Man Utd: Style of football under Erik ten Hag examined as United reach crisis point
Manchester United have suffered heavy defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle at Old Trafford in the past week; Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher has questioned what their style of play is, with stats showing their direct football is leaving them exposed at the other end
What is Manchester United's style of play under Erik ten Hag?
It should not be a hard question to answer but it is something that has left many observers scratching their heads over the past week.
"None of us here can explain what Manchester United try to do in terms of how they play," said Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher after watching Ten Hag's side outclassed by Manchester City on Sunday.
The Carabao Cup exit to a much-changed Newcastle on Wednesday was another Old Trafford night to forget. Theatre of Dreams? It is currently the scene of nightmares for United fans.
Here we look at a range of statistics to understand what Ten Hag and United are trying to achieve - and where they are going wrong...
Press Setup “When it comes to winning the ball back, we are leading the Premier League,” declared Ten Hag proudly before the Manchester derby. “The embossing is very good.”
This is definitely a team that likes to defend on offence. They lead with high turnover rates and their initial margin - the point at which they win the ball back - on the field is higher than last season and is currently the highest in the league.
I'm going straight there “We will never play as much football here as we did against Ajax,” said Ten Hag after the derby, dashing the hopes of any United fans who had hoped for “total football” at Old Trafford. “I have other players now,” he added. In his opinion, players are more suited to a fast and direct style of play.
Ten Hag's United have had less possession this season than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a manager considered a counter-attack specialist. Andre Onana may have replaced David De Gea partly due to his passing skills, but Manchester United are recording fewer powerful attacks (moves involving at least 10 passes) than in the last five seasons.
This is a team that can't wait to get the ball back. An approach that captain Bruno Fernandes embodies. There's nothing wrong with that, but some adjustment may be needed due to the reduction in expected goals, suggesting United are creating fewer good chances. What's stopping them?
Too easy to pass Perhaps it's not so much the idea of the game that's missing, but rather the execution, which clearly isn't going as it should and as a result is clouding the picture of what United are doing.
A direct approach leaves them vulnerable when teams apply pressure, with opponents passing Man Utd players almost 30 times more often on average this season than last.
This means they are enjoying more touches in the opposition penalty area than in the five seasons analyzed since 2019, and as a result, Man Utd's opponents' expected goals have also increased.
Midfield composition has been an issue since the start of this season, with opposing teams threatening to damage United's squad. Only seven teams have conceded more goals, which is not surprising considering teams averaged 5.4 shots on goal per game against United, compared to 3.8 last season. The best football plans in the world are only as good as the team's performance. Just ask Chelsea's Mauricio Pochettino. Unfortunately for United and Ten Hag, the team's forwards have been in terrible form this season.
Injuries to Key Players Injuries have undoubtedly hit United hard this season. Critics will say that given their expenses they should be able to cover player absences. However, given the injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane and Tyrell Malacia, there is no doubt that Ten Hag needs to work on alternative options. He also played without Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Casemiro, Sofyan Amrabat, Sergio Reguilon and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at times this season.
“I think if Manchester United get their players back the football will improve, there will be a better feeling around the club and the club will win a lot of games with the players they have,” Sky Sports' Gary Neville suggested the game. encounter. Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle. But he added: “I would say the level of performance and style we have seen over the last few months has been really poor. This style also needs to be anchored among different players. to be included in the shortlist of 24 people. I have to admit that the quality has deteriorated enormously. There is no doubt that they need to get the players back."
For Ten Hag, the return of these first-team players can't come soon enough.
Rooney: Man Utd players should take responsibility
Wayne Rooney, former Manchester United striker and Birmingham City manager:
“Not everything goes as they would like or hope, but the players also have to take on a lot of responsibility. I know some players and they don't perform at the level I thought they could.
"Ultimately everything starts and ends with the manager and that's part of being a manager." He will face criticism in the last few weeks, but the players can do a lot more for him."
What is the next step?
Man Utd will return to Premier League action away to Fulham on Saturday lunchtime; from 12.30 p.m
stats for damn United
*Manchester United have conceded three or more goals in six of their last twelve games.
*United lost five of their first ten home games of the season, their worst start to a season at Old Trafford since 1930.
*United also only led for 29 minutes at Old Trafford this season.
*United have lost five of their first ten Premier League games, two more than in any previous top-flight season.
*With eight defeats in the first 15 games of the season, this is United's worst defeat at this point in the season since 1962.
*Man Utd lost by three or more goals at home for the first time since October 1962.
*After 10 games last season, Man Utd had 19 points and were fifth in the table. With 15 points they are in eighth place this season.
*However, Opta's 'expected points' model suggests that given the quality of chances in the game, Manchester United should be 11th in the Premier League table with 12 points, meaning Ten Hag have actually progressed.
*Ten Hag has spent £411m on new signings since taking over at the start of last season, with only Chelsea spending more in that period.
*Of Ten Hag's new signings, only Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have scored in the Premier League this season (one each).