The Rebirth Of Ashley Young – 3 Talking Points From Manchester United’s Draw At Villa Park

Aston Villa vs Manchester United Talking Points

Radamel Falcao’s second half goal wasn’t enough to claim all three points as Manchester United drew 1-1 against 10-man Aston Villa on Saturday. The home side took the lead in the first half, thanks to a wonderful left-footed strike from Christian Benteke. The Red Devils dominated the ball but looked shaky at the back and it wasn’t until Ashley Young, who was a constant menace down Aston Villa’s right flank provided  a wonderful cross for Falcao to head home his first goal away from Old Trafford early in the second half. Gabriel Agbonlahor was harshly sent off just after the hour mark, but the home side held on and ended a run of six-straight losses against the Red Devils in the League.

Here are the major talking points from the game

1. United need to make better use of the ball

Ever since the rise of Barcelona and tiki-taka, everyone seems to take a keen interest in possession stats. If the game was decided solely on the basis of possession, United would have cruised through the game as they enjoyed almost two-thirds of the ball. Unfortunately the only thing that matters at the end of the day is putting that ball in the back of the net. United, for all of their possession were unable to create too many clear cut chances and that cost them the opportunity to win seven games on the bounce.

One of the things that Louis Van Gaal has tried to do with this United side has been to play from the back. At times this season, that has got them into trouble and in this game as well, there were a couple of occasions where the defenders carelessly gave the ball away and that almost cost them a goal. But for most of the game, although the defenders had the ball, they always went sideways and on the occasions they chose to go forward, the ball was either too long or too slow. United might sit fourth in the possession stats this season, but Van Gaal knows that simply possession alone will count for nothing and will want his side to make more use of the ball against Newcastle United in their next game.

2. The rebirth of Ashley Young continues…

 

Ask any manager in the world and they will tell you the importance of pre-season games irrespective of where they are played. During Manchester United’s tour of the USA, there was one player who shone unexpectedly. And that man was Ashley Young. Many thought that the Englishman might not be at the club after the summer, but a wonderful pre-season where he reinvented himself as a left wing back meant that at the start of the season, the 29-year-old was one of the side’s key players in Van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 formation.

Against Aston Vila, Young terrorized Matthew Lowton who was playing as the home side’s right wing back. Often isolated against Young, the defender simply had no answers as he didn’t know whether to show Young down the line on his weaker left foot and show him inside, where they had plenty of bodies. Unfortunately for Lowton, irrespective of what he did, Young was simply too fast and slippery to handle. And it was only when he was moved to the right wing back slot that the Englishman struggled to make an impact. Otherwise, it was a game, barring a couple of early errors, in which he showed just why he is one of the most improved players in this United side.

3. United’s inexperience at the back on display

When your side’s best midfielder is having to do a job in central defense, you know you have some problems. And when that midfielder is your side’s best defender, you know something is wrong. Michael Carrick’s ability to sense danger and sniff out attacks has been a big reason why he has been so effective at center back, but unfortunately for United, none of the other center backs are half as good,with or without the ball.

When Carrick moved into midfield and Tyler Blackett came on in the second half, although it improved the attack, it massively hampered the defense. The lack of a leader meant that the trio of Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Blackett had no safety net to fall back on. All of three of them looked as though they have a mistake in them, every time they go forward with the ball and therein lies the problem for United. Not only does Van Gaal not have enough fit center backs, even the ones that are fit aren’t very good and Benteke took full advantage of that as he scored the opener after easily beating Evans. Whether it was giving away silly free kicks in dangerous positions or losing the ball while going forward, the defense looked brittle and that is something the Dutchman has to correct, if his side are to have any chance of finishing in the top four, let alone challenge for the title.