Despite much fanfare, Sofyan Amrabat has had a mediocre start to life as a Manchester United player which has seen him drop down to the bench. Consequently, his spot in the team has been frequently taken by the much-maligned Scott McTominay.

It all started out so differently for the Moroccan World Cup hero. The midfield general was praised by United fans for his incredible patience to sign for the club despite the interest of many other teams including Premier League rivals Fulham. The player, who claimed to only have eyes for the Red Devils, finally got his dream move from Fiorentina on deadline day.

In fact, arch-rivals Liverpool were also rumoured to be close to securing the services of the World Cup semi-finalist, as a deal was said to be “only hours away”. However, once again Amrabat’s supposed desire for United kept the deal from happening. That is quite a way to endear yourself to Manchester United fans around the globe.

Anyone who was following the Red Devils’ transfer activity on social media during the dying embers of the window would have seen the name Amrabat trending everyday on X. Such a clamour for a player of the Moroccan’s stature is rare. You would have been excused for thinking United were chasing a world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.

Man United fans got their wish and the man from Morocco was brought in on an initial €10m loan fee with the possibility of a permanent deal for €25m. The excitement probably mainly stemmed from the trending video of Amrabat heroically chasing down Mbappe at the World Cup and producing a monstrous sliding tackle to not only cleanly win the ball, but also continue to drive his team down the pitch by majestically carrying the ball downfield.

Secondly, the shambolic midfield performances versus Wolves on the opening day of the season also led many to doubt the wisdom of an aging Casemiro being the only defensive midfield option at the club.

So, the Moroccan made his much awaited debut vs Burnley in September and had fans excitedly chattering after a “stunning” full debut vs Crystal Palace at home in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory.

Sadly, and this seems a recurring theme this season, things have only gone downhill since. The man from Huizen has failed to make any real lasting impression on the team. In fact, he has also put in some brutally poor performances. He was hooked at half-time in the Manchester derby and seems a regular candidate for the referee’s notebook. The pace of both the league and Champions League seems too much for the former Fiorentina man at present. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton claimed the player looked like “a fish out of water” in the team’s 1-0 defeat vs Crystal Palace.

The Peoples Person recently labelled the signing a 1 out 10 so far stating that the midfielder has looked “overawed” and is yet to “find his feet” at the top level.

This lack of impact can be seen in the 10 games he has played in all competitions for the Mancunian side, he has failed to score or register an assist. In fact, the long-range pile driver that rattled the bar against Sheffield United is the only real chance he has had. To be fair, goals and assists should not be the marker of a defensive midfielder. So, let’s delve deeper.

According to Transfermarkt the player has only played more than 45 mins five times in his 10 appearances for the club. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the manager. The team have also lost five games and conceded 16 goals with the Moroccan picking up 3 yellow cards. Not great.

In Amrabat’s defence, it has not been plain sailing for him. The prolonged nature of the transfer meant that the midfielder had not been training with Fiorentina all summer, so effectively had no real pre-season. Furthermore, an injury crisis at his new club saw him play his first few games as a left-back, which is far from his natural position.

Additionally, he has had a revolving door of defensive and midfield partners in a club which is doused in uncertainty. Would anyone really be successful is the question. Lastly, to compound matters, the World Cup star picked up an injury while on international duty, so he has probably not been able to play to his maximum potential.

So what could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. This is the story of the Red Devils’ season. No matter what way you look at it, you cannot sugarcoat it. Amrabat has struggled and doesn’t look good enough. If the season ended tomorrow, the manager would be mad to sanction a permanent move. Luckily for the Moroccan, the season doesn’t end tomorrow. We are only in November and there is ample time to turn it around. Casemiro’s long term injury has also provided him a chance to nail down a more regular starting role in the defensive midfield department. Over to you Sofyan.

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United scored two goals in the opening 45 minutes courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund who grabbed a brace.

Erik ten Hag’s men looked to be comfortable and in control, until a Marcus Rashford red card turned the game on its head. Copenhagen quickly scored two goals to restore parity before the break.

