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Three things we learned from West Ham 1-2 Manchester United

Things we learned from the win at the weekend...

West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Manchester United did Sunday what they have done best over the past two years. Come from behind to win away from home. Here are three things we learned from United’s 2-1 victory over West Ham.

1. Look good play good

You know the feeling when you put on your best clothes before a big presentation at work or a night out? You got that strut to your step etc. Look good, feel good, perform good.

With United, you can throw tactics out the window, it’s really as simple as this. What is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wearing? Let’s break it down.

vs. Leeds

vs. Wolves

vs. Newcastle

vs. West Ham

Notice how he’s rocking a tie for each of these matches? You know what else those matches have in common? United won.

Now look at him against Southampton,

And against Young Boys

Pretty simple. Ole wears a tie, United win. Ole doesn’t wear a tie, they don’t.

Dress your best Ole.

2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to lock Scott McTominay in a room and show him nothing but this pass

Lock McTominay in a room with this pass playing on repeat and don’t let him out until he understands that he has the ability to play this ball and has the confidence to do it more often. This is what United need from McTominay.

McTominay returned from injury with a huge game. 91.4 percent pass completion rate. EIGHT progressive passes along with 13 progressive carries - taking what the defense gives him. McTominay has only had five other Premier League matches with eight or more progressive passes since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over. If United are going to have a big season, this is the McTominay they’re going to need consistently.

(PS: Ronaldo needs to square that ball first time to Mason)

3. Redemption is nice, sticking it to the haters is even better

Jesse Lingard hasn’t been the most popular player among United fans over the past few years. He was very successful in Jose Mourinho’s “do a job and counter attack” system but he’s just not good enough to be the on-the-ball attacking midfielder that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s system requires. While he’s still very much good enough to play a role for this team, the reality is he’s nothing more than a squad player who’s earning way higher wages than a squad player should be.

Lingard was abused heavily after his mistake lead to Young Boys’ winner in the Champions League Tuesday night. It wasn’t lack of ability, it was simply a bad mistake that could happen to anyone but that didn’t stop fans from making claims like he’s not even good enough to wear a United shirt.

Manchester United backed their man and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer threw him right back out five days later in an important situation and his faith in Lingard was rewarded handsomely. Lingard rewarded Ole’s faith in him by striking a late winner, giving him goals in back to back Premier League matches.

Lingard has turned down a new contract and will leave at the end of the season (or earlier) but after being on the outs of Solskjaer’s squad for over a year, he’s showing the story of his United isn’t quite finished yet.