Sadly for Manchester United and their followers, it is already beginning to really feel like extra of the identical within the Premier League this season.
Erik ten Hag’s males could have picked up all three factors of their season opener in opposition to Fulham, however within the two video games since, they have not picked up any.
There’s nonetheless clearly loads of expertise on this crew, however with sides round them already beginning to draw back, Ten Hag can not afford to drop any extra factors in opposition to Southampton, and he should make modifications.
A type of modifications ought to be to drop Marcus Rashford, as his underwhelming type from final season has seemingly carried over, and the supervisor has an answer on the bench.
Rashford’s latest type
So the very first thing to say is that when he is on music, Rashford is definitely some of the harmful attackers within the Premier League, if not Europe, however therein lies the issue: he isn’t on music and hasn’t been for a while.
For instance, he adopted up his unimaginable haul of 30 targets and 11 assists in 56 appearances within the 22/23 marketing campaign with a disappointing return of eight targets and 6 assists in 43 appearances final season.
In different phrases, the Englishman went from averaging a aim involvement each 1.36 video games to at least one each 3.07 video games final yr, and sadly, he is carried on that underwhelming type into this season.
For instance, in his three league video games so far, the 26-year-old has failed to attain or help a aim, and whereas he has created the odd probability for his teammates, he is simply appeared ineffective in assault.
There’s undoubtedly nonetheless a high quality participant in there, but it surely looks like he might do with a while out of the crew.
Furthermore, contemplating United are enjoying one in every of if not the weakest groups within the league tomorrow, it looks like the right alternative to make a change and begin one of many membership’s younger and thrilling wingers in his place.
Why Diallo ought to begin
Sure, the teenager who ought to come again into the facet is Amad Diallo, however he ought to achieve this on the proper, that means Alejandro Garnacho shifts over to the left, the place he has began nearly all of video games in his profession.
Now, no one is claiming that the younger Ivorian is a greater participant than Rashford at this level, however not like the Englishman, he’s not burdened with a mixture of expectations for what followers know he can do and stress on account of what he has achieved.
Furthermore, whereas the previous Atalanta gem remains to be younger, 22 is sufficiently old for him to be getting common begins within the first crew, and whereas he is nonetheless considerably uncooked, he has appeared good when given the chance to play.
For instance, in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion final month, he scored and appeared harmful in assault, and whereas final season noticed him spend lots of day trip with damage points, the marketing campaign prior noticed him gentle up the Championship with Sunderland.
In simply 43 appearances, the Abidjan-born “famous person”, as dubbed by soccer creator Liam Canning, scored 14 targets and offered 4 assists, that means he averaged a aim involvement as soon as each 2.38 video games for the Black Cats.
Finally, whereas the step-up to Premier League soccer is important, Diallo has proven he has the potential to thrive, and with Rashford nonetheless underwhelming, Ten Hag should take full benefit of a sport in opposition to Southampton and begin the Ivorian instead of the Englishman.
