Is Erik Ten Hag The Right Man For Manchester United?
Manchester United have been struggling this season losing 14 games at this stage of the season in all competitions.
Last Season
In the 2022/23 season, Manchester United showed significant improvement, indicating a positive trajectory towards competing for major honours, although the campaign was not without its flaws. During Erik Ten Hag's tenure, Manchester United faced notable challenges, such as consecutive season-opening losses and significant defeats against rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. However, there were also positive aspects, including the team displaying a distinct identity for the first time in a while. Additionally, they brought an end to a six-year trophy drought by securing the Carabao Cup in a 2-0 against Newcastle United. Manchester United had won a solid 42 games last season. Now this season the mood around Old Trafford is darkening, and Ten Hag is under pressure. Here are some reasons why the team are struggling:
The Goal Dilemma
In the previous season, Manchester United secured a third-place finish, yet they recorded the fewest goals among the top six teams, scoring 58 in 38 games. Additionally, they ranked second in the category of "big chances missed," with a total of 71. Fans anticipated the club addressing this issue by acquiring a top-tier striker during the transfer window. United instead signed highly rated - though unproven - youngster Rasmus Højlund.
Højlund, aged 20, has achieved five goals in the Champions League but has only found the back of the net once in the Premier League- against 2nd place Aston Villa on Boxing Day. While there is potential for him to evolve into a high-calibre striker over time, he hasn't reached that level yet. Manchester United maintains that securing Harry Kane was never a viable option due to financial considerations (transfer fee and wages) and Tottenham's unwillingness to negotiate with a fellow Premier League team. Consequently, for the second consecutive season, United is grappling with a goal-scoring challenge.
After completing 20 league games, Manchester United has registered a goal tally of 22, which is the least among all teams in the top 10. This figure is only more than both Sheffield United and Burnley, who currently find themselves in the relegation positions.
What's going on with Marcus Rashford?
Related to the concern surrounding Højlund is the performance of Marcus Rashford. Rashford was United’s player of the season last season scoring 30 goals across all competitions. This season Rashford has only netted twice. One of these goals came from a penalty at Everton, with Bruno Fernandes willingly relinquishing the opportunity for the England forward to take the spot-kick.
If Rashford were consistently scoring, it would alleviate the burden on Højlund. However, Rashford's current form indicates a noticeable decline from his performances last season. He has frequently been substituted by Ten Hag, even in matches where United urgently needed a goal. In the recent game against Newcastle, for example, he was taken off after just 61 minutes despite his team being behind 1-0.
Rashford wants to play on the left of the front three, but he's had to compromise this season, either starting at centre-forward when Højlund was injured in August or making do with a place on the right because of Alejandro Garnacho's form on the other side.
Ten Hag faces a potential risk as Rashford has struggled at times to overcome goal-scoring droughts. In the 2021-22 season, he only scored five goals, and it is crucial for United that he doesn't repeat such a lacklustre level of productivity in another campaign.
Injury problems
Ten Hag has refrained from offering excuses, but he has been contending with an extensive injury list since the summer. In the match against Newcastle, seven key first-team players were sidelined due to injuries: Lisandro MartÃnez, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia, and Amad Diallo. Additionally, Jadon Sancho, who has been excluded from the squad since September for disciplinary reasons, further adds to the challenges.
In terms of defence, the injury challenges this season have forced Ten Hag to deploy eight different combinations at centre-back, with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw forming a defensive partnership for the first time against Newcastle. Furthermore, he has used five different players at left-back, including Shaw, Sergio Reguilón, Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelöf, and Sofyan Amrabat. Fans are expressing valid concerns about the recruitment strategy, especially considering that Ten Hag has invested nearly £400 million in new players since assuming the managerial role in the summer of 2022. However, Ten Hag might argue that he hasn't had his preferred starting eleven available at any point this season.
There is also a question mark whether the long list of injuries is simply down to bad luck, or if there's a connection between regular muscle injuries and Ten Hag's preference for intense training sessions over added rest and recuperation during the hectic fixture schedule.
Conclusion
Whether you believe in Ten Hag or not Manchester United needs to improve and if results don’t improve soon they will need to improve with a new man in the dugout. If you enjoyed this please consider subscribing for more detailed newsletters.
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