The problems Manchester United have faced so far in the 23/24 season (a thread)
- Injuries: As a result of the previous season being a 65+ game season, players taking injections to play and an exhausting schedule it's spilling over to this season. With United's current 3 out of the first choice back 4 injured and 3 stand in full-backs out
Every team deals with injuries but a big part of the reason Ten Hag's team in possession was effective last season at breaking down low blocks involved the full-backs inverting/pulling wide. So far even the backup full-backs have been out e.g. Malacia, Reguilon
When a player is injured for a team you want the team to still function in the same way but against Palace (h) and Brentford (a) Amrabat and Lindelof were full-backs, it meant on Rashford's wing there hasn't been an overlapping full-back with an over reliance on Dalot's flank
I think neutrals think it's been bad but you realise how bad it's been when only Casemiro, Fernandes, Rashford and Onana have been fit the whole season with every other player at some point having an injury. With the squad a mishmash of players returning at different times
- Problems with Defensive Transition: Wolves (h) Tottenham (a) Nottingham (h) The newest pressing United have done has actually resulted in more turnovers than last season, the problem is the pressing isn't up to scratch yet, with this being the case it means teams can break
It doesn't help that Casemiro keeps diving in, but he was basically responsible for marshalling 40 yards last season (and was good at it) and this season isn't. It seems as though Casemiro being poor in possession too has made ETH realise an alarming issue with him
- Chances Missed and Luck: Mason Mount after Palace 'It's fine margins and it's just not going our way at the moment.' This is eye-opening as it shows the morale in the camp in terms of missing chances and things not going United's way
It felt like in games last season United didn't play well but morale and momentum took them over the line, the reverse is happening this season. With United missing chances or marginal offsides e.g. Garnacho's offside goal, but it speaks volumes that the squad think that too
- Manipulating United's Pressing Structure: Brighton (h) Tottenham (a) It feels like teams have figured out that last season United's pressing structure revolved around stopping teams central progression, leaving spaces wide
This was effective as you would rather teams be forced out wide than build up through the middle. But managers have figured that out this season and are simply making in-game changes to manipulate United's press e.g. Brighton's CBs pulling wider to lure in United's forwards
The in-game changes happened vs Spurs too where basically it was easy to pull the forwards around and manipulate the pressing structure without the ball and it doesn't feel like Ten Hag thus far has had a reaction to these changes.
The problem with changing this structure is that when the full-backs have pushed up in the press too, teams have utilised this as an advantage to dart into the space that has been vacated whilst the players who should be covering the space have been dragged out
This combined with Casemiro frequently caught advanced up the pitch means it leaves huge space for teams out wide, which is why there have been so many cutback goals scored vs United. Manipulate the central structure, find spaces wide, drag a CB or fullback out and cross
United (and Casemiro) would be better off holding their positions rather than be dragged around with ease. It doesn't help conceding these goals but doubly doesn't help the attack is misfiring with a massive over-reliance on going long rather than playing the ball calmly
Again though this reliance on going long is probably because of the injuries suffered. Relying heavily on transitions which United did well last season, every issue atm seems to have a ripple effect for United
I haven't mentioned Onana's errors but it feels like confidence is low all round which is why the Brentford win was huge, as games like that can be a catalyst for an upturn in form, aside from that we may need to see United change their pressing structure and play Casemiro less
End of thread!
Would love to know your thoughts, of course there's still a lot of football to be played so there is a chance still to turn things around with numbers back
Would love to know your thoughts, of course there's still a lot of football to be played so there is a chance still to turn things around with numbers back
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