United momentarily took the lead in the second half after Bruno Fernandes converted his penalty.

However, once more, Copenhagen scored twice – this time in the space of five minutes – to clinch the win and secure all three points at Parken.

Ferdinand spoke to TNT Sports (via Eurosport) after the final whistle and blamed United’s poor mentality and a lack of leaders in the team for the team’s collapse.

The six-time Premier League winner said, “Back again into crisis mode, I think that’s the way it is. It’s a rollercoaster at Man United now. There’s no consistency.”

“We were watching that game and I was screaming, 2-0 up, Rasmus Hojlund, I’m thinking, ‘Wow, we’ve found a hero’, and then all of a sudden the wheels just fall off. They capitulate and that just signals to me a lack of character at the moment, there’s not enough characters in there to pull a team through.”

“When they’re in a situation where there’s a bit of adversity or they’re under duress, they haven’t got enough leaders and characters in those moments to pull them through in those moments and that’s what you need.”

“It doesn’t come down to ability in those situations. Away, Copenhagen, I’ve been there, we got beat 1-0 when I was there, but this is far too often we’re seeing this happen.”

Ferdinand added that the United players need to dig deep to overturn their current predicament and get the team back to winning ways.

The 45-year-old however admitted that ultimately the buck stops with Ten Hag and it’s up to the Dutch coach to pick his underperforming stars up.

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One of the mooted changes Sir Jim wants to implement immediately is the appointment of a new sporting director. The current incumbent, John Murtough, was never a football man and it is widely accepted that he has allowed manager Erik ten Hag to dictate transfer policy rather than the club having an overarching strategy of its own.

Fans and pundits alike have questioned the wisdom of this as well as the success, or lack of, of Ten Hag’s recruits. As we approach the 18 month mark since the Dutchman took the reins at Old Trafford, here we take a look at every one of his signings, including loans, and rate their success out of 10.

Tyrell Malacia was Ten Hag’s first signing for United. He showed some promise in his first season but was way too raw to be starting XI material. A pre-season injury has ruled him out of any football for months. Success rating: 3/10.

Lisandro Martinez was undoubtedly one of United’s top performers of last season, but he missed the end of 2022/23 and most of the first half of 2023/24 with injury. That is unfortunate, but let’s be generous and say this is a signing that has worked out reasonably well for Ten Hag nonetheless. Success rating: 7/10.

Casemiro looked to be the signing of the century until his first red card for United, but from then on, United fans have their hearts in their mouths every time he goes in for a tackle. This season he has also looked a yard off the pace and a shadow of his former self. The fact that he, too, is out until Christmas is not seen as the loss it would have been last season. Success rating: 4/10.

Christian Eriksen is probably one of Ten Hag’s more successful signings, picked up on a free following his release from Brentford last year. However, he started the season on the subs’ bench, an indication perhaps that the manager himself does not see him as a vital cog in the wheel. Success rating: 6/10.

Last summer’s other signing, Antony, has so far failed spectacularly to live up to his €95 million price tag. Average last season has given way to dire this time around. Success rating: 1/10.

Last season’s first loanee goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka, returned to Newcastle after playing two EFL Cup games. Success rating: 1/10.

Marcel Sabitzer was one of Ten Hag’s January loan deals. He showed flashes of quality but generally underperformed and also picked up a bad injury that ended his loan prematurely. Success rating: 3/10.

Wout Weghorst was surely signed purely because he was known to Ten Hag. A player unable to get into Burnley’s squad, Weghorst was simply not fit for purpose and one of the strangest loan deals ever arranged by the Red Devils. Success rating: 1/10.

Jack Butland was signed on loan to replace Dubravka but never played a minute’s football at United, with Ten Hag preferring Tom Heaton as David de Gea’s backup. A pointless signing. Success rating: 1/10.

This summer, United eagerly snapped up Chelsea’s Mason Mount but he, too, has been a flop so far. Unable to command a place in the starting XI despite several injuries and suspensions, it is hard to see Ten Hag’s plan for the England man and the signing looks like a square peg – round hole mismatch. Success rating: 2/10.

