3 Talking Points From QPR 0-2 Manchester United: Wilson Stakes His claim

QPR 0-2 Manchester United

Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson spared United’s blushes as they beat QPR 2-0 and claimed only their third away win of the season. Starting once again with three at the back, United struggled to create too many chances in the first half. Aside from a Radamel Falcao shot that was saved by Rob Green, the Red Devils were anonymous in attack.

The introduction of Marouane Fellaini in place of Juan Mata added some much-needed strength in midfield and it was the Belgian who opened the scoring just before the hour mark from a Antonio Valencia cross. Although United were hanging on towards the ended and were thankful to David De Gea for a couple of crucial saves, Wilson’s goal deep into stoppage time secured a vital three points for the Red Devils, who claimed their first League win of the calendar year.

Here are the major talking points from the game.

1. Wilson stakes his claim for a starting berth

All the talk in the build-up to the game was about Radamel Falcao and Louis Van Gaal’s decision to drop the Colombian striker from the squad last week. With Robin Van Persie  injured and Wayne Rooney being deployed  in central midfield, the Colombian was always going to start against QPR. But it was another striker, who stole the limelight at Loftus Road. Ever since making his debut against Hull last season, James Wilson has been on the fringes of the first-team.

His performance against QPR, after he came on, showed just why he deserves not only a place in the squad, but perhaps even a starting berth at United. The Englishman’s pace and industry simply proved too much for QPR, who struggled to cope with him. On two occasion, Wilson got behind the defense and put in a dangerous cross into the box, but Falcao missed it on both occasions. And in the final minute of stoppage time, the 19-year-old showed how it’s done as he scored his first goal of the season and capped off a brilliant cameo, which will only increase the pressure on Van Gaal.

2. Van Gaal continues to frustrate fans with tactics

“I know in advance that when we play with four midfielders in a diamond that we create more chances.” Those were the words of Van Gaal after the game, when asked about his decision to switch to a traditional 4-4-2 in the second half. After not mustering a single shot on goal last weekend and a lacklustre showing in the first half, Van Gaal’s decision to abandon the back three paid dividends against QPR.

Amidst chants of “4-4-2” and “attack, attack, attack” from the visiting supporters, the Dutchman’s decision to switch made his side much more threatening going forward. Angel Di Maria, who until then, was playing as a striker, was given the license to play behind Wilson and Falcao and that freedom made him much more threatening. While that tactical switch was certainly great to see, it begs the question, why didn’t he start with it in the first place? And why did he decide to play Di Maria as a striker, when he had Wilson on the bench? The Dutchman’s explanation that his side lacked balance when playing a diamond in midfield, was the sign of a man desperately trying to cling onto his methods, whilst being fully aware of the fact that he is wrong.

3. How much longer does Harry have?

When QPR lost to Burnley last weekend, they became the proud owners of an unwanted record of being the side with the worst start away from home in the Premier League. While Harry Redknapp continues to maintain that his job isn’t under threat, if his side don’t start winning games, the club will have no option but to sack the Premier League’s third-best manager, in terms of wins.

Playing against a United side who were far from convincing defensively, the manager wouldn’t have been too pleased with his side’s performance in the first half, in which they simply failed to work David De Gea often enough. Not only that, even with the fans on their side, they failed to make things difficult for the visitors and allowed them far too much time on the ball. Although things were marginally better in the second half, their over-reliance on Charlie Austin became quite clear as they failed to score for the eighth time this season. With their woeful away form slowly creeping into their home performances as well and some difficult home games to come, QPR could certainly do with another striker of Austin’s quality to score the goals that will save not only Redknapp’s job, but also the club from relegation.