Manchester United despatched Erik ten Hag right into a gunfight armed solely with a knife.
The dimensions of neglect on this United squad over latest years was laid naked within the Dutchman’s league bow on the Previous Trafford touchline, with Brighton worthy winners as they underscored their superior particular person high quality within the midfield space.
As if to press residence to level, United have been bested on a person stage by a group who completed ninth final season and had their greatest performer within the function, Yves Bissouma, pinched by Tottenham throughout the summer time.
Sky Sports activities pundit Karen Carney supplied an correct evaluation of United’s predicament post-match, highlighting Moises Caicedo’s imperious midfield show for the Seagulls and concluding that ten Hag’s facet ‘in all probability do not lose’ the sport if the Ecuadorian is donning a Man Utd jersey.
As soon as once more the top-heavy make-up of United’s squad was evident. Ten Hag opted for a fluid frontline that afforded each Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes the license to drop into harmful central areas, however the residence facet struggled to entry both participant with any nice regularity.
In defence, Lisandro Martinez made his league debut alongside Harry Maguire, however the Argentine was undermined in possession by an absence of prepared receivers in midfield. The reserving that the 24-year-old acquired on the stroke of half-time was a byproduct of his incapability to search out an accessible move as he was caught dawdling on the ball on the midway line.
There was undoubted pleasure surrounding ten Hag’s league debut on the Previous Trafford touchline after a pre-season the place his DNA was throughout United’s attacking foundations.
And but Brighton supplied a right away kryptonite. In some ways, Graham Potter’s possession-based soccer gives a sure stage of aspiration for ten Hag within the short-term with this United squad. The Seagulls transfer possession with conviction and, crucially, they’ve the person star energy to execute their supervisor’s imaginative and prescient.
Fred was caught on the ball inside his personal defensive third inside minutes, whereas McTominay’s lack of serenity in midfield should have seen him dismissed for a wild comply with via on Caicedo within the first half.
This season marks the fourth consecutive yr wherein the Scotland worldwide has began in midfield on the opening weekend for United. A beneficiant evaluation would concentrate on United’s lack of evolution within the space, whereas a extra scathing verdict would centre on the membership’s acceptance of mediocrity within the place.
After a summer time of intense hypothesis, ten Hag seems to be in a dropping battle in his pursuit for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman would supply a right away improve within the centre of the pitch for the Previous Trafford membership, however United can not afford to waste any extra time because the switch window attracts in the direction of its conclusion.
It’s small marvel that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer developed a repute as a Man Utd supervisor fully reliant on the person attacking firepower at his disposal. With the recruitment division having neglected the central midfield place for such an prolonged time frame, Solskjaer lacked the foundations to implement an efficient possession construction.
If United aren’t cautious, it might additionally undermine ten Hag’s tenure.