Five Takeaways From Manchester United's Clash with Wolves

United's lack of midfield quality is telling

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to switch the system from a 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder to a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot in front of the backline, and the lack of quality in his side's build-up has paid the price for it. Wolves played like they almost always do against the top 6, and sat extremely deep, daring United to break them down while attempting to start count attacks of their own. However, United was resolute defensively, and limited Wolves to no chances in the first half, but their midfield struggles were clear as day, as they struggled to create anything of note, Martial scoring their lone goal on a complete one-off chance. The pressure of starting every attack for United weighed heavy on Paul Pogba's back, and he will need help from others if United are to be a side that can win consistently without always having to score off the counter-attack. Unfortunately, it seems like personnel issues in the midfield will be the team's Achilles heel all season.

Pogba should be off penalties

Perhaps undeservedly, United did find themselves with a huge opportunity to snatch all 3 points from a stadium rapidly becoming their bogey ground. An intricate run and one-two with Marcus Rashford resulted in Pogba being awarded a penalty with 20 minutes left to go. However, for the third penalty in a row, a different man stepped up to take the responsibility, after Juan Mata and Rashford had scored against Kristiansund and Chelsea, respectively. It seemed likely that Rashford would step up for this one again, but he was all too happy to hand over the ball to Pogba. Pogba's penalty record is a bit suspect, and with the chance to put United back in a commanding position, his shot was far too easy for Rui Patricio, and the Portuguese shot-stopper made sure the score remained level. Solskjaer declared post-game that it was up to the players out there to decide who should take the penalty, but it is clear that in the future Pogba should hand over the spot-kick responsibility to the better taker in Rashford.

Wolves' great form vs the top 6 continues

After claiming the scalps of Liverpool, United, Arsenal, and Chelsea last year, all eyes were on Molineux on whether Wolves could continue their giant-killing escapades this season, and although they couldn't replicate the two home wins they had over United this time around, they made up for a poor first half by coming out in the second and absolutely blitzing United's backline and midfield over and over again. Ruben Neves' screamer was coming, as Raul Jimenez had hit the post from a header minutes earlier, and had it not been for VAR taking up 5 minutes to analyze whether the goal had been offside and subsequently killing any momentum they had built up, Wolves may have piled on even more pressure and grabbed a winner. However, they will be satisfied with a point and after also sharing the honors with Leicester City the week before, Wolves now have a run of more favorable games where they will hope to replicate their great last season.

Dan James out of his depth

I'll try and go easy on the kid, as it's clear this is a huge stage for him to be on after such little Championship experience, but it wasn't the right call from Solskjaer to start him in a game like this. First off, at this stage in his United career, he should be an impact player coming off the bench, using his blistering speed to hurt tiring defenses. Secondly, in a game where Wolves were so deep in their half that there was no room to get in behind, this was a game for more intricate, technical players who can pick a pass and split a tight, strong team apart. Putting whether you think James should even be at this level aside, Wolves away is one of the toughest fixtures the Premier League offers, and his limitations really were on full display from the first minute on, and he should be used more in the role he played against Chelsea when the game was way more open and he had space to use his speed. The yellow card he received for diving summed up his day.

Martial beginning to show signs

After three lackluster, disappointing seasons, Anthony Martial's debut campaign in 2015/16 seemed like it would never be replicated. Whether we put that down to a lack of willingness to put his head down and continue growing his game, or a poor job from Jose Mourinho in isolating him to the left-hand side, and eventually the bench, it appeared like Martial's clear talent was destined to go to waste. However, Solskjaer has put an arm around what was a discouraged young man, reinstated him as the number nine of the squad (in number and position) and given him the confidence to return to his form pre-Mourinho. The stone-faced Frenchman was United's best attacker in the first half, and although he potentially could have grabbed a hat trick, he did take on of his chances superbly, getting on the end of a Rashford pass and hitting a screamer past Patricio with his left foot. Not only that, his hold up play was there to be seen as well. Willy Boly is a mountain of a man in Wolves' back 3, but Martial played well with his back to goal and allowed United's play to continue whenever it was fed to him. Long may his form continue, as there are few more talented than an in-form Anthony Martial in the United squad.

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ve1kEVl85OoBUTgJu3es8

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wholelottamid/first-podcast