Takeaways from the opening of the Manchester United preparatory season

Manchester United 2-0 Perth Glory

The Red Devils started their pre-season tour with a win that seemed to tick most boxes for what one would like from a pre-season win. The team was turned, the kids had a chance, and most of the team members seemed pretty fit. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the second half after a fairly parked Perth bus stopped the first rotation from lining up for 45 seconds. well caught the radiation of a high interception of press.

The results are rarely a concern for touring matches, the team's overall chemistry and sharpness being the main concern. This was certainly the case in this 2-0 win, with a lot to see and work on. Here are the most important points of the first game of the Reds of the 2019/20 calendar.

The new recruits seem ready for the rise in power

Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka made their first appearances for Manchester United against Perth, and they did not disappoint.

James, already known for his speed and dribbling, showed us why he deserved to become the first Ole player to sign so fast in the off season. He got involved early and often on the left side of the attack, and already seems to have done chemistry with his teammates. His assists and his move make him one of the most watchable players of the first period. We also saw that he is likely to physically defend, take blows and get fouls on the wing for United. It will be interesting to see how he will adapt to the face of the Premier League, but he definitely has the tools to become a special player.

While James looked like a progressing player, Wan-Bissaka looked like a veteran addition. Perth never really challenged him, but when an attack broke out, he was clinically arrested. Advancing is not his greatest strength, but even then, he never seemed uncomfortable on the ball or finding teammates with passes. Fans are excited about what it brings and will be eager to see it in competitive action.

To play. The. Kids.

Axel Tuanzebe, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood and James Garner all had rounds in the game. Although James and Chong were members of the first unit, which sometimes struggled to gain opportunities, they were able to show how dangerous they were in large areas. Greenwood and Gomes were also active from the wings and all four had the freedom to drift across the line of attack. They looked rough at times and did not always end in dribbling, but their confidence and creativity was something that United's offense had been missing for a good part of the last decade.

Garner was on the field only shortly but scored a very good goal to finish in Perth. He has been portrayed as a midfielder for the future, but if inactivity in the transfer market continues, he may very well be called upon to act.

Axel Tuanzebe, another young player from a group of positions lacking talent, took full advantage of his time on the pitch. United do not have much to do in defense, but Tuanzebe did have some chances to get the ball back quickly before Perth could do anything. His strong attack and his eye to get closer to the attacking opponents could be useful this season.

If Ole does not get what he asked in this transfer window, he will have to consult the academy to know the depth of his team. This group of young people has shown a lot of potential and will probably continue to play regularly on the circuit. They will be closely watched, especially when United will start playing against more formidable opponents. If they continue to impress, they should definitely play a role for United this season.

The intention is to attack

United's attack in recent years has been lacking, it's the confidence and the ability to stand up to the opposition. Rashford and Martial made some nice attempts at that time, but most of the time, the dribbling of the wing remained blocked. In this match, United's players at almost every position pressed high, passed quickly and advanced the ball at a high tempo. The wingers and the backs were all involved, the fins often interchanging and the attackers did not remain isolated (well done, Tony, now, all the time). The strong press and willingness to board the players kept a constant pressure on Perth, which cleared them up pretty quickly.

Preparatory work is underway for the Ole system. He clearly indicated that he wanted to use the creativity of his players in attack, and we could see that this creativity was present in Perth. It's only a pre-season match against an A-League team, but the clinical ability is there. In the goal of Marcus Rashford, we saw how fast and decisive the team can be in qualifying.

Rashford, in particular, carries a lot of hope this season, but will certainly enjoy the practice of this style of football. Players seek to advance as soon as they receive the ball, which is a pleasure for all those who have witnessed the last years of football.

Defensive coverage needs to be addressed

United's offensive style meant that the ball was repeatedly given. There were a few cases in the first half where Perth was able to pause, but only briefly. Jones and Tuanzebe were quick to get the ball back, but they probably would not have had such a strong chance against faster, more technically talented strikers. United's midfielder already needs reinforcements after the departure of Ander Herrera, a specialist in blocking the most creative opponents.

Ole's high pressure means more chances of scoring, but it also means a midfielder more vulnerable to counterattacks. Aside from the obvious need of another center, a midfielder with interception and interception capabilities would be very helpful in locking the midfield and preventing a repetition of the catastrophic defensive of last season. Matic played well and behaved well by quickly delivering the ball to the attackers, but we have seen enough to know that he does not have the tone to keep pace with the Premier League teams. United needs someone who is better suited to Ole's style.