Erik ten Hag looks troubled by Manchester United's defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Photo: Pinnacle Photo Agency/Micah Crook Rethink Mason Mount's role Mason Mount was brought in from Chelsea in the summer as a number 8 midfielder by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. But the England international again struggled in the position after Saturday's limp 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace and, along with Marcus Rashford, was substituted in the 77th minute as United chased the game.
It was Mount's second game after more than five weeks out with a hamstring problem and the player said he used the time-out to analyze where he could improve. “It was a rough start due to injury and disappointment, but I used this time to look at areas where I can improve,” he said.
Mason Mount has excelled at Chelsea on the right side of a front three — Erik ten Hag needs to reconsider his position. Photo: AP/Roger Evans
However, Mount was at his best for Chelsea on the right side of the front three — he won back-to-back Player of the Year awards for the club and was integral to the team's Champions League victory in 2021 in that role — and given the glaring United game. problems on the right flank he could offer an obvious solution. Jadon Sancho is unavailable, Facundo Pellistri is still raw and inexperienced, and it's unclear how ready he is or what state of mind Anthony is in after a few weeks out, now back in the squad.
Play Sofyan Amrabat alongside Casemiro
United's left-back injury crisis — with Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malasia and loanee Sergio Reguilon all sidelined — has seen Moroccan midfielder Sofiane Amrabat deployed as a makeshift defender for the last two games against Palace. But given United's alarming susceptibility to transition and the ease with which opponents can move through their midfield — Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Palace have exploited these weaknesses at Old Trafford this season — Amrabat's partnership with Casemiro seems obvious.
This will give United much more cohesion, strength and dynamism in central midfield, providing a better platform for strikers and additional protection for a vulnerable defence. Like Mount, Amrabat is currently a square peg in a round hole.
Sofian Amrabat and Casemiro should play together for more one source: Getty Images/Ash Donelon breathes new life into Marcus Rashford
Rashford is making and completing more dribbles, taking more progressive carries and averaging more touches this season than last year. But his final ball and finishing were a real problem and poor decisions were made. He has one goal in eight appearances for United this season — five after the same number of games last season, when he scored 30 in total — and his body language does not exude confidence or happiness.
His substitution against Palace when United desperately needed a goal was telling. However, it didn't help that Rashford was moved around so often. He is clearly most effective on the left flank and thrives on that familiarity, but has been used as a centre-forward on several occasions this season and has been moved to the right at times, usually to accommodate Alejandro Garnacho.
United have scored just seven goals in as many league games and are not creating enough quality chances. “Sometimes we had to make an extra pass, sometimes a last pass, sometimes we had to be more direct, sometimes the finishing wasn’t good enough,” Ten Hag said of the match against Palace. “We didn't play our best in the final part.”
Marcus Rashford is most effective starting on the left, but the play went through the middle and even to the right. Photo: Shutterstock/Peter Powell No passive protection
United are either overly aggressive, overly reckless (remember Amrabat's stupid free-kick that left Palace behind) or too passive (as evidenced by their feeble attempts to save Eberechi Eze's free-kick before Joachim Andersen scored the winner). volley before Rasmus Hoylund completely missed the intended goal).
There is a naivety in their defense that cannot go unnoticed. The litany of injuries and constant turmoil in the back line haven't helped at all — three of United's four main defenders are currently injured — but stand in contrast to how slowly United have consistently responded to second goals with the desire, determination and organization with which Palace defended their own box.
No substitutions on the left flank
With three minutes left of normal time, Ten Hag selected Harry Maguire (a defender he rarely plays and who was stripped of the captain's armband) as a makeshift striker. and introduced Donny van de Beek, a player he left out of United's Champions League squad and who looks completely lost and scared on the very few occasions he appears on the pitch. Where was the logic in this?
In the previous home game against Brighton, Ten Hag's substitutions looked as if the manager was throwing mud at the board in the hope that someone would stick. The Dutchman made some smart moves last season with his substitutions and he needs to get back to that.
Harry Maguire came in as a striker in the match against Crystal Palace. Photo: Sportimage/Andrew Yates
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