Five things we learnt from Watford vs Manchester United: Louis van Gaal’s influence is still felt, Wayne Rooney has a shocker and Etienne Capoue could be bargain of summer after netting fourth of season
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MANCHESTER UNITED slumped to their third defeat on the spin as Watford stunned Jose Mourinho's side at Vicarage Road.
United were slow out the traps and were lucky not to be more than 1-0 down at the break after Etienne Capoue had netted his fourth of the season.
They hit back through Marcus Rashford but paid for missed chances when super sub Juan Zuniga swept in the second - and Troy Deeney added a stoppage time penalty.
SunSport takes a look at the key talking points from Vicarage Road.
1. United have big problems at the back
THE usually reliable David De Gea was all over the place early on.
He smashed into Chris Smalling from behind giving Odion Ighalo a chance which he should've buried early on and bafflingly lead with his legs when trying to save Capoue's opener.
Smalling was making his first appearance of the season and didn't look solid alongside Eric Bailly, with Watford far superior in the air.
A headache for Mourinho - made even worse by the statue-esque defending for the late double.
2. Watford are a different proposition this season
ETIENNE CAPOUE may prove the bargain of the season - and is thriving in a more advanced role than he enjoyed at Spurs.
His opener saw him arriving late into the box in what became a recurring theme, with the Frenchman looking a player transformed.
Troy Deeney and Ighalo dominated in the air and Walter Mazzarri has given the Hornets a real Italian steel - with Sebastian Prodl a real rock at the back.
And super sub Zuniga shows they have the bench to change games.
3. This United midfield isn't working
PAUL SCHOLES said before the game that Paul Pogba needs to be in a midfield three.
He was today, but even then the former Juventus man failed to get a stranglehold on the game.
Wayne Rooney had a lot of the ball but was rarely in a position good enough to do anything useful with it - it's almost as if the England captain has to be shoehorned into the squad.
A trio of Pogba, Rooney and Fellaini doesn't look the answer.
4. LVG's mentality still remains
THERE is definitely a hangover from the Louis van Gaal era.
Just a month ago Mourinho said: "After two years, there are things in their brains that are automatic — and that’s difficult to change.”
On this evidence, he's 100 percent correct.
After two seasons of disjointed attacking play, some of these players don't seem to have shaken off the Dutchman's influence.
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5. Rashford always come up with the goods
ONCE again Marcus Rashford appeared to be the saviour with his goal just after the hour mark.
He's still occasionally naive in possession and ran up a couple of blind allies, but his ability and positioning in the box is exceptional.
Expect him to nail down a first-time place - especially with Anthony Martial so off colour.
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