Real Sociedad 0-0 Manchester United: Five Talking Points

Soporific At Sociedad: Five Talking Points From United's Bore Draw
Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (L) receives a red card during the UEFA Champions League Group football match Real Sociedad vs Manchester United at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2013. Match ended 0-0 in a draw. AFP PHOTO / RAFA RIVAS (Photo credit should read RAFA RIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (L) receives a red card during the UEFA Champions League Group football match Real Sociedad vs Manchester United at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2013. Match ended 0-0 in a draw. AFP PHOTO / RAFA RIVAS (Photo credit should read RAFA RIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Manchester United drew their second Champions League away game at Real Sociedad in a soporific encounter in San Sebastián.

Substitute Robin van Persie hit the post twice, the second from the penalty spot after another Ashley Young tumble, and Marouane Fellaini was sent off.

Here are five talking points...

ROONEY MAY FACE MORE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DISAPPOINTMENT

The unofficial catalyst for Wayne Rooney's unhappiness at United last season was Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to drop him for the second leg visit of Real Madrid in the last 16. There could be more bad news for Rooney following Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa's encouraging cameo partnership in San Sebastián.

The introduction of the Dutchman aided Kagawa, who transformed like Bruce Wayne to Batman when he switched from left wing to No.10. Even though it was just for half-an-hour, United were much more sophisticated and continental in their approach, a quality they have scarcely displayed since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2009.

GIGGS FAILS TO MASK WASTEFULNESS

There was a moment in the first half when Clive Tyldesley began to laud Ryan Giggs, beginning a mazy dribble, for turning 40 in 24 days' time. Only Giggs gave away possession, as is his wont in the winter of his career.

Usually, Giggs will compensate for his egregious passing stats with an assist, but he was abysmal at Sociedad. His endurance is remarkable for a man of his age but his presence in the United team over the last five years highlights how underwhelming the Reds' attacking options have been.

Real Sociedad de Futbol v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League

Sociedad-United

FELLAINI DEVOID OF CONFIDENCE

Most midfielders would have improved United in the summer, including Marouane Fellaini. Scepticism was inevitable due to him playing under Moyes at Everton, costing £4.5 million more than was necessary and rarely playing in defensive midfield at Goodison Park; three factors which he is hardly to blame for.

He is to blame for struggling to keep up in training and shirking headers when unchallenged, though. Fellaini's red card was inevitable after several niggly fouls, and while not terrible in Spain he is in danger of becoming nondescript at United.

MOYES MUST DITCH YOUNG

Ashley Young could yet be indebted to Robin van Persie for hitting the post rather than the back of the net from 12 yards. The England winger dived again on Tuesday night - the fourth high-profile tumble in his United career - although the soporific draw might not spare him.

What is arguably more worrying than Young's serial diving is his gall to defy two managers at one of the world's biggest clubs. Young's popularity has plummeted among supporters sceptical of him before he even arrived, and it remains questionable whether he is up to the club's standards.

UNITED RELIANT ON JANUZAJ

Perhaps it is just as well Adnan Januzaj will have had eight days' rest ahead of Arsenal's visit on Sunday. Absent from the 18-man squad at the Anoeta Stadium, it will have alarmed Moyes how uninspiring United were again without him. Some of their best football this season - the final half-hours against Crystal Palace and Stoke, the opening onslaught at Fulham, and the fightback at Sunderland, all came with the 18-year-old on the pitch.

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