, they’ve become a little more like Downton Abbey.
Manchester United has a well-established reputation for being entertaining to watch. However, during the tenure of Alex Ferguson, they were comparable to the TV show The Sopranos – intense, bold, and unexpectedly emotional. In the years following Ferguson’s departure, they have taken on a slightly different tone, resembling the refined and elegant drama of Downton Abbey.TM
Reworded: The concept of “Casualty” suggests that disasters are bound to happen, making it entertaining to predict their absurd details. Will André Onana encounter a violent marmoset while trying to catch a pass, or will Harry Maguire struggle under the burden of his extensive property holdings? Nope, wrong once more! It turns out to be Aaron Wan-Bissaka, getting distracted and tripping over Luke Shaw’s cough to accidentally score a goal with his tongue! Football as weekend entertainment is truly wild.
Despite showing some promising performances at Anfield, Erik ten Hag is currently facing criticism and pressure. However, before we jump to conclusions and label him as incompetent, it is important to consider whether Manchester United’s current situation is truly his responsibility. Due to poor decisions made by the owners and a lack of investment, Ten Hag inherited a team that lacks both skill and determination, but was expected to perform like champions. On top of that, the ongoing takeover talks have caused distractions, and instead of providing strong leadership, the situation surrounding Mason Greenwood and Antony has only added to the stress.
Both Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp did not have immediate success in England, and neither of them inherited a complex situation. Therefore, it is reasonable to give Ten Hag, who holds multiple roles of director of football, chief scout, and manager, enough time to excel in an extremely challenging position where he is destined to struggle.
The Glazers were advised by their consultant that their team required a major overhaul, but their ongoing financial exploitation and the lack of understanding about football by those in charge have impeded any progress. As a result, Maguire and McTominay are aware that Ten Hag wanted them to be replaced. Meanwhile, players like Weghorst, Amrabat, Evans, and Eriksen were brought to United not because of their abilities, but because they were available for free.
Ten Hag has invested a significant amount of money in players that he personally favors. This strategy was successful last season, as players such as Lisandro Martínez, Tyrell Malacia, and Casemiro made valuable contributions. Casemiro, in particular, was worth the cost despite being seen as a financial burden. Ten Hag was aware that the promising young player Kobbie Mainoo would eventually take over for him. However, Antony’s performance has been lacking, likely due to a lack of solid support from the full-back position. This could be seen as a mistake on Ten Hag’s part, but with a competent team structure in place, he would have been protected from making such a decision.
It is currently too early to assess recent developments. While Mason Mount is a skilled player, United’s midfield lacked a physical box-to-box player who could handle pressure. Bruno Fernandes is not as good of a fit for this role. On the other hand, Rasmus Højlund fits the profile of the player the team needs, but he is not quite at the level they require yet. Unfortunately, Ten Hag has not been given the opportunity to explore other options.
He was given permission to sign a different goalkeeper instead of the highly praised Onana who had a nervous start that could possibly be forgiven, but his mistakes showed a hasty and disorganized style that is hard to comprehend. As his confidence decreased, his ability to make plays also disappeared – although this could also be attributed to the constant changes in the players in front of him due to United’s extensive injury list. It is unclear if Ten Hag is responsible for this, but the increasing number of non-contact injuries raises concerns. Additionally, the team’s pre-season focused more on financial gain rather than football, which left the players unfit for the start of the season with no opportunity to establish new partnerships or playing style.
The injuries to United’s players have occurred during a critical time in the team’s growth, disrupting their planned progress. Højlund, who joined the team injured, is now trying to catch up and adjust while his confused teammates try to understand their new center-forward. Mainoo, who plays a crucial role in the system, is also recovering from an injury. Among his potential partners, Casemiro, Eriksen, and Mount are all unfit, and Amrabat missed pre-season due to an injury. Onana wants to start their attack from the back, but the absences of Martínez, Mainoo, and Shaw have made this difficult.
Critics have recently contended that Ten Hag’s expectations for his team are unclear, but his team’s 17 months of performances, press conferences, and interviews have shed light on his approach. What remains uncertain is whether his players are capable of executing his tactics and if those tactics align with what they should be doing. Ten Hag prioritizes controlling the field and possession, yet he frequently chooses McTominay despite already having Fernandes on the team. He also prefers a high defensive line, yet consistently overlooks Raphaël Varane, the only available center-back with speed and skill. This often results in a depleted midfield or a full-back losing possession, leaving attacking players out of position and a striker losing his spark.
For this, the players bear much responsibility. Through their laxity and imprecision they have inflicted upon themselves a profound collective PTSD, the nous so pitifully absent on the pitch supreme when it comes to outlasting managers. The Guardian understands that one recent recruit was extremely unimpressed by the mentality of some in the dressing room and maybe it is contagious, because when United met Real Madrid in pre-season, Carlo Ancelotti patted the tummy of arch-professional Casemiro to honour how magnificently he had summered.
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Just as it is easy to exculpate Ten Hag – his players are responsible for their own professionalism – so it is to question him: it is his job to inspire them. Last season, an aggressive approach helped compensate for lacking charisma but by responding to adversity with reactivity, having previously told his team that they could, he is now tacitly advising them they can’t.
United has managed to stay above water with close wins that were more a result of determination and hard work rather than consistent good performance. This did not instill confidence in players who are prone to uncertainty. Additionally, the team’s selections have been conservative, focused on obtaining results rather than developing the team’s potential. As a result, there is a lack of momentum and a clear team identity emerging.
Ten Hag’s cautious approach has resulted in what experts now refer to as the McTominay Dilemma, where the individual contributing the most to the team’s success is also hindering it. Despite his impressive scoring abilities, McTominay falls short of the necessary standard and his partnership with Fernandes makes it difficult to dominate the midfield. As a result, Ten Hag’s “genius of the final pass” is not utilized effectively, leaving Højlund to struggle. And it’s not just Fernandes, as evidenced by United’s unacceptable record of only 18 goals in 17 league matches.
The solution is straightforward and unavoidable as Mainoo can no longer be held back – it is not a coincidence that with Fernandes suspended, United’s midfield balance shifted and they were able to keep Liverpool at bay – and Casemiro will soon be returning. Ten Hag must be courageous and break away from past failures by no longer tolerating those responsible for them. He should consider if his current approach needs adjustment to better suit his situation and then fully commit to his decision. With Varane back in the lineup, Martínez’s return on the horizon, and midweeks now available for coaching, improvements are expected – but it’s like the character on Casualty who couldn’t even play badminton without injuring their neck with a racket…
Source: theguardian.com
