Manchester United Are Back, And More Suffocating Then Ever.

'This is how Van Gaal's teams play... they're efficient' Rio Ferdinand said of United's opening game of the season, and it is not often that efficient could be seen as a negative. Today, might be one of those times, or it might not. The Red Devils managed just one shot on target against Tottenham who managed four in return - hardly a callback to the Alex Ferguson era of attackattackattack, and more of a callback to the days of David Moyes, with of course, several big exceptions. 

Kyle Walker has a nightmare as he struggles to cover his
fellow defenders; and United sieze the game as a result. 

Manchester United never looked like losing after Kyle Walker's clearance went wrong; in fact after that attempted block instead dribbled agonisingly past Vorm, Man United only got better. Their pressing of Tottenham's back four, at first merely an irritant became an all encompassing, suffocating pillow with Tottenham's back six wrapped inside. For a period of ten minutes or even fifteen in the first half Tottenham looked more likely to concede from their passes out of the back then they were to create chances for Harry Kane. 

They were 'dominant' according to Pottechino, obviously disgruntled by the nature of the defeat; but after the goal Tottenham simply looked bereft of their creativity. The centre of the field, where Erikson and Kane were supposed to link up instead became Tottenham's graveyard where two key players were simply buried and really unable to contribute to Tottenham going forward. Before the goal they looked to be growing in influence. How a goal changes games. 

Smalling makes life difficult for Harry Kane, who was
snuffed out in United's 1-0 win.

That cliche of modern football seems more and more apt with United these days, who seem to be a team who thrive on being a goal up, who seem to have made a speciality out of knocking the opposition off balance with a sucker punch and then crushing the life out of them. Against Liverpool and Tottenham last season that became very evident; Liverpool never recovered from going a goal down at Mata's hands and Gerrard's madness. This season, United have only added more of a rapier riposte to their squad, with the speed and guile of Memphis Depay, who got the 'assist' for Walker's own goal. They now have the players intelligent enough to dance away from teams trying to swing at United; they have the players to counter strike. 

Right up the spine infact, United have adhered to this philosophy. Schneiderlin isn't just a player to break up attacks but a composed passer. Smalling is a calm bruiser, and the new signing Darmian at right back looks a defensively savvy player with the intelligence and engine to break into space down the wing and support Juan Mata down that wing, and was vital in keeping United's clean sheet in the closing stages. Even Romero was clever in snuffing out chances before they really occurred; a great example being when he snatched up an inswinging ball before Nacer Chadli could convert. Everyone fits the same sort of idea. 'Snuff out the threat, from back to front. Be it with possession, anticipation or just duty, snuff out the threat at every oppurtunity.' 

Menphis adds more speed, guile and intelligence to United's attack; which they
are going to need for success this season. 

So from front to back United are an improved side, perhaps a more efficient side, perhaps a more 'Van Gaal' like side then they were before. But then, maybe that one shot on target is more of a concern then Ferdinand lets on. It could be opening season rustiness, it could be just the team gelling together. But one shot is one shot. 

United will need to get better in the final third if they hope to do big things this season. But if they do they have the crushing power they need to get wins. They just need to be getting the first, game changing goal.