Man United’s half-term report makes for auspicious reading and this is a season that their trophy drought should end.
United are heading in the right direction under Ten Hag
Bruno Fernandes stressed on the eve of the derby Manchester United’s confidence would not be dented if they failed to win and he reiterated that at Selhurst Park, where three points eluded them.
“This will not affect the team,” he stressed in the mixed zone. “For sure, we can’t be affected by a result that was not the way we would like it to be. We’re doing great things.”
Fernandes bristled at the reminder of United’s struggle to box off games away from home. All five of United’s domestic wins on the road have been by a goal and they meandered through the second half against Palace, their most glaring chance coming after Michael Olise’s exceptional 90th-minute free-kick.
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It is a measure of United’s progress the players trudged off visibly disappointed to have ended the evening only in third. City pulled three points clear 24 hours later.
Third in the Premier League, into the semi-finals of the League Cup and in the fourth round of the FA Cup merits a flattering appraisal. United are well placed to end their trophy drought and qualify for the Champions League. They have not achieved that since Jose Mourinho’s first season six years ago.
Progression-wise, the only blemish is in the Europa League and United’s failure to win their group. That has paired them with Barcelona in a stirring play-off for the last 16. Barca have brought the best out of United at Old Trafford.
Few United fans would have comprehended the team sitting in third – 11 points better off than Liverpool – halfway through the Premier League season. They are within touching distance of City and United remain the only side to have beaten leaders Arsenal, their opponents on Sunday.
United have enjoyed victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and City. The imperious defeat of Spurs in October was their best performance in five-and-a-half years. The draw with Chelsea, secured by Casemiro’s Herculean header in added time, did wonders for team morale.
Beyond the results, United are playing in their manager’s image and have an identity. It is still a work in progress, as the draw with Palace highlighted. Ten Hag lamented the team’s failure to “invest” in a second goal.
United failed to see out the game at Palace
“You have to accept the decisions from VAR, from the referees,” Ten Hag stressed. “I look in the mirror, I look to my team, I look to my own managing and coaching and then I say invest more for the second goal then you avoid situations that you are dependent on the refereeing, VAR etc. That’s what we have to do.”
Goals are still hard to come by and United have a goal difference of eight. Newcastle, a point behind United, are on 22. Fulham, Brighton and Brentford have been more prolific than United this term.
The one-goal-win approach was always going to be unsustainable for a full season and it collapsed at the halfway point at Palace. Wout Weghorst is not certain to pump up the numbers but United are not as light in attack as they were at the start of the month.
Ten Hag’s game management in midweek was dubious for once, sending on Scott McTominay with Alejandro Garnacho. McTominay has been used as a defensive midfielder and a forward this season. Which one is he? He is too ambiguous for an impact sub. At Chelsea, McTominay emerged and foolishly conceded a penalty.
Ten Hag watches on at Palace
United are constrained by the brittleness of Anthony Martial and the prolonged absence of Jadon Sancho. With both available and at their optimum, United have a more rounded attack that should secure the minimum aim of a top-four finish.
Ten Hag’s impact extends beyond the results. His hit rate in the transfer market is auspicious and puts him in a position of strength come the summer when United intend to sign a long-term striker. Ten Hag also wants a more dynamic midfielder.
Lisandro Martinez was United’s player of the season prior to the World Cup and that honour now belongs to the commanding Casemiro. Christian Eriksen has been a canny and creative addition and Tyrell Malacia has had a decent first six months.
There is scant evidence to justify the exorbitant £85.51million investment in Antony, still too fitful and frivolous. He will soon have competition from Sancho and Facundo Pellistri should be utilised more often. Beyond this season, Amad could be reintegrated into the squad.
Sancho is training again
Dressing room sources have spoken impressively of Ten Hag’s squad management and the players are appreciative of his directness. “You know where you stand with him,” one player said. The squad has particularly welcomed Ten Hag’s decisiveness after the indecision of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ten Hag’s handling of Cristiano Ronaldo was faultless, bar appointing him captain at Aston Villa 18 days after he refused to come on against Tottenham. Ronaldo became more of a hindrance than a help and did United a favour by effectively annulling their matrimony with his therapeutic ego trip on Talk TV.
Ronaldo has certainly not affected the team’s confidence.
Player of the season so far: Casemiro. The old warhorse has bucked the trend of the ageing superstar signings to transform the United midfield.
Signing of the season so far: Lisandro Martinez. His size mattered at Brentford but it has not since. The £55.3m centre-back’s performances were nigh-on flawless prior to the World Cup.
Improved player of the season so far: Diogo Dalot was one of the most impressive right-backs in the Premier League until he succumbed to injury in Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final defeat. Marcus Rashford is in his best form for three years.
Breakthrough player: Alejandro Garnacho is already one of the most effective game-changers in the Premier League at the age of 18.
A season to forget so far: Harry Maguire has started two Premier League games in the last five months and appears to be the third-choice right centre-back and left centre-back.
Could do better: Antony.
Regressive season so far: Anthony Elanga puts in a shift but struggles to put the ball in the back of the net. After a solid purple patch in late August and September, Scott McTominay might have been found out.