André Onana got off to a bad start at United, but is looking good enough right now without yet having set the world on fire. Success rating: 7/10.

Rasmus Hojlund looks to be a fantastic prospect and could be one of Ten Hag’s rare successes in the transfer market. One caveat though is that United ended up paying €75 million for a player who Atalanta started the summer saying they would not accept less than €45 million for. Success rating: 8/10.

Jonny Evans looked to just be joining in training for a few weeks but the chaotic transfer window and multiple injuries saw him secure a longer term contract. He even started to nail down a starting XI berth until sustaining the injury against Copenhagen that looks to have cruelly robbed him of continuity. Success rating: 6/10.

Sergio Reguilon’s loan was on paper not the worst idea in the world, but you have to ask yourself why Spurs were so happy to let him go to a rival without even a loan fee. Injury proneness and inconsistency have limited his minutes despite two left back injuries and it still beggars belief as to why United simply did not recall Alvaro Fernandez from his loan at Granada. Success rating: 3/10.

Sofyan Amrabat’s loan did not come cheap nor easily. A late arrival on deadline day, missing the start of the season, Amrabat required a €10 million loan fee when he would have been just €24m to buy. A real Ten Hag “must have”, frankly, so far, he has not been worth that amount. Yet to find his feet in the Premier League and even looking overawed in Europe against the likes of Copenhagen, the Moroccan has been a major disappointment. Success rating: 1/10.

Altay Bayindir completes the list and we can’t pass judgement on him as he has not yet played a competitive match for United. Success rating: n/a.

Total score 54/150: 36% success rate.

Whether the blame is placed at the club’s door or that of Ten Hag, at a 36% success rate, the overall transfer policy must be deemed a failure. And it did not come cheap, either; €448 million has been spent on this group of players in loan and transfer fees alone (source: transfermarkt.com).

Some have questioned whether many of these stars have improved United. Is Onana an upgrade on David de Gea? Is Amrabat an upgrade on Fred? Overall, has Casemiro been an improvement on Matic? Will Bayindir be an upgrade on Henderson? Is Malacia better than Fernandez and is Reguilon better than Alex Telles? Have United replaced the likes of Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood with anyone at all?

Too many workmanlike, work-in-progress, past their best or simply free-and-available signings. Arguably Jadon Sancho was the last really big name that United signed (and look how that turned out). Looking toward January, the kind of targets linked with United include OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, FC Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and Spurs’ Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. These are hardly names to get fans queueing up for debut match tickets.

Whatever your personal opinion on the likes of Pogba, Sancho, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes or even Romelu Lukaku, they were top signings at the time, probably considered in the world’s top 10 players in their position. Now, with the possible exception of Onana, United’s recruits are nowhere near that level.

Whilst it is a good thing that United move away from the sort of big name, marquee signings that used to get former executive vice chairman Ed Woodward’s juices flowing, like Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria and Cristiano (the second time), it is not a good thing if United pay way over the top for players who do not raise the bar on what went before.

Just as the stadium has sunk from one of the finest in the world to one struggling for Premier League mediocrity, so has the squad. A radical shift in approach is needed. Urgently.

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Numerous eyebrows were raised when it was announced that former defender, Jonny Evans, was returning to Manchester United to bolster the defensive department.

The Northern Irishman was a free agent after leaving Leicester City in the summer of 2023. The defender had an injury-ravaged 2022-2023 campaign and he disclosed in a recent interview with The Mirror that he was seriously contemplating retirement before he received the call from Erik ten Hag.

Many fans were astounded when they heard the news that the defender was training with the squad before pre-season to fill out the numbers for Ten Hag’s pre-season squad. The Northern Ireland international originally trained with the under-21s in their tour of America this summer and played in the defeat to Wrexham

Most fans assumed that this was some mutually beneficial agreement between the club and the player. Evans could train at a high level and get himself up to full fitness to secure a contract in the Championship and Manchester United got defensive cover and an experienced voice to help with the young players.

