Change is probably coming with Manchester United playing so badly, so often, but this is a club trapped in constant transition
rik ten Hag arrived at Manchester United promising to inspire flowing, thrilling transition football. And, you have to say, mission accomplished. You only had to watch. Thanks to Ten Hag, United fans are being treated to sumptuous counterattacking fare on a near-weekly basis, even if – unhappily for Ten Hag’s job prospects – most of it these days seems to be getting played by the opposition.manager should be sacked.
But more damning even than the statistics are the optics. The general sense of panic and disarray that spreads through the entire team when someone runs at them. The reliable Jonny Evans, reliably perched 10 yards behind the rest of his defence, as if auditioning to be their drummer. The forlorn sight of Casemiro sliding in on Michael Olise on Monday night and missing not just Olise but the memory of Olise: like a man walking into a room and immediately forgetting why he entered it.
That’s three-quarters of Ten Hag’s first-choice backline. In their absence he has been left with more reactive, last-line defenders like Evans, Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire, or non-defenders like Amrabat and Casemiro, who lack the capability to play a sophisticated, organised, high-line defence.
And again, you have to say – with less sarcasm – mission accomplished. United have scored eight times in the first 10 minutes, won seven games in the last 10 minutes, conceded 13 times in the 87th minute or later. They’ve failed to close out a winning position 11 times in all competitions. Their games this season have averaged 3.4 goals. This may not be the optimum outcome for United the team. But it is a clear win for United the global entertainment product.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Manchester United have met with Jadon Sancho during loan, Erik ten Hag revealsManchester United have met with Jadon Sancho during his loan spell at Dortmund and Erik ten Hag is hopeful their conflict can be resolved
Read more »
Erik ten Hag at Manchester United: should he stay or should he go?Head coach has been hampered by injuries but has not established a discernible playing style – while Thomas Tuchel will be available
Read more »
Erik ten Hag will not be sacked by Manchester United before end of seasonErik ten Hag remains safe as Manchester United manager until the end of the season
Read more »
Erik ten Hag bemoans Manchester United’s ‘very low levels’ in FA Cup scareErik ten Hag bemoaned his Manchester United’s tendency to let results slip after they were taken to penalties by Coventry’s late fightback
Read more »
Erik ten Hag bemoans Manchester United’s ‘huge’ bad luck amid strugglesManchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag has claimed a lot has gone against his side this season as last season’s progress has stalled
Read more »
Manchester United v Burnley, Newcastle v Sheffield United, and moreAll the action from the 3pm BST Premier League kick-offs, including two big games in the relegation battle
Read more »