It was an atrocious performance by Manchester United as they lost 1-0 at home to West Brom on Saturday. The defeat was the first time that United have lost three straight league games since 2001, and the shutout means that it is now 287 minutes and counting since United last scored.
The defeat , combined with Liverpool’s win against QPR, means that United have still to wrap up a champions league place for next season. With three games to go, and a four point lead, United should have enough to see themselves finish in the top four, but with a trip to Crystal Palace up next, Arsenal coming to Old Trafford in their penultimate game of the season and a potentially tricky last day of the season trip to relegation-threatened Hull, nothing can be taken for granted.
What is really frustrating for United fans is that with three games left in the season, Louis van Gaal seems to be still unclear on his best formation or combination of players.
An example was on Saturday in the second half when van Gaal had both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie playing the number 10 role with Marouane Fellaini up front as the striker. With all the crearive and attacking players that United have in their squad, how in the world did LVG think that was the formation that would win the game?
Afterwards the United boss laid the blame at the feet of his players saying:
“It’s also a concern now [a lack of goals] because it’s not a coincidence and, in spite of the way we have played against Chelsea, Everton and now against West Bromwich Albion, we have created a lot of chances and still we don’t score. So you can say, as manager, we were not unlucky in every match. It’s also that you have to finish these chances. We have lost three times in a row so it’s also in the hands of my players. It is less secure [a top-four place].
What did you think of United’s performance? Why are they struggling to score goals?
