Man United 1-2 Norwich City:Mourinho's name rings around Old Trafford
The Reds Devils lost their top-four spot to Tottenham on another horror afternoon at Old Trafford, with the crowd showing their displeasure at the home side.
Van Gaal's side dominated possession in the first half, but were undone on the counter attack, when Nathan Redmond found Cameron Jerome, who shrugged off a number of tackles to fire past David De Gea.
Alex Tettey doubled the Norwich lead after another slick counter-attacking move, meaning Anthony Martial's 66th-minute was no more than a consolation.
Here are five things we learned:
United are devoid of confidence and belief
Despite dominating the game in terms of possession, there was little conviction or assurance about United in the final third. With arguably Louis van Gaal's strongest front four of Rooney, Mata, Martial and Memphis, there was no excuse for United's poor finishing and lack of attacking menace where it mattered.Van Gaal has drained these players of their self-belief and they don't look like scoring. It's Stoke next for United on Boxing Day, followed by Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 28, and it's hard to see how Van Gaal's side are going to win either of those games
Action Images via Reuters
The fans have lost faith in Van Gaal
Ahead of the game Van Gaal called for United fans to show their belief in their team, despite a run of five games without a win. When their team went 2-0 down to a chorus of boos, United fans looked to have lost faith in their side, but Anthony Martial's goal in the 66th minute galvanised the home support.It proved to be brief respite for Van Gaal, who, like his players, as booed off at the final whistle, as United's winless run stretched to six games. Even MUTV, United's in-house TV station that can usually be relied up to offer sympathy and support in tough times, was scathing in its post-match appraisal of Van Gaal's latest defeat.
Losing the fans? Van Gaal is no longer a popular figure
Rooney looks a spent force
Having missed the last three games through injury, Wayne Rooney returned to captain the side on his 500th United appearance but was abject again, in keeping with his general form this season. Rooney lost possession cheaply in the centre of the pitch in the move that led to Norwich's second goal and offered nothing in attack, his dismal campaign continuing, the England skipper no longer able to justify his status as an automatic pick.
More of the same: Wayne Rooney returned to the United side...
A penny for Keane's thoughts?
Former United skipper Roy Keane is an infrequent visitor to Old Trafford these days, following his acrimonious exit 10 years ago. But he was watching from the directors' box here, and how United could have done with his on-field belligerence and fighting spirit.United are lacking real leadership at the moment and you suspect Keane, in his pomp, would not have allowed the Reds to slump to such a wretched defeat, dragging his under-performing team-mates up to the required level by sheer force of will. United desperately miss a leader of Keane's ilk.
Must do better: Keane cannot have been impressed by United
Jerome the difference for Canaries
Cameron Jerome's determination, not to mention an assured finish, saw Norwich take the lead in the 38th minute, and the forward turned provider for his side's second, threading the ball through for Alex Tettey to steer it beyond David De Gea.Jerome has endured a poor campaign thus far, with three goals in 17 Premier League appearances, but there were signs here that he remains a credible goalscorer and attacking threat at this level, the kind of forward United could do with right now.
Leading the way: Norwich players celebrate with Jerom
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