Physical Fitness Still Lags Behind
Following the match, Roy Keane shared on Sky Sports that the Man United players seemed unprepared physically. This rare restraint from the former “Red Devils” legend doesn’t downplay the seriousness of the issue.
In both the matches against Wolves and Tottenham, Man United only pressed intensely for about 15 minutes before playing passively and often losing control due to the inability to chase down opponents. The midfield duo of James Maddison and Yves Bissouma from Spurs, one swift and the other robust, dominated the midfield, leaving the home team’s midfield shattered.
Maddison effortlessly carried the ball and accelerated from his own half in three instances without encountering much resistance. Meanwhile, Bissouma, with support from Sarr, physically overwhelmed the entire “Red Devils” midfield, wearing them down before reaching the host’s goal.
The Striker Conundrum
After the Wolves match, Erik ten Hag still hasn’t come up with a solution to solve the attacking puzzle, as Marcus Rashford once again demonstrated he’s not fit to play as a striker. In the meantime, the flanks with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony seemed almost toothless. Garnacho displayed more energy compared to the Wolves game, but scoring a goal is what counts most, and he fell short in that regard.
When positioned as a striker, Rashford loses all his signature moves – explosive bursts, long dribbles, and tight control. Constantly having to receive the ball with his back to the opponent’s goal eradicates these skills entirely. When substituted, Rashford expressed frustration on the bench, stemming from a sense of helplessness in front of the opposition’s goal.
If Ten Hag persists with the Garnacho-Rashford-Antony trio, he will continue to pay the price. Towards the end of the match, Anthony Martial was brought on unwillingly due to not having fully recovered from an injury. If the French forward gets hurt again and leaves the pitch, Ten Hag might find himself without options.
Before the match, the Dutch coach mentioned the urgent need to reinforce the squad. With just 10 days left in the summer transfer window, Man United must invest in acquiring another forward and midfielder.
Optimizing Mason Mount’s Role
The issues encountered in the Wolves match were rekindled as Mount and Bruno found themselves occupying similar positions. Mount is versatile and can play almost anywhere in midfield, but that also limits him since he isn’t truly exceptional in any area.
Ten Hag wants the midfield to attack more vigorously to cover the offensive shortcomings. However, when Mount positions himself close to the opponent’s penalty area, Ten Hag unintentionally creates an overlap with Bruno. In some instances, pulling Mount back to support Casemiro didn’t bridge the gap between the midfield and Bruno. Even when directed to apply pressure on the opponent’s midfield, Mount struggled.
Once the team is at full strength, Ten Hag could revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bruno Fernandes as the attacking midfielder, and Mount and Casemiro providing support behind him. However, until Rasmus Hojlund is fit to play, this scenario remains a mere imagination.
Thinning Squad Depth
Substitutes brought on during the second half, such as Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri, Diogo Dalot, or Christian Eriksen, failed to alter the course of the game as they are not the game-changers or super subs that could shift the dynamics.
If the main players are struggling, a look at Man United’s bench reveals an even bleaker situation. One season is insufficient for Ten Hag to reinforce and cleanse the remnants of the past. It’s possible that by the end of this season, Man United will continue to exasperate their fans time and again.
