An error by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, whereby he half-cleared straight to Ashley Young, gifted United all three points in the dying moments of the game.
Yet the win won’t mask the problems that continue to exist at Old Trafford. Expensive summer window recruit Angel Di Maria was substituted after 59 minutes, while Radamel Falcao was an unused sub despite fellow strikers James Wilson and Robin van Persie both being unavailable.
Van Gaal will continue to insist that these players need time to adapt to the Premier League, but is it really the case — having been in England for over half a season now?
The Premier League’s most successful foreign imports have traditionally taken little time to hit the ground running. Moreover, this season, many of United’s rivals’ high-profile purchases — Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez to name two — have hardly required a bedding in period.
There are exceptions, of course — Dennis Bergkamp, for instance, went several games before he opened his Arsenal account, but even he showed signs of promise that have been scarcely detectable in the games of Di Maria and Falcao thus far.
2. Can Henderson fill Gerrard’s shoes?
Not so long ago, Champions League qualification was far from Liverpool’s mind and, incredibly, there was even talk in some circles about Brendan Rodgers being given the boot as boss.
This success has been enjoyed largely without the injured Steven Gerrard, who is set to depart to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
And given that the club captain is on the verge of waving goodbye, there has been much talk as to whether anyone can fill the void he is bound to leave.
With two goals in as many matches and seven assists this season, the all-action 24-year-old ex-Sunderland player is currently giving a decent impression of his colleague, even if he still has a long way to go to match his legendary status.
3. Is Pellegrini losing faith in Kompany?
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany, centre, sits on the substitutes’ bench last night)
One of the main talking points from Man City’s at times nervy 2-0 win over Leicester was the omission of skipper Vincent Kompany.
The 28-year-old Belgian international has been a big part of City’s success in recent seasons, with his performances leading many to label him the best centre-back in the Premier League.
However, he has been poor of late, and was culpable for goals in the recent losses to both Liverpool and Barcelona.
Yet with the player ostensibly only approaching his prime, it’s unlikely that Manuel Pellegrini has written him off just yet.
Instead, the situation is more reminiscent of the temporary dropping of Joe Hart last season. The manager likely suspects the defender needs to spend a period of time away from the firing line, and he will hope that — like Hart — he emerges from the experience as strong as ever.
4. Chelsea starting to look unstoppable
Chelsea remained five points clear at the top with a game in hand after beating West Ham 1-0 last night, and it’s difficult to imagine a side as efficient as Jose Mourinho’s men losing the league from here, as the season approaches its final stretch.
The Londoners have lost just once in the past 11 games, whereas closest rivals Man City look far more erratic by comparison, having slipped up a number of times recently.
And it was the kind of performance that champions tend to produce — Chelsea were not at their best, with West Ham missing some good chances, but ultimately the Stamford Bridge outfit showed the necessary grit to prevail.
West Ham, meanwhile, are in danger of unravelling. Having occupied one of the Champions League spots not so long ago, they are now 10th, with only one win in their last 11 matches.
5. Bafetimbi Gomis collapse worrying
Bafetimbi Gomis’ collapse at White Hart Lane last night was an unwelcome reminder of a somewhat similar (albeit, much more serious) incident in the ground in 2012, in which then-Bolton player Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and almost lost his life.
Despite Gomis being stretchered off and taken to hospital, he subsequently insisted he was fine, tweeting: ”I have been under a great deal of stress and fatigue due to my father’s health that requires me to go back and forth to France.”
However, it is not the first time Gomis has lost consciousness on the field of play, collapsing three times as a Lyon player — the last of which was in 2009 — prompting several medical tests to be carried out on him.
Hopefully, the issue is not a serious one, as Swansea boss Garry Monk suggested after the game, commenting in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live: “We understand his history. He has had all the tests but it’s just part of his life, it’s what he’s been through growing up.”
5 talking points from the midweek Premier League action
Updated at 14.11
1. Is Van Gaal bluffing about Di Maria and Falcao?
MANCHESTER UNITED MAY have beaten Newcastle to consolidate fourth spot in the Premier League last night, but it was hardly a convincing win.
