It’s football’s worst-kept secret that Manchester United and its manager, Erik Ten Hag, are under pressure right now. The worst start to a Premier League season ever for the club, with dismal defence and attack and a sense that hundreds of millions of pounds of signings for the club have been wasted.
United are, in short, something of a laughing stock, and it seems the manager is walking on thin ice. Yet, it seems for now, that Ten Hag has a stay of execution. But things must surely turn around quickly for the manager to keep his job and for the club to get back on the right track.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, let’s look at what must – and could – happen to turn things around:
United Stabilise During Easy-On-Paper Fixtures in the Late Autumn
Looking at the Premier League odds, it’s clear that any dreams of a title victory are long gone for United. However, they do have an opportunity to get back into the mix for a Top 4 finish by picking up some points after the international break. Fixtures against Brentford, Leicester, Ipswich, and West Ham all come in the next six weeks. They also have Leicester at home in the EFL Cup. None of these are certain wins, especially with the way United have been playing, but they do represent United’s easiest stretch of fixtures across the calendar. A chance to steady the ship.
Bruno Fernandes Gets a Bit of Luck
Much has been made of the form of Bruno Fernandes. The captain has not been firing on all cylinders, sure, but he has also been a bit unlucky. He should never have been sent off against Tottenham – the Premier League referees’ body has admitted they made a mistake – and a few centimetres lower and his stunning free-kick against Aston Villa would have made him the hero of the day. The Portuguese star has been the best signing in the post-Alex Ferguson era. He deserves a bit of patience to play himself back into form. A goal could turn his fortunes and get the heartbeat of United’s attack back into the groove.
The Left-Back Situation Gets Addressed
One of the main issues at United – one that has not gotten enough attention from pundits – is the fact the team has a right-back, Diogo Dalot, playing at left-back. Dalot is a fine player, but he does not fit in on that side of the pitch. Moreover, it has a knock-on effect further up the pitch, impacting Marcus Rashford, for example. Both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are at least a few weeks away from making a return, but when United get at least one natural left-back on the pitch, it will solve several problems at once.
A Settled Central Midfield Is Chosen
Casemiro and Mainoo? Ugarte and Mainoo? Eriksen and Ugarte? Mount and Ugarte? Using three of those players? United have chopped and changed the team’s engine room all season, and it really shows. Ugarte – a £50 million+ signing from Paris Saint Germain – was supposed to be the player to shore up United’s leaky defensive midfield area. He needs time to settle, so the constant switching doesn’t help. If Ten Hag can pick a unit that he believes – whomever they may be – and gives them time to settle in during this run of fixtures, United can reap the dividends.
Faith in Youth Is Once Again the Policy at Manchester United
All might seem gloomy right now, but it’s worth noting that United have some of the world’s best young players. Really. Kobie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Leny Yoro all appeared in the top ten of FIFA’s Golden Boy rankings, which rates the best youngsters in world football. Amad Diallo, Rasmus Hojlund, and Joshua Zirkzee are all aged 23 or younger. And young English players Harry Amass and Toby Collyer are also coming through the ranks. United’s legacy was built on youth, from the Busby Babes to the Class of ‘92. The team is brimming with youthful potential, and it will shine if it is given a chance to come out.
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