Any Manchester United manager who has overseen 13 defeats before Christmas Day will know they are walking on mighty thin ice – especially with a sporting overhaul on the horizon. That’s the situation Erik ten Hag finds himself in, although some factors make that seem unfair.
United have contended with horrendous injury issues this season – recording 32 different cases of unavailability – and the takeover debacle won’t have helped operations.
But Ten Hag isn’t immune from scrutiny, and some of the decisions he has made in recent months have contributed to the disastrous state of his project.
Express Sport looks at three decisions, in particular, that caught the eye for the wrong reasons in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at West Ham United.
Persisting with Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay has played 90 minutes in United’s last nine Premier League games and already made more starts than across the whole of last term. Injuries or not, that’s a clear regression.
The 27-year-old has produced some big goals this season, but those contributions are outweighed by his ineffective midfield displays that too often leave a gaping void at the heart of Ten Hag’s team.
The Dutchman has started allowing McTominay to operate in a more advanced role, leaving 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo as an isolated single pivot.
It’s also thwarting Bruno Fernandes – one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking midfielders who must drop deep to receive the ball. McTominay can’t be more than an impact substitute once Casemiro returns.
Wrong Marcus Rashford substitution
Saturday’s clash at the London Stadium was crying out for a fresh attacking approach while poised at 0-0 on the hour mark.
The sight of Marcus Rashford readying to come on was a promising sign, given Antony and Alejandro Garnacho had proven toothless again. They provided Rasmus Hojlund with just one pass combined.
But it was a shock to see Hojlund’s No 11 held aloft the fourth official rather than either lacklustre winger. And it didn’t bear fruit, with Rashford taking just 14 touches on the pitch.
United are short of attacking options due to Anthony Martial’s illness, Amad Diallo’s injury and Jadon Sancho’s exile. However, Ten Hag is leaving, quite frankly, abysmal attacking performances unpunished.
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Tactically undone by David Moyes
David Moyes admitted after full-time that he made a tactical tweak midway through the second half, which helped spark Jarrod Bowen’s go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute.
By the 79th minute, it was 2-0 through Mohammed Kudus. United failed to react; that has happened far too often this season.
Ten Hag may have an injury-hit squad, but you simply can’t do the same thing every game and hope for a different result – especially when you’re in the Old Trafford hot seat.
He hasn’t been proactive enough, and the more Sir Jim Ratcliffe sees United tactically outwitted by lesser sides, the bleaker Ten Hag’s future prospects look.
