Home » A look at Manchester Uniteds squad after a shambolic start to the season

A look at Manchester Uniteds squad after a shambolic start to the season

After another shambles against Brentford we have looked at the team that were put out

I’ll state it – Man Utd needed 10 players in the summer and clear many out – getting some money for players and wages off the books

Team

Many issues with this starting team, here are some changes which are fine after the event but I think a few people would have had this before the match.

Maguire – should have been swapped for Varane but that won’t happen
Shaw – should have been swapped for Malacia
Eriksen – swap positions with Bruno
Dalot – swap for Wan-Bissaka , marginally better
van de Beek – start instead of Bruno

Starters

1 – de Gea
20 – Dalot
5 – Maguire
6 – Martínez he was Substituted for Varane at 45 minutes
23 – Shaw he was Substituted for Malacia at 45 minutes
14 – Eriksen he was Substituted for van de Beek at 87 minutes
17 – Fred he was Substituted for McTominay at 45 minutes
25 – Sancho he was Substituted for Elanga at 60 minutes
8 – Bruno Fernandes
10 – Rashford
7 – Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

12 – Malacia
19 – Varane
22 – Heaton
29 – Wan-Bissaka
34 – van de Beek
36 – Elanga
37 – Garner
39 – McTominay

In detail

de gea

he is an excellent shot stopper but with t he ball at his feet, not so good. If thats what Tan Haag wants from a goalie then he will need another one. This happened at Man City when Pep realised his goalie couldn’t play the ball at his feet. Dean Henderson was not the answer by the way

Dalot

Not good defending, Wan Bissaka is better at defending but not so good going forward. So Man U don’t have a player that can do both

Maguire

Never a captain, doesn’t look like one and should have had that removed in the summer.

Not sure if thats the main issue with him but it may help to relieve the pressure. Some of the defending is terrible, very slow to react and seems to turn as if he is standing in concrete and is easy to play against.

Martínez

Struggled in his first 2 games and was hooked at half-time. Still too early to judge but its telling he was not the first choice defender that Ten Haag wanted. He also has to play alongside a competent certain half.

Shaw

Bang average as a left back, he doesn’t seem to want to go forward and do any hard graft any more. He was more a passion player putting in hard tackles which is limited in the Premier league.

Malacia was signed – should have started in his place.

Eriksen

A good player but has now played in the wrong position twice. He should start in front of Fernandes for a few games. Jury is still out.

Fred

He is not good enough – played in a  role against Brentford where he cannot do a job.

Not sure what he is really good at – one of 2 in a similar position that should never play for a club like Man United.

Sancho

A world beater at Borussia Dortmund which looks light years away from what he does at Man Utd. He doesn’t seem to take on any players anymore, doesn’t make dribbles, he doesn’t track back enough and cannot dominate a game.

A mile off the player they bought – is that Man Utd that is doing that to players.

Bruno Fernandes

He started like a house on fire and although a lot of his goals were penalties he was a key figure. Now, he acts like a petulant child on the pitch and his attitude has to be questioned.

Rashford

If this guy was foreign he would be ripped apart but because he is English, is on social media and has his good causes and is on the same side politically as many pundits he gets a free pass.

He should have left a while ago and has not contributed on the pitch for a long  time. If PSG really wanted him, buy him a ticket. Not good enough and shows the problems at the club – big contract, no returns.

Cristiano Ronaldo

He seems to be getting the blame from certain sections of the media.

Stop, he is a serial winner, he shows more passion and effort than any of the rest of the squad. He wants to leave and why would he not, the club he left years ago is a shell, a shambles and is being destroyed from the inside. He still has 2 years where he could win stuff.

Subs

Malacia

Should be starting rather than Shaw – enough said

Varane

A serial winner at France and Real Madrid but doesn’t get a start in front of Maguire – that is laughable. A way better player.

Heaton

A backup – might get a start, no blame on him at the moment.

Wan-Bissaka

Better than Dalot but still not good enough. He is good at defending and terrible going forward – a key attribute in a modern team, a pair of good wing backs

van de Beek

Not sure how he doesn’t get more games – something strange going on there

Elanga

A young player, should turn out to be a good player. If Man United do not ruin him first. A lot of expectation on him, too much arguably.

Garner

Another player who did well in the tough Championship with Forest last season. He should get more game time, does anyone not think he would give more than someone like Rashford.

McTominay

Terrible. Can someone tell me what he excels at. Passing – nope, tackling – nope, shooting – nope. He runs about, shouts a lot and has come through the system. Maybe t he system is broken if thats the best you have,

I don’t think he gets a game for anyone else in the Premier League and maybe not even many championship teams.

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