FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – Manchester United have gotten themselves right into a hell of a multitude. On the pitch in addition to off it.
Essentially the most lucky of victories on Monday evening in opposition to a Wolves workforce just lately thumped by Brighton and Hove Albion was put right down to early season syndrome (plus an inexplicable failure to rule a penalty in opposition to Andre Onana), and it was adopted up on Saturday night by a second half mauling by Ange Postecoglou’s new Tottenham.
Their dealing of the Mason Greenwood scenario has been abominable within the days between the 2 matches, in addition to the months earlier than this season has begun. And evident on the new White Hart Lane has been what seems to be one other poor summer season of planning within the transfer market. One thing improper on the prime of Manchester United, appears acquainted?
Erik ten Hag has developed this workforce to some extent the place he is beginning to have the ability to name it his personal, and a £310m web spend has been afforded on it over three switch home windows. However United right here have been but once more impotent in assault and the time is upon us to evaluate whether or not the Dutchman has acquired his planning within the centre of midfield proper for Premier League soccer.
Ten Hag continues to stick with Marcus Rashford as a central striker, basically deleting his menace from large areas, limiting his involvement in matches and stopping presumably United’s strongest on-field mixture, between him and left again Luke Shaw. Rashford has confirmed again and again he does not have the traits to guide a line and has overtly admitted he’d desire to play large.
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Rasmus Hojlund might be relied upon when match to take the burden of carrying the workforce up the pitch from centre ahead, however the actual fact United are having to attend for a 20-year-old, signed with an harm and absent for the opening weeks of his profession at Outdated Trafford, reeks of poor planning.
And sure, to repeat, Hojlund is 20 years outdated. The preliminary intention was to combine the Dane (or a younger, promising placing possibility) with a extra skilled striker to dovetail with as United compete on 4 fronts this season. However with lower than two weeks remaining of the switch window and with a sell-to-buy coverage in place, any incomings are more likely to are available in different components of the pitch.
The midfield stability is the factor Ten Hag has sought strongest to right since arriving. United signed Christian Eriksen and Casemiro final summer season, and Mason Mount has been purchased this 12 months to succeed Eriksen long-term. And whereas questions have been requested from previous to Mount’s arrival by means of pre-season on if a triumvirate of Casemiro, Mount and Bruno Fernandes had the correct stability to regulate high-level matches (any matches, actually) they’ll ramp up following this defeat.
United’s midfield trio have been uncovered constantly on Monday evening, however overpowered within the second half by Tottenham’s stout and dynamic pairing of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, in addition to the category of latest signing James Maddison. Sarr scored the opener to cap off a player of the match performance by 90min requirements.
Ten Hag needs United to finish the signing of Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat to revive stability however even following the potential arrival of the Moroccan, United’s proactivity in making Mount their first signing of the summer season absolutely signifies an intention that the three are first alternative, and can stay so, for almost all of the time.
Mason Mount accomplished 14 passes out of 17 tried this night in 85 minutes. Christian Eriksen, subbed on after the hour, accomplished 16 from 17.
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) August 19, 2023
Mount accomplished 14 out of 17 tried passes throughout 85 minutes and couldn’t get entangled (Eriksen accomplished 16 from 17 in round half-hour) and whereas United insist they secured their first alternative midfield goal you possibly can’t assist however solid an eye fixed in the direction of west and north London as Chelsea and Arsenal have spent over £100m on three separate events between them this 12 months on all-action central midfielders.
There is a purpose for these signings, and a purpose why central midfielders price a lot cash in fashionable soccer – as a result of they maintain a lot affect over the management a workforce exerts over matches.
United have had a whole summer season to deal with the problems they’ve of their workforce and the one noticeable distinction in type thus far stems from the arrival of Andre Onana. They’ve two weeks remaining within the switch window with a self-inflicted PR catastrophe to wash up and on-field points to repair in midfield and assault.
All this beneath the cloud of uncertainty that’s the Glazer household’s possession of Manchester United. Becoming, and unsurprising.
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