[ad_1]
1
Manchester United ended their pre-season schedule late last night with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals, Liverpool.
While the scoreline was flattering and one goal should have been ruled out for offside, United’s defence looked as effective as a chocolate fireguard, much as it did all too often last season.
United have played five pre-season matches in total, winning two against Rangers and Real Betis and losing three against Rosenborg, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The style of football they have played has been much more pleasing on the eye than the dour stuff manager Erik ten Hag inflicted on the fans last season, but there still seems to be a lack of cutting edge, a disconnect between defence and midfield and a very soft underbelly.
Several first team squad members did not make the trip to the USA and two – Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund – were injured in the Arsenal game. But of those who did play through the tour, there are at least four who will have convinced Ineos that they need to be moved on this summer.
1. Aaron Wan-Bissaka. With Diogo Dalot back at Carrington, this pre-season was Wan-Bissaka’s chance to prove he still has a place at United. But regular lapses of concentration, particularly against Liverpool, and his usual ineffectiveness going forward underlined why he is not the right type of full back for Erik ten Hag’s system. In truth, he looked like he already has one foot out of the door as West Ham United close in on a transfer.
2. Casemiro. The Brazilian was arguably United’s man of the match against Real Betis and seemed to roll back the years, suggesting some sort of renaissance might be on the cards. But his performance against Liverpool, including an embarrassing bit of defending for Fabio Carvalho’s goal, reminded us exactly why he needs to be replaced.
Perhaps it was no surprise that he excelled against a Spanish team and that the unfortunate truth is that he is not and never will be suited to Premier League football.
3. Scott McTominay. Ten Hag has reinvented the Scotsman as a number 10 and this plays to his strength of making good late runs into the box and having an eye for goal. But in some ways he looks less of a player now than he did in his “McFred” double pivot days when he played as a holding midfielder. That position allowed him to get more involved in the game and show his aggression.
At 27 years of age, McTominay is unlikely to improve any more and he simply is not a good enough passer or tackler, he does not read the game well enough and he is not technically strong enough to be in a top four side, in either position. Ineos would do well to bite Fulham’s hand off if rumours of a £23 million offer are to be believed.
4. Hannibal. United are reportedly asking for £7 million for the Tunisian but if judged on this pre-season, they would do well just to get his salary off the books. Hannibal was totally ineffective in every game he played and slowly sank down the pecking order as pre-season went on, until he reached his nadir against Liverpool, when he was not even one of the eight substitutes brought on in the second half.
A fantastic talent who has never fulfilled his early promise, it is time for the 21 year old to find a new home that might inspire him to greater things.
It must be said that there are other players who also have a lot to prove. Centre backs Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, central midfielder Christian Eriksen and wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho have all attracted criticism from some quarters during this summer’s warm up games.
However, if Ineos can move on those first four by September 1st and replace them with the likes of Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Adrien Rabiot and Chido Obi-Martin, then summer 2024 will have been a very successful transfer window. It is not that they are necessarily the worst players in Ten Hag’s squad, but right now, they are surely the four biggest misfits.
Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.
[ad_2]