The arrangement was going well as the Dutch coach was full of praise for the defender and told the club’s official website that Evans is “a big personality, and I think he has big authority as well. He will help the young players especially.” It also mustn’t be forgotten that Evans enjoyed a trophy-laden time at the club between 2006-2015, playing 198 times and scoring 7 goals. He boasts a trophy cabinet many of the current United squad would kill for. Nonetheless, most assumed the short term deal would be over before the Premier League kick-off.

However, as the summer wore on, there was no defensive recruitment, Harry Maguire didn’t leave and Jonny Evans kept training at the club. The Red Devils were linked to numerous defenders such as Benjamin Pavard and Jean-Clair Todibo, however no move materialised. It always seemed such a move hinged on the sale of Maguire, which obviously never transpired.

So, the Northern Ireland international was the only centre-back recruit of the summer window. Many fans were critical and claimed it was yet another example of the Glazer family’s penny-pinching and lack of desire to back the manager in the market. Although, the defender was mainly brought in to add experience and cover. The defender himself must be taken aback by the amount of gametime he has received since rejoining the club where it all began.

The team from Old Trafford has faced a defensive crisis with all defenders in the squad missing crucial matches at some point this season due to injury or illness. Lisandro Martinez has been a long term absentee and Raphael Varane has had on and off knocks and fitness issues. Due to the scarcely believable simultaneous injuries to left-backs Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon, centre-back, Victor Lindelof, has been asked to deputise as a full-back.

Consequently, Evans and Maguire have been tasked to hold the defence together. This has had mixed results to say the least but also, it has probably gone better than expected. If you had told Man United fans at the start of the season that the Englishman and the Northern Irish man would be playing together regularly, it would have struck fear into their hearts. However, most would say whilst the arrangement is not perfect, it is far from the club’s most pressing issue.

Understandably for a player who is 35 years-old and in the twilight of his career, Evans suffered when asked to play against Arsenal and Manchester City. The defender on a couple of instances looked well-off the pace. Arguably Declan Rice’s crucial second goal at the Emirates Stadium was down to Evans’ slow reactions. However, to the defender’s credit, he has played quite well and been solid when asked to deal with mid-table and lower league attackers.

The Northern Irish international was outstanding against Burnley and not only in a defensive role. The Ulsterman scored a goal that was agonisingly ruled out for interference by Rasmus Houjlund and produced a Pirlo-esque wonder pass for Bruno Fernandes to volley in.

The performance was so commanding that Sky Sports pundit, and former teammate of Evans, Gary Neville, commented “I thought this would finish him” – that he felt the Burnley game would be a career ending game for the defender, where he would be brutally exposed at Premier League level. The former captain admitted his error and recognised the quality of the performance from the man from Belfast.

Nobody would sensibly argue that Evans is any more than defensive cover and if he hadn’t been a former player, he probably wouldn’t have been handed the opportunity to play at this level. However, the defender has been constantly praised throughout his career for his professionalism and leadership skills. Therefore, credit where credit is due that at the ripe old age of 35 instead of retiring, Jonny Evans remains an important player for not only United but also his country.

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Manchester United’s takeover saga has been the major talking point surrounding Old Trafford since the Glazer family opened the club up to the market last November.

A year on, it looks a though Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS consortium have won the race to invest in United after Sheikh Jassim’s full sale offers were rejected by the current owners.

Sir Jim appears to have agreed a 25% stake in the club with £245 million being rumoured as the investment figure.

It’s important to note Ratcliffe’s proposal is yet to be officially confirmed by the club but the partnership is set to be communicated in the coming weeks.

As reported by The Mirror, former United captain Gary Neville has spoken on his feelings toward the rumoured figures of investment.

Speaking on the ‘Gary Neville Podcast’ for Sky Sports, the former defender says fans will not be overly impressed by the reported numbers as investment into the decaying Old Trafford would require much deeper funds than those currently being tabled by Ratcliffe.

