When Fulham scored an amazingly soft goal after three minutes of play it seems like it would be a long day for United. Four of the attacking six – new boys Kagawa & Van Persie and Cleverley & Anderson returning from injuries – played little or no football for United last year. What cohesiveness and hierarchy could one expect?
But the lineup did have internal logic to it. A three-man flexible engine room and two wingers widening the pitch. This brought about a decent first half and debut goals for Kagawa and Van Persie. With Rooney out for a month they will all need the confidence to carry the team.
This was some football with vision.
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The second half was reality. A undermanned defense giving away a silly goal. Nervousness took over. A midfielder sacrificed for Rooney, and United hanging on. But surviving.
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WHAT TO DO NOW?