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Man Utd must drop 4/10 star who Neville thought was “awful”

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Man Utd must drop 4/10 star who Neville thought was “awful”

Not since 2022 has a higher expected goals figure – 4.67 in this instance – been registered by an away team. Of course, it had to happen against Manchester United.

The last time it occurred was when rivals Manchester City defeated Norwich City. It was David against Goliath in that instance.

So, for it to happen against a great institution like United just about sums up the direction the club has been driven in by Erik ten Hag.

It’s slightly staggering that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co kept the faith with him over the summer if truth be told. For now, though, they are stuck with a man who evidently looks incredibly out of his depth.

It’s been another torrid start to the season for the Red Devils who are all the way down in 12th having already dropped points in four of their half-a-dozen matches.

Tottenham have hardly been a pillar of positivity this season either but they rocked up at Old Trafford and meant business. Within minutes they opened the scoring and eventually surged to a 3-0 victory.

How did they get there? Well, the tone was set early doors. Micky van de Ven, a centre-back by trade, galloped forward like Ryan Giggs against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final, darting down the left-hand side.

He nabbed the ball from Marcus Rashford and then surged forward to put the ball on a plate for in-form man Brennan Johnson.

The defending was dismal. Matthijs de Ligt was shown a clean pair of heals by his fellow countryman and then left-back Diogo Dalot was nowhere to be seen at the back stick as Johnson was left with an empty net.

Those two were much to blame for the loss. Dalot certainly doesn’t look like he’s up to the task of playing out of position on the left and De Ligt – who has actually been a solid signing since arriving from Bayern Munich – showed shades of Harry Maguire and Co in his lack of ability to keep up with some of the quickest around.

It was incredibly worrying. Then, there was the red card for Bruno Fernandes. Oh, Bruno, it simply isn’t your season, is it?

To be truthful, it was a harsh red. The club’s captain clearly slipped but in doing so raised a stud too high on James Maddison who collapsed to the ground. He was sent for an early bath and will now miss United’s next three games. Talk about compiling your misery.

The aforementioned Rashford hardly covered himself in glory either and must be dropped. He isn’t at the races.

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rashford’s performance in numbers

Are we really watching the same player as we saw throughout the 2022/23 season? The Englishman was absolutely incredible during that term, bagging 30 goals in all competitions.

Since then he’s been one of the most disappointing players in the Premier League. Rashford only netted eight times last season and was left out of England’s squad for Euro 2024 as a result.

You’d think he’d come back with a point to prove but he has been equally as dismal during the current campaign, scoring just once. His performance against Spurs – like the rest of his colleagues in all fairness – was one of the worst we’ve seen in recent times.

He was at fault for the opener, a moment that Gary Neville criticised as “awful” from the England international. United looked to break through Rashford but in doing so the winger took a horrific touch that landed right at the feet of Van de Ven. The wide man appeared to pull out of any sort of duel that might have taken place and up the other end went Spurs’ central defender to create the opening goal.

Beyond that, it didn’t get much better for the 26-year-old who looked so out of sorts and lacking any sort of confidence. In his 73 minutes on the field, he completed just 70% of his passes, had fewer touches (32) than goalkeeper Andre Onana (45) and failed to have a single shot. It’s pretty dismal stuff.

Rashford vs Spurs

Minutes played

73

Touches

32

Accurate passes

14/20 (70%)

Key passes

1

Crosses

2/3

Long balls

0/1

Shots

0

Dribble success

1/1

Duels won

5/6

Possession lost

9x

Was fouled

2x

Clearances

1

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

Stats via Sofascore.

It wasn’t just Neville who slammed the academy graduate with Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst particularly scathing.

Writing in his post-match thoughts, the journalist handed the United man a 4/10 rating, saying that he ‘was often on the back foot’.

These are the games that Rashford so often asserted himself in a few years back. Now he’s an anonymous figure. He’s a full-back’s dream. Watch him collect the ball and do nothing with it. It’s rinse and repeat right now.

There is hope that perhaps under a new manager the attacker can relive past glories but right now he is sinking without a trace, just as his employers are.

 

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Something unusual happened in Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur Premier League clash Tottenham are away at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday The big Super Sunday clash in the Premier League came at Old Trafford where Manchester United took on Tottenham Hotspur. Both sides have started the season in indifferent form, with both teams locked on seven points from their first five games. Both sides will be aiming for a top four spot come the end of the season and a place in next year’s Champions League. Challenging for the Premier League title may be beyond both this year. Given the pair will be battling for the Champions League places at the end of the campaign, matches betwen the two sides will be crucial. Even this early in the season. Tottenham took the lead early on at Old Trafford, thanks in no small part to the work of defender Micky van de Ven. The Dutchman picked up the ball midway inside his own half and proceeded to run the rest of the length of the pitch unchallenged before sliding a ball across the six-yard box for Brennan Johnson to tap home. But before a ball was even kicked in earnest, there was something unusual about the clash. Spurs captain Son Heung-min was deemed unavailable for selection, having gone off early in the Europa League match with Qarabag on Thursday night. Timo Werner was his replacement in the starting lineup, but that meant for an unusual sight on the Spurs teamsheet. We cannot tell you exactly when it happened before, but for the first time in probably a long time there were no single-digit outfield players on the pitch. No. 7 Son is often on the pitch, given his influence on the Tottenham team, as he will have been for a number of seasons prior to this one too. Tottenham drop huge Son Heung-min team news hint for Man United clash amid injury doubt

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Man Utd hero interviewed Thomas Tuchel and is convinced he ‘fits the bill’

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Man Utd hero interviewed Thomas Tuchel and is convinced he ‘fits the bill’

Thomas Tuchel has been linked with Manchester United and one Red Devils legend thinks he would be a good fit for the club.

Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel has thrown his weight behind Thomas Tuchelas a strong contender for the managerial hot seat at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag has got through the international break with his job still intact, but the speculation around his position is not quietening down.

United’s 0-0 draw away to Aston Villa consigned United to their worst league start since 1989. A group of United executives gathered in London last Tuesday, but the former Ajax manager looks to have retained his role.

Nevertheless, ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has been linked with the position, while Tuchel, who has been a free agent since he left Bayern Munich, is still believed to be a candidate. Having spoken to the ex-Chelsea boss before, Schmeichel believes Tuchel would be an outstanding option for the Red Devils.

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While speaking to Arsenal legend David Seaman on the ‘Seaman Says’ podcast, via Betway, Schmeichel said: “I think with Tuchel and the last two jobs that he had at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he’s been at those two clubs at the wrong time in their history. Chelsea was a mess when he was there and there was so much internal fighting.

“There’s new owners coming in and so many things were happening with Bayern. The same thing, they changed the whole board of directors, they changed the whole leadership of the club. They lasted for one year and that was precisely the year that he was there.

“I really like Thomas Tuchel. Being around the Champions League and interviewing him, listening to what he’s saying when he’s in the technical area, and his personality, he just looks like somebody who could be a good manager at Manchester United.

“I don’t think he had his way at Chelsea. I know for sure he didn’t have his way at Bayern. I just think he’s got such a great aura around him that he fits a bill.”

Tuchel has also been linked with the England job ever since Gareth Southgate resigned after last summer’s European Championship. United are currently languishing in 14th position and face Brentford in the Premier League next, followed by a Europa League clash away to Fenerbahce, who are managed by former United boss Jose Mourinho.

Despite his admiration for Tuchel, Schmeichel pledged to give Ten Hag his backing. He added: “Erik ten Hag is still the manager, and for as long as he’s the manager, as a fan I will support him because I want the club to do well. I don’t want Manchester United to be that football club that changes the manager all the time.

 

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I have made this bold step to drop Him,He is actually the one costing me my job,I know fans will not be happy with this Dec but this is my decision”, Erik Ten Hag has finally drop £70m player from His match day squad against Brentford

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I have made this bold step to drop Him,He is actually the one costing me my job,I know fans will not be happy with this Dec but this is my decision”, Erik Ten Hag has finally drop £70m player from His match day squad against Brentford

 

According to Football Transfers, Manchester United are keeping tabs on England and Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze.

The Palace star has caught the attention of some of the biggest Premier League clubs with his £60 million release clause seen as an attractive option for some teams in England.

The Red Devils are closely monitoring the England international who is known for his creativity and goal scoring attributes.

However, the report has mentioned that in order to make room for Eze in the team and the finances to make sense, Man United would have to let either Marcus Rashford or Bruno Fernandes leave the club.

They have become the latest players linked with an exit from the club with Christian Eriksen being the other name who is most likely coming towards the end of his time at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Casemiro is also being considered for sale by the Premier League giants and the transfer could take place as early as January.

Man United find Eze as an attractive option for the club due to his ability to play in a number of different positions.

The Palace star can play as an attacking midfielder as well as the left-side of the attack, making him ideal for the Red Devils who feel that the player can play in the positions currently occupied by Rashford and Fernandes.

Erik ten Hag’s team have been scouting the English midfielder, who scored 11 goals in the league last season and registered four assists in a highly successful season for the Eagles and contributed to their top half finish in the league.

Eberechi Eze would come at a huge cost for Manchester United
It would be a huge surprise to see Man United consider the sale of Rashford or Fernandes, two players who are their most prized assets and hugely important for the team and their future.

It is not a secret that the Red Devils are looking to bolster their attacking options and their interest in Eze could force them to make an unpopular decision of letting one of their star players leave the club.

Any move for Eze to join Man United depends on Ten Hag’s team selling one of their star players.

Oliver Glasner’s team have no intention of accepting any offer below the £60 million mark.

The Man United faithful would love to see Eze at Old Trafford but surely not at the cost of one of Rashford or Fernandes leaving the club.

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Rasmus Hojlund sits out of training for Denmark ahead of Nations League game against Switzerland

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Rasmus Hojlund sits out of training for Denmark ahead of Nations League game against Switzerland

Manchester United’s poor start to the new season has largely been down to the team’s profligacy in front of goal.

Being without first choice striker Rasmus Hojlund hasn’t helped the cause after the Dane picked up an injury in the pre-season tour of the U.S.

Hojlund is working his way back to fitness and has featured in United’s last handful of games but is yet to complete 90 minutes this term.

However, the 21-year-old has been summoned for international duty and featured briefly for Denmark in the 1-0 defeat to Spain over the weekend.

Denmark continue their Nations League campaign against Switzerland tomorrow but were without Hojlund in their warm-up session ahead of the game.

As reported by local media, the United man was missing from training but they do believe it’s more likely to protect the player rather than a fresh injury setback.

No official word has come from the Danish camp but it’s expected Hojlund will be available for selection tomorrow.

Erik ten Hag will be desperate for his centre-forward to come through the Swiss encounter unscathed as he faces a huge few weeks to save his job at Old Trafford.

United has mustered up just five goals from their opening seven league games with only Southampton scoring fewer.

Despite scoring on his debut and showing some tidy link-up play, Joshua Zirkzee doesn’t appear to possess the goalscoring nous of an out-and-out number nine.

Getting Hojlund back to full fitness is a must for United, who need to start finding the back of the net to turn their season around.

Brentford visit Old Trafford this coming Saturday and Ten Hag knows it’s crucial Ten Hag collects all three points to ease the growing pressure on his shoulders.

Conner Botterill

Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.

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