“You don’t sit here as a Manchester United fan, wholly impressed by the idea of £245m going in to improve the stadium because we know that Real Madrid and Barcelona are spending a billion to get their stadiums right with a full refit.

“We know that other clubs have spent significantly more. So, we know that is not actually going to touch the sides properly of a full refurb of Old Trafford,” he said.

However, Neville does believe that Ratcliffe’s business acumen is enough to suggest he has further plans for Old Trafford and the initial sum is likely to form the initial part of a instalment plan to restore the ground to its former glory.

“But what it is, is a significant amount of money – and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a smart and successful businessman.

“He’s not going to put £245m into something and let it go down the drain, so I suspect it is probably the first instalment of some sort of plan that means that they will phase the refurbishment of the stadium over two or three different seasons,” said Neville.

As mentioned, Ratcliffe is hoping to complete his deal for a stake in the club in the coming weeks and will be hoping United can muster up some form in time for his takeover.

United travel to Copenhagen for a must-win Champions League Group A game tonight, before hosting Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday.

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Mason Mount’s start to his Manchester United adventure has had as much colour as a typical Manchester November morning. For anyone who is not familiar with the city’s weather, that is not a lot.

The English midfielder has struggled to make any impact whatsoever and this has led to many fans questoning why on earth Erik ten Hag decided to splurge an initial £55m on the player, especially in the context that the club had a somewhat limited budget to spend in the summer due to the ongoing takeover drama.

The English midfielder had become disillusioned with life at Chelsea and wanted a new challenge. The Red Devils were not the only club who desired the England international’s signature. Liverpool and Arsenal were also seen as tough competition for the ex-Chelsea academy graduate. Luckily for Ten Hag, Mount opted for Old Trafford.

That is where the luck has ended so far. Mount arrived to the club on the back of a poor campaign at Chelsea but who didn’t struggle at The Blues last season? The West London based club finished an horrific 12th in the table with a paltry goal difference of -9. Not really a conducive environment for Mount to show off his talent.

We football fans also tend to suffer from short memories. The Englishman was instrumental in Chelsea’s Champions League win in 2021 and even finished 19th on the 2021 Ballon d’Or list, ahead of Bruno Fernandes.

Therefore, one could argue, the transfer made sense. But it hasn’t. The Dutch coach who brought him to the club seems completely clueless about where he wants to play him. The Englishman has already played as a number 8, number 10 and off the right.

Despite a positive start to pre-season for Mount, once the games got serious, he has looked short of confidence. The midfielder had positive scoring and assisting numbers for Chelsea, finding the back of the net 33 times for the London club. So, many United fans felt finally Bruno Fernandes had some help in that department but the two have looked incredibly incompatible when they have played together.

This is a problem for the man from Portsmouth, because Bruno always plays. The former Sporting Lisbon midfielder played more football than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues last season. Therefore, if the England international is to find success at the Red Devils he will need to find a way to play productively in the same team as the Portuguese club captain.

Pundits have also called out Mount for his passiveness and inability to get involved in the play. Former United striker, Louis Saha, lambasted Mount’s “shocking” side-stepping of responsibility on the pitch.

This can be seen in Mount’s statistics. In 10 games he has the record of 0 goals and 1 assist in the Carabao Cup. A “needs to do better” report card would be an understatement.

Although the former Chelsea player, like any new signing, requires time. The Champions League winner has been unlucky on two accounts. The first is, in only his second game, he suffered an injury that kept him out a few weeks at the start of the season. Getting injured is always misfortunate for players but especially in the context of being a new arrival looking to make their mark on a new team.

The second, is Mount probably thought he was leaving a toxic situation at Chelsea and finding a stable environment at a club on the up at Manchester United. The 2022/23 season would have suggested as much. Unfortunately for anyone connected with the club, this has not been the case.

Overall, the midfielder has had a terrible start, some of it on him, some of it on circumstances. It doesn’t look great but it would be premature to give up on a player after 10 games. Let’s make a judgement at the end of the season and hopefully there will be a few more things to get excited about in the spring weather.

