With the close of the international break upon us, I'm going to outline where we stand after the Wolves victory - heading towards club football's resumption. It was certainly a match where the words "the result is all that matters" were ushered a fair amount, but there are still some positives to take nonetheless.
First of all, Raphael Varane's brisk integration into the side was a massive plus. The Frenchman proved exactly how well he can compliment Harry Maguire alongside him at centre back, settling into the fold almost instantly. The former Madrid man was so assured from the off, offering a classy and composed presence at the back. He was typically happy to play out from the back with quality, touching the ball 74 times and maintaining an 88% pass accuracy after 90 minutes. Furthermore, a healthy five passes were played into the final third and an assist was provided for Mason Greenwood with a surging forward pass.
Defensively, Varane was nothing short of sensational and was pivotal in United keeping a clean sheet. He was incredibly efficient in duels, winning headers whilst making plenty of crucial interventions through blocks and clearances. His recovery pace is already blatant, with an astounding ability to track and halt opposing moves.
Experience was another key quality which was displayed in abundance, with videos circulating last week of Varane essentially coaching Aaron Wan-Bissaka during the match. Solskjaer said post-match that Varane was "good in the dressing room before the game and at halftime". United had been 10 matches without a clean sheet heading to Molineux...
Another key factor to keeping that clean sheet was in the form of the man behind Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire. David de Gea has struggled for confidence in recent times, but he looked right back to his best against Wolves. Somehow, the Spaniard managed to keep an electric home side at bay. He produced one of the most remarkable double saves (the pick of the bunch on the day) to deny two close range efforts subsequent to a poorly defended corner, showcasing maintenance of reflexes synonymous with his prime years. The week prior, he also prevented a Southampton winner with an impressive save one-on-one against Adam Armstrong. You'd be very wrong to write off his shot-stopping ability.
In addition to the importance of saves made, De Gea also appeared increasingly commanding in the victory to cap off August. On occasions, he had renewed belief to come out and claim the ball to a greater extent. He's a man possessed with determination right now, with reports even suggesting he cut his summer holiday short to return and stake his claim for the number one spot. The campaign is certainly going well for him so far.
Shifting the focus to the opposite end of the pitch, you can't rave on enough about Mason Greenwood at the moment. Still only 19 years old, the maturity he possesses is incredible. Right now, the consistency he is showcasing is frightening. In his last 11 league appearances, he has provided 10 goal involvements - finding the back of the net in every match so far this term. When a goal is needed, the youngster is inevitable.
Speaking of the opening three games of this season, Greenwood has been statistically exceptional. He's clearly growing more and more confident on the ball, with 15 dribbles attempted so far in the campaign (seven of which were successful). His approach is faultlessly positive, with 15 passes played into the box and four chances created over the three match period. He's undoubtedly thriving in the final third, with three goals provided from a hefty 11 shots attempted.
It's 37 league starts down for Greenwood, with the 20 goal milestone only reached faster by Michael Owen (35) and Robbie Fowler (36). He's a raw talent.
Unfortunately, there are also a few negative aspects that need addressing and rectifying after the Wolves match - otherwise we could be punished in the future.
Fred. He's one of the most likable guys in the squad, but he frustrates too big a section of the fanbase far too often with particular signs of incompetence. Firstly, I have to acknowledge that he is by no means a bad player and can do a job very efficiently. However, there's no way we can move forward with him playing alone as a defensive midfielder. Anchoring the midfield, he provided no presence and looked liable from the opening minute. Within almost an instant, he was making errors leading to chances (fortunately no price was paid due to Wolves' wastefulness). He was being constantly overrun by the likes of Francisco Trincao, frequently finding himself dispossessed and beaten by attackers. When left alone without additional midfield support, he was noticeably isolated and his lack of stature was evident.
Another issue, which I alluded to in my previous debrief, was Fred's lack of technical ability from deep. Often misplacing passes and operating at too low an intensity on the ball, it becomes so hard for him to dictate any sort of flow. Therefore, United's entire foothold on matches is hampered. As well as needing a more physical presence as a number six, they need to provide more consistent quality than the Brazilian does. In the squad currently, Scott McTominay is the only remotely viable option to play as a lone defensive midfielder in my eyes. Nemanja Matic may have experience in that role, but he no longer has the legs to play it at the peak level on a regular basis. The aforementioned Scotsman is an all-round midfielder: he is stronger in challenges than the likes of Fred, whilst having ability to cover ground superior to Matic. In the meantime, he is growing more technically astute by the match and could consequently operate as a deeper-lying playmaker.
It's unclear as to whether McTominay will be fit to face Newcastle this weekend after his recent groin procedure. Meanwhile, Fred is potentially set to miss the next two matches after the Brazilian FA announced blockage of all English-based Brazilian players from playing for their clubs over a five day period. There is seeming outrage from the South America nation towards certainly clubs after they refused to release players on international duty due to travel restrictions. As a result of these possibly absentees, we could very likely be seeing Matic or Donny van de Beek on Saturday afternoon.
The final point I'd like to flag is the subject of dissent with regards to a certain Bruno Fernandes. In each of his last two outings for United, he has been booked due to his typically argumentative nature. In fact, he accounts for two of the six bookings for dissent in the Premier League so far this season. The fact of the matter is, the bookings are needless and could ultimately lead to costly suspensions later down the line. Whilst some argue it's a good display of passion (which isn't necessarily wrong), it's no doubt limits have to be found. It's a subtle element within his game, but it nonetheless requires rectification. A cool head is important, otherwise performance may drop amidst frustration.
It may not have been the prettiest performance at Molineux, but winning ugly on your bad days is a sign of an elite mentality as a team. Now unbeaten in a record 28 matches on the road in the Premier League, it's blatant that this side is capable of producing consistency. Mirror such streak on home turf (off to a good start after the Leeds victory) and we could really challenge this season, especially given the success of the transfer window.
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