If the
rumours are to be believed, Aston Villa may have to deal with Adnan
Januzaj in their next home game, too. Sunderland, August 29. If Dick
Advocaat succeeds in securing Januzaj on loan, Villa will get to play
him twice in three games.
Something
about his performance, however, suggested that may no longer be the
case. Januzaj scored the only goal and while he lasted no more than an
hour before being replaced by Ander Herrera as Manchester United shored
up their midfield to make certain of victory, one imagines Louis van
Gaal will have seen enough.
Why
should Sunderland get the benefit of United’s labour even if, in doing
so, they are further preparing Januzaj for a Premier League career? Why
can’t he make an impact with his employers this season? If not every
week, then in enough games to prove his worth as a squad man, at least.
Januzaj watches his shot hit the net, beating Micah Richards, Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark and Jordan Amavi in the process
Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney wait expectantly as Januzaj's (unsighted) shot deflects off Clark and the post before going in
Luke Shaw grabs Januzaj after his opening goal put Manchester United on course for their second consecutive victory
Juan Mata, whose
slick pass scythed through the Villa defence, clenches his fist as
United celebrate taking the lead at Villa Park
Depay and Shaw congratulate Januzaj,
who has been linked with a move to Sunderland, as United saw off the
challenge of Aston Villa
Januzaj more
than held his end up as United completed back-to-back wins to start the
season. And no, this isn’t the most thrilling United team of recent
years. But it is one that is getting the job done while Van Gaal waits
for his last round of reinforcements to arrive. Two wins in a week, both
by the most slender margin, with no goals conceded, is not be sniffed
at. Not vintage, but there are plenty out there who would have settled
for it. Chelsea and Arsenal, to name two.
Aston
Villa were poor in the first-half, better in the second, but United had
them at arm’s length, either way. The best chances fell to the away
team, mainly to Memphis Depay, but he could not finish with Januzaj’s
coolness. That one moment, as he calmly scored the winner in the 29th
minute, vindicated Van Gaal’s decision to prefer Januzaj to Ashley Young
in the starting line-up.
It
was a bold call. Young has revived his United career under Van Gaal but
the increasing depth of the squad as the Ferguson era fades from view
was underlined by the sight of him parked on the bench. Van Gaal
explained that he was responding to Januzaj’s positive performances in
training by giving him a run in what he termed his favourite position:
No 10.
What
Wayne Rooney makes of this in private, who knows? No 10 used to be his
role, although recently United have seemed to buy little else. Januzaj
is a 10, so is Juan Mata and Young, if he wishes. Depay can play there
too. United seem to have a lot of 10 and a dearth of nines, unless one
includes James Wilson and Javier Hernandez, now returned from an
inconsistent loan spell with Real Madrid.
Rooney
is tasked with being United’s prime goalscorer now, although he seemed
anything but here. He did not touch the ball in the opponent’s penalty
area until second-half injury time, and even then it was only to kick it
into touch to waste time, having chased an aimless one down a channel.
It
must be very frustrating to be asked to play a selfless role as the
lone spearhead until Van Gaal can locate another forward, particularly
with Januzaj thriving in support.
It
puzzles to see Rooney looking so ineffectual, although maybe it is part
of the plan to make him a workhorse to the benefit of the attacking
midfield. At Rooney’s first major tournament with England, Michael Owen
was used this way by Sven Goran Eriksson to help create the space for
his young partner. Perhaps Rooney’s career has evolved so that he now
fulfils that role for others. If so, it seems one hell of a waste.
Jordan
Veretout and Januzaj collapsed together in a heap and the Frenchman
aimed a kick at United’s No 11 (left). The scorer ignored the jab, but
Veretout bizarrely clutched his chest - which Januzaj never came close
to touching - and rolled away in apparent agony
Janujaz completed a slick move involving Shaw and Mata down United's left.
Villa fans let Depay know exactly what they think after the Dutchman squandered a golden chance to make it 2-0
Wayne Rooney shares some sage advice with goalscorer Januzaj after the 20-year-old Belgian gave United the advantage
With David de Gea
banished to the reserves, Sergio Romero made his second outing in a
United shirt, but his distribution was poor
Substitute Ander Herrera collides with Amavi as Manchester United attempt to increase their advantage over the hosts
From
Van Gaal’s point of view, of course, the end justifies the means.
Januzaj’s start paid off. He was the best of it for United early on,
getting the winner and setting up some of the best chances. He possessed
what Villa lacked, sharpness of thought around the box. The home team
were disappointing. All the best early chances fell to United.
Sir
Alex Ferguson’s teams often opened at high tempo. Van Gaal’s seem to
ease their way in, and so it was here. Not until the 16th minute did
United fashion a worthy scoring chance, and even then it was from a set
piece. Depay’s free-kick from the left presented a real danger to Villa,
who failed to spot Morgan Schneiderlin on the blind side at the far
post. The delivery was perfect, not so Schneiderlin’s finish, a stooping
header steered well wide.
In
the 20th minute, a panicked Villa clearance took a fierce deflection
and rebounded towards goal, teeing up an excellent opportunity for
Depay.
He
is a flying machine, the Dutchman, making it all the more impressive
that Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan got to the loose ball first, and won a
brave 50-50 with an absolutely thundering tackle.
Depay failed to trouble the Villa goal with this free-kick as the 21-year-old continues to get accustomed to the Premier League
Rooney had a quiet game by his own high standards as Leandro Bacuna just does enough to thwart this attack
Summer signing Matteo Darmian feels the full force of Gabby Agbonlahor's tackle as Mata watches on
Villa new boy Jordan Ayew shows his dejection during a disappointing outing for the Ghanaian striker
Bastian Schweinsteiger was introduced to shore up midfield late on and battles for posession with Idrissa Gueye
Seven
minutes later, Januzaj was the provider — another good cross that
deserved a better finish. This time Depay was the culprit, getting his
angles all wrong, and delivering a tame header that went straight and
wide, to the derision of the locals. They weren’t smiling for much
longer.
Januzaj
started the move that resulted in United’s winner, and finished it,
too. It was his ball out to the left that, after a swift interchange of
passes, was slipped in by Mata, exquisitely weighted and catching
Villa’s defence square. Micah Richards, the new captain, came haring
across, but in vain. Januzaj brought the ball under control, shifted his
angle and shot towards the far post, clipping Ciaran Clark on the way.
It
was no more than United deserved and they should have scored a second
in the 73rd minute when Mata set Depay clear, only for new boy to steer
his shot wide of the far post, one on one.
Stronger
tests await, but United were much the better side and made all the
running. They face Brugges in a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday
and, on this evidence, should have the tie under control in the first
leg.
Not
that this was any great indicator of what can be expected in Europe.
Villa did not significantly test second-string goalkeeper Sergio Romero;
a dismal failing in the circumstances. Opponents really should be
taking advantage of the uncertainty around David De Gea’s future right
now, because it won’t last and United will surely improve.
It was a dramatic sky above Villa Park ahead of the first Friday night game of the fledgling Premier League season
Villa's new signing Adama Traore was paraded before kick-off following the 19-year old winger's £7m move from Barcelona
Ahead of the game Louis van Gaal stressed the importance of improving United's away form and his side made it two wins from two
A screaming Tim Sherwood patrols the touchline but his Villa side could not repeat their opening day win at Bournemouth
Aston Villa's newly formed side kicked off their home campaign at Villa Park with defeat in front of a raucous home crowd
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SOCCER