The one time Manchester United have ever suffered by way of a lower-scoring begin to a top-flight season, George Finest and Denis Regulation have been two of the membership’s solely goal-getters.
Erik ten Hag’s sequence of undesirable damaged data extends to United’s worst begin in Premier League historical past. The toothless Pink Devils head into the second worldwide break of the season slumped in 14th, already trailing Liverpool by a double-digit factors tally.
Exterior a switch window, there isn’t any alternative to purchase any extra gamers conversant in the Eredivisie, however there are a couple of tweaks which could possibly be made to keep away from bolstering the lengthy record of historic lowlights.
Ten Hag’s future has been a tedious speaking level since he misplaced his second match in control of the membership to Brentford in humiliating trend. The non-public whispers that the hierarchy are eager on maintaining the Dutchman are competing for airtime with the rumours of Thomas Tuchel’s impending appointment.
Jonny Evans admitted that the vortex of uncertainty swirling round Ten Hag “does have an effect on the gamers”, after he shut out the noise to maintain a clear sheet towards Aston Villa. No matter choice INEOS make can be higher than the deafening silence of continued uncertainty.
Ten Hag had two footage of Johan Cruyff hanging up on the partitions of his workplace at Ajax. “I apply Cruyff’s beliefs in my present work,” the proud Dutchman has insisted – however the efficiency of his United group flies within the face of every thing his compatriot preached.
Cruyff’s footballing philosophy will be boiled all the way down to a pair of easy directions: make the pitch as huge as doable when you may have the ball and as small as doable with out it. Manchester United by some means conspire to do the precise reverse, providing yawning chasms of open inexperienced grass for the opposition to plough by way of once they mistakenly attempt to press and drop deep on the identical time.
These widening holes seem in midfield – which is why Kobbie Mainoo ages like a president after each 90 minutes spent frantically charging round – however are a consequence of the forwards and defensive rearguard not working in unison. Whereas the frontline halfheartedly presses, a defence not blessed with tempo creeps deeper and deeper, stretching the peak of the group like an accordion at full enlargement.
United are virtually extra weak once they have the ball, helplessly uncovered as quickly because the opposition pressure a turnover wherever inside their very own half. All three of Liverpool’s targets in September’s walkover got here from low cost giveaways, whereas Twente’s Bart van Rooij and Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven have been each capable of surge by way of United’s smooth centre swiftly after possession was misplaced.
“We wish to be the most effective transition group on this planet,” Ten Hag dramatically declared in the course of the summer time of 2023. “We wish to shock. We wish to play dynamic, we wish to play with pace, we wish to play aggressive, out of an excellent group spirit, as a result of that’s United.”
The Dutchman’s prices duly delivered in the course of the 2023/24 marketing campaign, changing into the one Premier League membership to launch greater than 100 direct assaults final season. Virtually one-quarter of United’s huge probabilities got here through this avenue.
This time period, solely three golf equipment have tried fewer pictures following quick breaks as United are nonetheless ready for a primary objective from the sort of worthwhile assault.
The newly central function of United’s full-backs – partially dictated by the profile of Noussair Mazraoui and taking part in right-footed Diogo Dalot on the left – has contributed to United’s blunted edge. Luke Shaw’s full restoration can’t come quickly sufficient, however shifting Dalot onto his pure flank may assist.
Bruno Fernandes was proven purple playing cards in consecutive appearances however has far larger issues than his disciplinary report. The membership captain has created simply six Premier League probabilities throughout the primary seven video games this season – half of which got here on the second weekend of the marketing campaign in a defeat to Brighton. A hulking mass of 68 Premier League gamers have been simpler within the ultimate third than United’s creator-in-chief, together with his former teammate Aaron Wan-Bissaka, per FBref.
After averaging greater than three key passes per recreation throughout the earlier two campaigns, Fernandes has sunk to a pitiful ratio of 0.9. The final time Fernandes averaged lower than one likelihood created per recreation was virtually a decade in the past, throughout his second season at Udinese in 2014/15.
United have been dangerously reliant on Fernandes’ artistic powers since his arrival initially of 2020. In a approach, it is outstanding that they’re solely now struggling the painful penalties of his diminishing kind. Winless Crystal Palace have taken extra pictures than the Pink Devils and solely relegation-fodder within the type of Southampton can level to fewer targets than Ten Hag’s wayward prices this time period.
For the reason that begin of final summer time, Fernandes has racked up 75 appearances for membership and nation, lacking simply six doable matches. The Portuguese worldwide is on the transfer once more this month with journeys to Poland and Scotland. Certainly he is due some respite from shouldering the burden of United’s whole attacking output.
