4LEX
Well-known member
There is no doubt Utd are a strange side, very strange. You can see how they are so vulnerable when they concede possession, and concede many shots. Yet, in the league we've only conceded 1 more than Spurs, less than Villa, and below us in the table, only Everton have conceded less. So, obviously conceded more than we'd like, yet we haven't conceded many more than those around us. Our best player this year may well be a defender, Dalot. And, despite the constant changes to defence, the likes of Maguire, Varane and Evans have so far come out of this season with a lot of credit. Even Onana has been solid in the league, it was just the Champions League he had a nightmare.
One of the more damning statistics is the number of goals scored, only 45. That is at least 20 less than anyone above us, and a similar number to those languishing mid table or even lower table. Only Burnley, Sheffield Utd, Everton and Palace have scored a reasonable number less than that.
There is just such a huge disconnect between our attack and defence. On one hand, the attack give the ball away so carelessly and are incapable of winning 50/50's, and so it it difficult to sustain any pressure on the opponents goal, whilst also exposing our defence to quick counters. On the other hand, our defence changes every week, and doesn't really have the type of players to confidently play a high line, and help the attack put pressure on the opponents when out of possession.
But, the above is why I personally want Ten Hag to be given more time. He has brought certain players in, like Hojlund and Martinez and given youngsters like Garnacho and Mainoo opportunities, who I think will play how he wants. And people love to mock Antony, and I can't argue that he is worth nanywhere near the pricetag we paid. But, last season in a team that over-achieved he played a lot. He never hid in a game, always occupied defenders and worked hard, so I'd always credit him for that. He has had a bad start to this season, but recently shown that desire. Whether he ever becomes a first team player is debatable, but if he works like he has shown, I'll always be happy to have him within the squad. Ten Hag will have a good idea of the big problems Utd are having trying to play his system, and so I'd still like him to continue looking how to rebuild the team, working with new people above him. Given what he started with, I think at least 3 transfer windows (summer ones) seems a reasonable time before properly judging him.
But, the media and opposition fans love to get the knives out as soon as they can. I've no doubt that if Liverpool's new manager loses his first game next season, there will be people calling for him to get sacked. To be fair, I heard some Liverpool fans last year calling for Klopp to get sacked due to their performances
The main reason for the defensive record is sheer luck and bad finishing, it's not sustainable. It's now 7 goals conceded in the last 3 which is more what the stats would indicate you should be conceding and in those 3 games it could've easily been 10 plus. To be fair to Onana he's improved in the league but he's still too heavy and slow to get down to low shots and concedes a lot of goals a top keeper saves.
Martinez isn't suited to a high line as he's fairly slow despite having a low centre of gravity. Hojlund looked like a donkey for months, suddenly hit form and has gone back to looking like a donkey again.Throw in Antony who isn't good enough and Mount who isn't a bad player, just not suited to the role ETH plays him in. There's huge questions over almost every signing he's made. The big problems at the club are largely down to him now, bar Rashford. Throw in the fact he's switched from the type of game he used to play at Ajax that got him the job, to this car crash style, there's nothing to suggest he's capable of achieving the success a club the size of Man Utd should be reaching. The disconnect between midfield and attack is precisely what he wants, he gives up control so he can press high and create turnovers in dangerous parts of the pitch. With two quick centre backs and a higher line it will work better but he's shown no interest in signing one with pace, let alone two.
I applaud anyone who can stubbornly ignore facts and put together an argument that he deserves more time