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The arrival of Rasmus Hojlund has been an all too rare bright spot in an otherwise overcast season for Manchester United fans. Although, as always with this enormous club, things are not as clear-cut as they seem.

The young Dane was signed from Atalanta in the summer and tasked with the humongous opportunity but also intense pressure of leading Manchester United’s line at only 20 years old. Maybe that says more about where United’s recruitment has been over the last few years than it does for young Rasmus.

When the strapping 6ft 3 inch (1.91m) striker arrived, fan response was mixed to say the least. On the optimistic side, the Red Devils had finally brought in a number nine who could grow at the club and stay for many years. Hojlund himself grew up in Denmark idolising the club, which will always endear him to fans. His supposed loyalty to the club was demonstrated in his rejecting of PSG’s overtures in the summer in favour of joining the side from Manchester.

The Danish international has been described as a “huge talent” by opposition managers and also finished 10th in the recent European Golden Boy Award. He was in fact the only Premier League representative in the top 10.

Additionally, the striker position has been one of a few problem areas for the club of late. United fans had either got used to seeing sticking-plaster solutions like Edinson Cavani or Cristiano Ronaldo being brought to the club or players who just weren’t good enough like Wout Weghorst or Odion Ighalo. The other current striker option, Anthony Martial, lost his way somewhere back in 2020 and has never recovered.

However, despite the optimism, dissenting voices, most clearly in the British media, queried why United had not gone for Harry Kane. It was one of football’s worst kept secrets that Man United wanted Kane and Kane wanted to smash in goals under the Old Trafford lights. Peculiarly, the club from Manchester made a timid effort at the start of the summer to bring the English captain in but soon gave up when Daniel Levy made it clear that Spurs would not sell to a Premier League rival.

So, at the end of it all, Rasmus Hojlund is the solution the club and Erik ten Hag have gone for. So far, most United fans are happy with the start he has made. The young Scandanavian made his mark on the Champions League by scoring on his debut versus Bayern Munich and then scoring a brace against Galatasaray on his Old Trafford European debut.

The striker’s impressive returns for Denmark has also got United fans licking their lips at his potential. At the time of writing, the Dane has scored 7 goals in qualifying, ironically the same number as a certain Harry Kane.

Hojlund has also impressed fans with his tenacious work effort, holding the ball up and getting into goalscoring positions. His popularity with the fans can be seen every time the coach brings him off the pitch, boos ring around the stadium.

However, despite his tender age, the striker still hasn’t scored in domestic competition. As of the 7th November 2023, the Dane has played ten domestic games without finding the back of the net. It must be said that he did score on his debut vs Brighton but the goal was chalked off by VAR. However, the truth is, the longer he goes without scoring, the bigger the pressure will be from opposition fans and pundits alike.

Nonetheless, despite the mixed picture currently being presented, Hojlund needs time to adapt. He has had a meteoric rise from playing in Austria only last year to now being tasked to perform on one of the biggest stages in world football. Most Red Devils fans are sensible enough to know the striker position has been a bit of a graveyard shift of late due to the lack of service and fluid attacking football present at the club.

The kid is only 20 years old and has shown signs of his promise. The Manchester outfit did not sign Hojlund for this season alone but banking on his gigantic future potential. It is not his fault that Anthony Martial is his only competition up top.

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Andre Onana’s start to life as a Red Devil has been eventful to say the least. The Cameroonian keeper has played the role of villian and hero numerous times already this season and most haven’t even got the Christmas decorations out yet.

The summer transfer window saw the sudden departure of legendary goalkeeper David De Gea when a new contract was seemingly agreed then apparently snatched away from under his nose before the start of July.

The Spaniard was a popular figure amongst fans although many had lost patience with him after a few high-profile major errors, including Manchester City’s winning goal in the FA Cup final in June.

Much excitement was generated when rumours began to swirl around the Spaniard’s possible successor as United’s number one. When the news emerged that manager Erik ten Hag had settled on his former keeper at Ajax, Andre Onana, that positive feeling went into overdrive.

