Home » Teams » Manchester United » Manchester United Booed for Yet Another 0-0 Draw: Three Talking Points From the West Ham Game

Manchester United Booed for Yet Another 0-0 Draw: Three Talking Points From the West Ham Game

Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal

Booing has become a regular happening at Old Trafford these days and those boos aren’t directed at the opposition, but at Manchester United themselves. It happened once again, as the Red Devils were held to another dull 0-0 draw, this time though against Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United, in a game that saw United have just a single shot on target throughout the game. The draw left United at fourth in the table, behind Arsenal, Manchester City and table toppers Leicester, three points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham.

The game, strangely, though, happened to be one in which all three of David Moyes’ signings at United played on the same pitch for the very first time.

United fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Marouane Fellaini in the hole behind Martial, who played up top, flanked by Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata. Matteo Darmian was deployed as a left-back while Paddy McNair was slotted in at right back. When it comes to West Ham United, the Hammers started with a 4-1-4-1 formation, that helped them for transiting into a 4-5-1 rather swiftly, such that they can break forward with more ease. So, here’s what we learnt from another dull Old Trafford evening.

1.United look slightly better in Rooney’s absence

Wayne Rooney’s exclusion meant United had to make do without him, allowing Marouane Fellaini to make a rare start in the number ten role, just behind Anthony Martial. Fellaini looked a threat whenever someone found him in the box and although, couldn’t score the goal but looked good on the ball too.

The United play looked a tad silky and quicker in Rooney’s absence. It looked a bit more spacey and open than it looks in his presence. Fellaini’s aerial presence was a threat to the Hammers’ defense and although, Fellaini could’ve done a better overall, but it wasn’t sluggish or as slow as it was against Leicester or PSV.