Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United look to close out the season by holding off Liverpool into the top four. Winning the FA Cup will no doubt make it a very successful season, above expectations for sure.
Old Trafford has not been an easy place to come to for visiting teams as United have conceded just 8 goals all season here with a solitary loss in the league. It’s the away form that remains a concern with not being able to beat a single top 9 team on our travels. So one should hope we will be able to secure those wins from our 2 remaining games and match our record streak of 27 undefeated games at home in the season.
Marcus Rashford has had a mercurial season especially since the World Cup. However, over reliance on his numbers with the additional problem of lack of a clinical centre forward has seen the team struggle to score recently in his absence. United will need to focus on sharpening their attack line in summer starting with sorting out the greenwood situation, working out the Martial conundrum as he’s missed many games with injury and the form of Wout Weghorst who might be a resourceful team player but whose returns in terms of numbers are below subpar.
Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than Kevin De Bruyne this season and still stands far behind him in assists owing to above mentioned reasons along with the form of Sancho. Antony and Garnacho have had pretty decent seasons for debutantes with 11 and 12 goal involvements in all competitions respectively.
Midfield looks largely set as well with the likes of Casemiro and Eriksen partnering Bruno. Varane, Shaw and Martinez have provided some much needed grit in defence with David de Gea confirmed to win the Golden Glove as evidence of that.
The bigger issue is solving the squad depth problem as United have played in all but one mid weeks since the world cup and the fatigue and lack of impetus on the pitch is understandably noticeable. United have had one of the highest goals scored by substitutes so with better depth, Erik will have more options to choose from variety in dealing with different opponents.
Providing crucial backups to not merely make up squad numbers but raise the floor of the squad quality will be crucial in determining where United will be placed same time next season.
Sorting out the goalkeeper situation with De Gea being susceptible to errors and unable to cope with modern plays are a huge concern that are extrapolated with his monumental wages. The Dean Henderson situation remains big question mark as well.
So as soon the glacial but historic ownership transition is settled, Erik will have to sort out the transfers, the ins , the outs, the youth and the loans as early as possible, preferable before the tour is done. This will provide role clarity and help build team chemistry. Leaving things late into the season would leave us playing catch up to teams that get business done early. a pretty costly affair as even this season testifies.
United have been one of the worst convertors of set pieces and turning that into a threat can certainly do no harm, especially against teams that sit back and don’t give in easy.
The highs have been high this season with the obvious highlight being winning the Carabao Cup, a trophy after 6 long years. Erik has won more matches in his first season as United manager than any previously in the history of the club. Hopefully he will be trusted with the funds and right players in time for him to be able to reduce the gap between our highs and lows like the Liverpool debacle and our untimely cup competition exits.
@ronniechan96
Keerthan Chandra