An error by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, whereby he half-cleared straight to Ashley Young, gifted United all three points in the dying moments of the game.
Yet the win won’t mask the problems that continue to exist at Old Trafford. Expensive summer window recruit Angel Di Maria was substituted after 59 minutes, while Radamel Falcao was an unused sub despite fellow strikers James Wilson and Robin van Persie both being unavailable.
Van Gaal will continue to insist that these players need time to adapt to the Premier League, but is it really the case — having been in England for over half a season now?
The Premier League’s most successful foreign imports have traditionally taken little time to hit the ground running. Moreover, this season, many of United’s rivals’ high-profile purchases — Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez to name two — have hardly required a bedding in period.
There are exceptions, of course — Dennis Bergkamp, for instance, went several games before he opened his Arsenal account, but even he showed signs of promise that have been scarcely detectable in the games of Di Maria and Falcao thus far.
2. Can Henderson fill Gerrard’s shoes?
Not so long ago, Champions League qualification was far from Liverpool’s mind and, incredibly, there was even talk in some circles about Brendan Rodgers being given the boot as boss.
That’s all changed now, however, with the Reds unbeaten in 12 league games, and winning seven of their last eight matches, the latest being a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Burnley.
This success has been enjoyed largely without the injured Steven Gerrard, who is set to depart to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
And given that the club captain is on the verge of waving goodbye, there has been much talk as to whether anyone can fill the void he is bound to leave.
With two goals in as many matches and seven assists this season, the all-action 24-year-old ex-Sunderland player is currently giving a decent impression of his colleague, even if he still has a long way to go to match his legendary status.
3. Is Pellegrini losing faith in Kompany?
(Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany, centre, sits on the substitutes’ bench last night)
One of the main talking points from Man City’s at times nervy 2-0 win over Leicester was the omission of skipper Vincent Kompany.
The 28-year-old Belgian international has been a big part of City’s success in recent seasons, with his performances leading many to label him the best centre-back in the Premier League.
However, he has been poor of late, and was culpable for goals in the recent losses to both Liverpool and Barcelona.
Yet with the player ostensibly only approaching his prime, it’s unlikely that Manuel Pellegrini has written him off just yet.
Instead, the situation is more reminiscent of the temporary dropping of Joe Hart last season. The manager likely suspects the defender needs to spend a period of time away from the firing line, and he will hope that — like Hart — he emerges from the experience as strong as ever.
4. Chelsea starting to look unstoppable
Chelsea remained five points clear at the top with a game in hand after beating West Ham 1-0 last night, and it’s difficult to imagine a side as efficient as Jose Mourinho’s men losing the league from here, as the season approaches its final stretch.
The Londoners have lost just once in the past 11 games, whereas closest rivals Man City look far more erratic by comparison, having slipped up a number of times recently.
And it was the kind of performance that champions tend to produce — Chelsea were not at their best, with West Ham missing some good chances, but ultimately the Stamford Bridge outfit showed the necessary grit to prevail.
West Ham, meanwhile, are in danger of unravelling. Having occupied one of the Champions League spots not so long ago, they are now 10th, with only one win in their last 11 matches.
5. Bafetimbi Gomis collapse worrying
Bafetimbi Gomis’ collapse at White Hart Lane last night was an unwelcome reminder of a somewhat similar (albeit, much more serious) incident in the ground in 2012, in which then-Bolton player Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and almost lost his life.
Despite Gomis being stretchered off and taken to hospital, he subsequently insisted he was fine, tweeting: ”I have been under a great deal of stress and fatigue due to my father’s health that requires me to go back and forth to France.”
However, it is not the first time Gomis has lost consciousness on the field of play, collapsing three times as a Lyon player — the last of which was in 2009 — prompting several medical tests to be carried out on him.
Hopefully, the issue is not a serious one, as Swansea boss Garry Monk suggested after the game, commenting in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live: “We understand his history. He has had all the tests but it’s just part of his life, it’s what he’s been through growing up.”
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