Villa 3 -1 Manure; Have it! and the ghost is exorcised

I’ve been saying for ages, probably along with many others, that Man Utd are really not a good team.
And today, if you’d taken the club colours away, you’d have thought that we were Man U.

We just looked a different side than we have previously this season under any Gerrard game and I’m now 100% convinced that the players had downed tools under Gerrard. That’s not a good indicator of the player’s character really, but I suppose it’s always going to be a big ask to work flat out for someone you don’t rate.

Was this a new manager bounce? I’m not convinced it was.

The players were just freed to play with more freedom and you could see it.
Which is a coincidence, because Luiz did an interview recently, where he thought Gerrard played too negatively and shackled the players. Or at least that’s what was insinuated.

Our play was excellent off the ball and we seemed to have a lot more movement.
We passed back far too much early on, but that seemed to ease as the game went on. Was it because we went two up or because they were instructed to stop it? I’m not sure, but certainly Emery was more animated and I’d like to think the players appreciated being told what to do.
We still passed back at times, but it was more when it was necessary, than just for the seemingly absolute fun of it.

Were we particularly good or were Man U particularly bad is the question and I think it was some of both, but more 65-35 in our favour.
Everybody and I mean that, played well overall.
Buendia was the only player who caught my eye for a possible slating, but it was more about things not working for him, as his passing was more often than not, poor. His workrate, thinking and desire was faultless.

Ramsey was superb, as much as I don’t like to encourage him in thinking he’s the full package, but his attacking play was again everything you expect from him.

And dare I say, Mings was excellent? See, I can say it if I think he deserves it 🙂

The whole defence did well overall, but I can’t say I saw much from Cash and Digne (his goal apart).
I believe Emery likes his Full/wingbacks so it’ll be interesting to see how he sees them.
If I’m looking at them from an attacking pov, I’m not sure Cash will last long, as much as I like him.
I’m not convinced Digne will either, as much as he’s more attacker than defender.

Otherwise, I think we just looked more organised and it seemed we actually had a much more fluid formation. Ramsey started off wide right, but soon came more inside, from what I could see. My SIL and the grandkids are coming round for dinner, so I’ll ask them about that.

Whatever, whereas everything normally goes in Utd’s favour, so today it didn’t in the slightest really and they just looked very, very normal.

Their seeming invincibility against us looked gone.
Long may it last.

The main takeaway from the game?
Unai must be wondering why we’re where we are in the table.

That’s easy mate; Gerrard is the answer.

Meanwhile, we’re up to 13th and wow, that just feels so much better.

UTV!