again, it was an attacking masterclass but don’t turn your back on De Gea’s display. We’ve already touched upon the amount of chances Leeds had but David De Gea was the big reason many of those attempts weren’t transferred into goals. A few saves with his iconic feet and a couple with his golden gloves managed to keep United in it.

 

I’m not one for internal comparisons but Dean Henderson conceded twice against the worst team in the league and De Gea conceded the same amount against a free-flowing Leeds team. The Hendo experiment failed in midweek and De Gea has proven he is still the number one for Manchester United.

 

UP – OLE’S BOY CHILD WAS BORN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s boy child is Scott Mctominay and many fans were wondering what our Norwegian legend saw him in but maybe he saw what we saw on Sunday.

 

Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero. Not one of them has ever scored two goals in the first three minutes of a Premier League football match. Scott Mctominay has. Let that sink in.

 

It wasn’t just the two goals, it was the overall game and I don’t think anyone in any team has had a better individual performance this season and that is to be commended.

 

A new version of Scott Mctominay has been born and if he is allowed to run past Bruno more often then maybe we have a real future legend on our hands.

 

UP – LITTLE SAINT FRED

Don’t rest on Fred just because his midfield partner had a barn burner. The Brazilian is our little saint and is finding consistency every week. He is a top talent and is proven to be a regular first teamer.

 

The Fred and Mctominay partnership is usually seen as a defensive setup with both focusing on the back instead of the attack but that wasn’t the case against Leeds. Scott was allowed to go forward and be creative because Fred gave him the platform to do so. A top talent who is an unsung hero for sure.

 

UP – A PORTUGUESE CAME TRAVELLING

What can be said about Bruno Fernandes that hasn’t already been said? He is the biggest signing United have made post Fergie and is quickly becoming one of the best midfielders in the world. Having scored two goals and assisted one before being subbed off, it was another performance that was just sublime and at this point we don’t even talk about it because it is just the standard, he has set himself.

 

Let’s hope our traveller doesn’t go anywhere for a while and Manchester is his final destination.

UP – STAY ANOTHER DAN

Please Stay Another Day Dan James. The rumours of his departure are circulating heading into the January window, but I think we should keep hold of our Welshman. He isn’t good enough to start but is very useful for cup games and a key asset off the bench and if he can play like that against defences that leave spaces like Leeds do, Dan James can become a big part of United’s future.

 

UP – MISTLETOE AND NINE

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why. Anthony Martial is coming to town.

 

He took a bit of time to arrive this season, but he is slowly making his way back. Yes, he didn’t score when he really should have had a couple, but his two assists changed the game.

 

At this point Tony is more than goals and he was a contender for my man of the match yesterday for the way he controlled the attack. I would go as far as saying without Martial, we wouldn’t have won the way we did. If the end product returns asap then we have our ice-cold Tony back.

 

UP – FAIRYTALE OF MANCHESTER UNITED

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a fairytale manager for Man United, but we are yet to know the way this story ends but this is the best part of the book so far.

 

Many criticised Ole for his team selection but again he proven those many wrong. Scott Mctominay selection was one that caused issues for fans, but the way Scott played showed those fans were to quick to judge. It was also another piece of underappreciated genius from Ole to play Dan James in a game that would suit him to a tee and the selection payed off once again and Solskjaer deserves huge praise for that.

 

Now let’s fight on and become a team that can perform like that week in week out but for now it’s a very Merry Christmas from Manchester United.