De Gea was generally always accepted as an elite shot-stopper, or at least for most of his career at the club. However, his ball playing skills, so often sought after in the modern game, were seen as sorely lacking.

This is where Onana was supposed to step in and save the day as one of the game’s best ball-playing keepers. Portugal manager, Roberto Martinez, mused that the Cameroonian was “less a sweeper-keeper than a holding midfielder at times” during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final in 2023.

The keeper’s evident inner confidence and apparent dig at Erling Haaland already quickly endeared him to Man United fans. When asked if he was scared of facing the Norwegian in the Champions Legaue final, Onana exclaimed that no man should be afraid of another man and the video quickly went viral on social media.

So United had found their confident, modern, ball-playing keeper. Unfortunately, life does not always go to plan. It is not particularly clear to many Red Devils supporters if the club play out from the back better than they did when De Gea kept guard of the goal. Onana is clearly more comfortable on the ball and has played a few beautiful passes already, like the accurate long range missile to Alejandro Garnacho against Spurs. It is not his fault his teammates have been far from prolific in front of goal. Although, it is fair to say that Onana’s comfort on the ball has not translated to the team creating or scoring more goals.

This hasn’t really been the African keeper’s primary issue though. He has admitted that he has been much poorer than expected. The goalkeeper has already made a string of poor decisions and errors resulting in goals, most famously against Bayern Munich in the team’s opening Champions League group game defeat. Credit where credit’s due, the Cameroonian came out and explained to the press that the loss was on him and confessed that he needed to do better.

Onana’s league debut was hardly less controversial. He introduced himself to the Premier League by taking out Wolves striker, Sasa Kalajdzic, which many deemed should have been a penalty. The keeper went on to make crucial mistakes resulting in goals versus Nottingham Forest, Galatasaray and Brentford. This led to a barrage of criticism and many calling him a “downgrade” on De Gea. Naturally, the papers have been filled with stories about how the Red Devils are already out to replace the Cameroon international.

This is improbable though as Erik ten Hag is unlikely to bin off his former keeper so prematurely. Onana had successful trophy-laden stints at both Ajax and Inter Milan. The shotstopper was also recently ranked 23rd in the Ballon d’Or.

As mentioned before, Onana has also had his hero moment. The last-gasp penality save in the Champions League against Copenhagen proved to be match winning and could be pivotal in United’s qualification hopes. It was a heart-warming moment when the keeper was mobbed by his teammates in the backdrop of a thunderously loud Old Trafford. Many felt this was his arrival as a United player. The African born keeper has also kept three clean sheets in the league and made a string of good saves against Manchester City, Sheffield United and most recently at the weekend in a crucial win against Fulham.

Andre Onana has not had the start he would have wanted. He is brave and self-aware enough to admit it. Life as Manchester United’s goalkeeper is the hardest job in the sport according to ex-player turned Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville. However, he clearly has the talent and an intriguing enough skill set to persevere with him and make the number one shirt is own.

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Former footballer Danny Murphy believes that Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay could play a role in re-establishing confidence in Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag following a torrid start to the season.

While both players have been subject to widespread criticism due to their poor performances over recent months, both Maguire and McTominay have improved their form, thereby giving reason to believe that Ten Hag’s coaching methods are proving effective in certain areas.

Maguire was easily one of Man United’s standout defenders in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham, completing the most touches, passes, clearances, and blocked shots of all players on both teams.

United legend Peter Schmeichel was quick to take note of the centre-back’s emphatic performance, calling him “majestic” before naming him, Maguire, as his player of the match.

Although McTominay’s goal early in the first half was ultimately ruled offside (ironically because Maguire was deemed offside), he proved to be reliable in his central midfield role, also tracking back to help his defence with three clearances and two interceptions. (Sofascore)

Murphy wrote in his weekly column for The Daily Mail that both Maguire and McTominay’s performances against Fulham should be enough to earn them a spot in the starting 11 set to face FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

“Ten Hag will now know he can rely on Maguire and McTominay,” Murphy declared, continuing: “He should be hugely relieved they decided to stay at Old Trafford.”

