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Tactical experiment, three-man battle – Erik ten Hag’s four selection dilemmas at Man United
With just over a week to go until the start of the new Premier League season, most managers will have a clear idea of the starting XI they will begin the season with.
The bulk of the prep work is done and soon managers and players will put what they have been working on over pre-season into practice.
However, for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, the planning has not been straightforward. The losses of Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund to injuries in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the opening game of their pre-season tour of the United States have significantly impacted their plans.
Yoro, who joined the club from Lille just under three weeks ago, faces up to three months out after undergoing successful surgery on a metatarsal injury, and Hojlund is scheduled to be unavailable for six weeks because of a hamstring issue. Both players were nailed on to start the Premier League opener against Fulham at Old Trafford next week.
As a result, Ten Hag is going to have to make alterations to what he would have considered as his first-choice line-up. Yoro was a statement signing to strengthen the defence and Hojlund was last season’s top goalscorer.
As a result, their absences are going to leave two voids that need filling. United still want to strengthen at centre-back before the transfer window closes, with Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich still firmly on their radar.
But with negotiations between United and Bayern moving at a walking pace, there is no guarantee he will be signed in time to fill in for Yoro against Fulham – if at all. That leaves Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans competing for one of the two centre-back slots, with the other poised to be snapped up by Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire missed United’s final pre-season friendly against Liverpool as a precaution, Lindelof was taken off at the break and Evans was also withdrawn at half-time because of illness. Maguire, if he is fit for the season opener, is the most likely candidate to join Martinez in the heart of the defence, with the duo flanked by Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw.
As far as the attack is concerned, Joshua Zirkzee, fresh from his arrival from Bologna, is the most obvious candidate to lead the line in Hojlund’s absence. But he has admitted he is not a natural No.9, and Ten Hag recently experimented with Jadon Sancho as a ‘false nine’ during the pre-season tour.
That means there is no certainty Zirkzee will start the Premier League opener in Hojlund’s absence. United have the Community Shield at Wembley to come this weekend and that could reveal more about Ten Hag’s thinking for the Premier League opener six days later.
As well as a degree of uncertainty surrounding who will lead the attack from a central position, Ten Hag also has a lot to consider in the wide areas, much of which extends from Alejandro Garnacho’s late return to pre-season. He was one of United’s best players last season, directly contributing to 15 goals, but Amad has flourished in pre-season and deserves to start the season opener.
Garnacho is equally capable of starting on the left, but Marcus Rashford will also be of the opinion that he should start. Despite only scoring once in pre-season, netting in the 3-2 win over Real Betis via the penalty spot, he was in a confident mood, causing plenty of problems for defenders.
‘I’m 71 and use the same anti-wrinkle cream as Kate Middleton to ‘train skin to look younger’ – its the best I’ve tried’
While the voids that need filling at centre-back and up front are a result of injuries, Ten Hag has competition for places in the wide areas, with three players directly competing for two spots. Antony will also be refusing to give up on a start.
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Breaking: Coaching Staff Under fire after Packers’ Loss
Breaking: Coaching Staff Under fire after Packers’ Loss
The Green Bay Packers never used to lose to the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Now they haven’t beaten the Lions at Lambeau since Aaron Rodgers’ MVP season of 2021.
With their 24-10 victory on Sunday, Jared Goff became the first Detroit Lions quarterback to ever win three straight games at Lambeau.
Any time the Packers tried to make the game competitive on Sunday, they made another silly mistake.
There was not just one unit willing to make those mistakes, either. This was a team-wide failure, and the weekly Packers report card reflects it.
Pass Offense
No, Jordan Love was clearly not 100 percent healthy. His groin injury affected him throughout the first half.
That being said, once you step between the white lines, you have to play well.
That’s what the Packers were signing up for when they gave him $220 million this offseason.
To date, he has not been worth the extension.
Yes, there are some big plays. Love is as talented as anyone at quarterback. He can make plays that make you say “wow.”
The problem is, he makes a lot of plays that make you say “wow” in the other direction.
Sunday’s game was a prime example.
With the Packers trailing 10-3, Love threw another terrible interception that was returned for a touchdown. It was his second pick-six of the season. He has thrown at least one interception in all seven of his starts.
That’s something that can be overcome against middling teams, but it’s not winning football against the league’s elite.
While Love finished with 273 passing yards, a big chunk came after the game was decided.
His accuracy was spotty, and his decision-making might have been worse.
To be sure, the receivers did not help him out. Dontayvion Wicks had two more drops. Christian Watson misjudged a deep pass against one-on-one coverage. Romeo Doubs, Tucker Kraft, Bo Melton and Chris Brooks had drops.
It was parade of errors in the passing game, but it all comes back to the quarterback.
If Love was too hurt to play, he should have sat.
He didn’t, so there is no grading on a curve.
NFL
How it went down as the Lions win big on rainy day in Green Bay
How it went down as the Lions win big on rainy day in Green Bay
No matter the opponent, the Lions keep winning big.
Today it was the Packers at a wet and rainy Lambeau Field, in a game that was expected to be one of Detroit’s toughest tests. But the game didn’t turn out that way.
The Lions jumped out to a 17-3 lead at halftime, expanded it to 24-3 on their first possession of the third quarter, and then took their foot off the gas for the rest of the second half and won 24-14.
The Packers actually out-gained the Lions by more than 100 total yards, but the Lions were in control throughout the game.
A major question facing the Packers is that Jordan Love continues to look like he’s struggling with his knee and groin injuries, and the Packers’ offense has actually played worse this season with Love in the lineup than it has with backup Malik Willis. The Packers need to get their offense fixed. At 6-3 they’re very much still contenders, but the way they’re playing right now isn’t good enough to beat the best teams in the league.
The Lions are playing well enough to beat anyone. At 7-1 they have the best record in the NFC, the inside track for home-field advantage and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and a great chance at the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
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Miami FL Quarterback Cam Ward Faces Disciplinary Issues: Coach Cristobal Confirms…
Miami FL Quarterback Cam Ward Faces Disciplinary Issues: Coach Cristobal Confirms…
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is facing disciplinary issues, confirmed by head coach Mario Cristobal.
The announcement came as a surprise to fans and analysts alike, as Ward has been one of the team’s key players this season, demonstrating both leadership and skill on the field.
However, Coach Cristobal addressed the situation in a press conference, stating that the team’s values and standards must be upheld, regardless of a player’s position or importance to the roster.
Cristobal did not disclose the specific details of Ward’s disciplinary issues but emphasized that the matter is being handled internally. “We hold our players to a high standard, both on and off the field,” Cristobal said. “Cam is a talented athlete with a lot of potential, but he, like every player, has to adhere to the principles that define our program. We believe in accountability, and that means holding everyone responsible for their actions.”
Ward’s situation has cast uncertainty over Miami’s quarterback lineup for the upcoming games. The Hurricanes are in a critical phase of their season, with challenging matchups ahead that will require focus and cohesion among players. If Ward faces suspension or reduced playing time, it could alter Miami’s offensive strategy, placing more pressure on backup quarterbacks to step up.
Despite the setback, Cristobal expressed confidence in his team’s ability to move forward. “We have depth in our roster, and everyone’s prepared to give their best effort,” he added. “It’s about resilience and sticking to our goals as a team.”
The news has generated mixed reactions from fans, with some praising Cristobal’s commitment to discipline, while others worry about the impact on the team’s season. Ward’s future with the Hurricanes remains unclear, and Miami fans will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds.
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