Review: Here’s Five Things We Learned From Hull City 0-1 Manchester United As Marcus Rashford Delivers At The Death
Zlatan Imbrahimovic went close but it was veteran Wayne Rooney’s cross for young gun Rashford that delivered the three points to Jose Mourinho’s side
But what did we learn? Here are 5 things…
1. Curtis Davies impresses again
Now 31, Curtis Davies feels like he has been around forever and, for a while, he was simply doing a tour of the Premier League’s Midlands clubs.
His name has been linked with England call-ups before, but no international recognition has been stowed upon him since a trio of Under-21s appearances in 2007.
Yet if he can keep performing like this, the Three Lions’ dearth of resources in central defence may see him afforded an opportunity.
Hull’s performances despite the off-field crisis enveloping the club has been one of the more surprising stories in the embryonic stages of this season.
But he’s been a star of it.
With Sam Allardyce in charge, an England call-up feels as close as it’s ever been.
Makeshift team, disgruntled fans, caretaker manager – on the surface Hull City look like a team on a downward spiral, but through their struggle they are finding the one thing money can’t buy – team spirit.
Once again the players came together to dig in against Jose Mourinho’s big red machine and almost grind out a result. Ignoring all their off the field problems, Hull City’s troops are focusing on the football.
Their starting XI isn’t blessed with an array of established stars, but with organisation and discipline they’re churning out results that no one is expecting them to get. Against all the odds they might just stay in the Premier League is they can maintain this dogged resilience throughout the season.
3 Zlatan was made for the Premier League
Never doubt Zlatan. At 34 the naysayers were saying he didn’t have the legs for the muck and nettles of the Premier League. Wrong.
Game by game he is proving himself to be a every inch the superstar. Ok, so he might not have scored against Hull City, but he relished the physical battle in the pouring rain at the KCOM Stadium.
Curtis Davies and Harry Maguire tried their best to unsettle the Super Swede, but he just shook off their roughhouse tactics and led the line.
4 Eric Bailly was £30 million well spent
The Manchester United centre back looks like he’s been playing at the heart of the United defence all his life. Comfortable on the ball, unfazed by the physicality of the Premier League and full of confidence he looks accomplished playing out from the back and snuffing out any danger.
With all the stars that have arrived at Old Trafford, he’s flown under the radar, but he might just be the best bit of business United did over the summer.
Hull City’s forward line didn’t get a sniff all night.
5 Mourinho needs to drop Wayne Rooney
He might be the captain and talisman, but he’s out of form and holding United back.
United’s attack almost comes to halt when he’s in possession. The sands of time are really starting to catch up with him.
Mourinho gave Marcus Rashford a 20 minute cameo and he came on to score the winner.
Yes, Rooney set up the goal, but that owed more to bad defending than great play.
Mourinho needs to manage Rooney’s game time. Rashford must start.
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