Once Ten Hag arrived at United at the start of last season, Maguire saw his playing time greatly reduced, which may have been viewed as unexpected given that he was the club captain at the time.

This summer, it appeared as if the England international’s career at Old Trafford was all but over, particularly after he was stripped of the captaincy.

While Maguire was then linked with a move to West Ham United, he ultimately rejected the notion, opting instead to fight for a spot in the starting 11 yet again.

McTominay, who also struggled for game time, was also on West Ham’s radar, with The Hammers offering United a combined £60 million bid to sign both the Scottish midfielder and Maguire in a package deal.

Ultimately, United rejected the offer, feeling that the London club’s valuation of McTominay was too low.

Should Maguire and McTominay continue their fine form, Ten Hag may just feel the relief that Murphy described in knowing that the two former outcasts did not depart the club during the summer.

The post Danny Murphy believes that Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire can help restore faith in Erik ten Hag appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has come under intense fire from journalist Martin Samuel over his inability to play out from the back and his perceived acceptance of long-ball football.

The “On-the-hoof” approach is all on the Dutch coach and not the Man United players according to The Times article.

The writer takes umbrage at the fact that the Dutch coach has claimed that his current Old Trafford side are not capable of playing the same style as he employed during his time at Ajax.

Everyone will remember Ajax’s swashbuckling Champions League campaign in the 2018/2019 season where the Dutch giants stunned the football world with a series of impressive results, most notably a 4-1 win in the Bernabeu, to reach the Champions League semifinal.

They would go on to lose that tie against Tottenham Hotspur by the narrowest of margins but they had already won the hearts of many with their attractive style.

Consequently, United fans were gleeful when the Dutch tactician was announced as the new manager of the Red Devils in the spring of 2022.

While it must be said that the previous season was judged as a relative success due to the club winning the Carabao Cup, reaching the final of the FA Cup and finishing third in the league, this season has been an unmitigated disaster with many aspects of the team and overall club structure coming under pressure. However, Martin Samuel’s sharpened pen is squarely aimed at the Dutch coach.

The Times journalist asserts that it is nonsense that this current group of internationals cannot play the way the manager wants them to.

He firstly highlights that this current group at United are certainly no worse than the Ajax team of 2019. To back up his point, Samuel affirms “United are not a good team, but they aren’t as bad as this.”

He also claims that some of those former players are now plying their trade at teams such as Las Palmas, Galatasaray and Nijmegan.

Of those 15 Ajax players who played against Spurs in the semi-final, only six currently play in the Champions League, one of which is Andre Onana, the current United keeper.

The British columnist goes on to state that the long-term absentees of Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez are not sufficient excuses for the abandonment of playing out from the back.

The article makes a comparison between Liverpool in 2020/21 when they lost most of their backline to injury but according to the writer, did not lose Jurgen Klopp’s style. There is also a claim that despite who plays for Manchester City, they do not lose their identity either.

The final major point of contention Samuel has with the current United set up is the fact that the team comprises of so many internationals.

He points to the fact that there were 628 international caps on the field for the Old Trafford side against City last weekend. The columnist argues that none of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire or Andre Onana are required to hoof the ball down field for their national team, so why at United?

The case of Andre Onana is an interesting example. The Cameroonian goalkeeper famously fell out with his coach in the 2022 World Cup because of the fact he had concerns about the tactics and long ball style he was being asked to play. Samuel is keen to point out the irony that the African keeper is now being asked to play the same way at club level.

Whatever the truth of Samuel’s article, what is a fact is that business cannot go on as normal at the club. The style of football is confusing and while Samuel’s opinion is a tad over exaggerated at times about the long ball style, it is clear that Ten Hag’s methods are not getting the club positive results. And results is what will save Ten Hag’s job.

The post Martin Samuel rips apart Erik ten Hag’s hoofball approach appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.