Rewind to the early weeks of this Premier League season, when Manchester United appeared to have a team of players capable of competing for prizes.
When Manchester United defeated Newcastle 4-1 in September, there were weaknesses in the performance, but they were rendered practically meaningless by the individual excellence on display. That had been the formula under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so when his reign came to an end the following month, it seemed like a keen tactician would bring about progress.
However, the difficulties were far more serious than anyone could have predicted at the time. After another desperate day in this depressing season, the notion that this team is even close to contending for the crown has been blasted out of the water.
There may be skill on this team, but collectively they have displayed mental and character flaws and weaknesses that were visible last summer have only widened today. As United prepares to select Erik ten Hag as their next manager to try to sort out this problem, the Dutchman will be examining the group he will inherit and determining who has what it takes and what areas need reinforcement.
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According to recent evidence, the answer is practically every position, but if Ten Hag were to design his ideal starting XI for the next two or three seasons, there may be as few as three players at Old Trafford who look like they have that type of durability in them. Raphael Varane was a fantastic signing last summer, and while the 28-year-injury old’s troubles this season are concerning, the World Cup champion should be a mainstay of this defense for years to come if he can retain fitness.
Bruno Fernandes’ new contract, which was granted to him a few weeks ago, was a fair reward for his efforts since joining the club a little over two years ago. The agreement merely extended Fernandes’ term by one year, but it included a considerable pay increase. The 27-year-old is going through the most difficult period of his United career right now, but when he’s in a working team, he’s proved what an asset he can be, and the announcement of a new deal shows he’ll be a part of the next manager’s plans.
There’s also Jadon Sancho. The England winger, signed to play on the right but performing better from the left, hasn’t solved the problem he was supposed to solve, but there’s much more to come from the £73m signings, and he’s beginning to look better under Ralf Rangnick now that he’s eased into life at United. Those three appear to be long-term starters for United, but the picture after that is more difficult to predict, particularly when looking ahead to the second and third seasons under a manager who we think will be Ten Hag.
The current Ajax manager will take over in goal, and David de Gea is likely to win a sixth player of the year title. His job is unlikely to be challenged next season, although there are valid concerns about his suitability in a Ten Hag system, considering his defensive posture and poor distribution.
Ten Hag was dropped from Spain’s team outright in March, and Luis Enrique’s assessment of De Gea’s ability to meet the criteria he places on a goalkeeper could be echoed by Ten Hag. Defensively, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw could potentially recover their best form next season, but neither has presented an unarguable case for being long-term United certainty.
Reinforcements in midfield, particularly in the holding role, are clearly required. Scott McTominay may return to being a useful squad player, while Fred’s pressing ability may earn him a chance to make the team next season under Ten Hag.
However, the Brazilian’s performances have been uneven, and he will have something to show next season given the importance of a functioning midfield to Ten Hag’s goals. Looking ahead to next season, Cristiano Ronaldo will almost certainly remain a major member of this United squad, although, at 37, his effect will be restricted to the short term. United requires a younger striker who can come in and be ready to take over the role when the Portuguese leaves.
The same may be said for the right-wing. If Sancho’s future is on the left, United has no players who desire to play on the right.
It was clear at Goodison Park that both Sancho and Marcus Rashford preferred playing on the left, which is causing a problem with the balance of the front three, which Ten Hag may have to address in the transfer market. Given where United is right now, that approach in the transfer market has to be long-term. Few members of the existing squad can say they are certain of their own survival in the face of new management.
