The incredible pressure already on the shoulders of Erik ten Hag has increased ten fold after another miserable Manchester United defeat.
Fresh from derby day blues against Manchester City on Sunday, United were yet again outworked and outplayed, but this time by a second string Newcastle United side who beat United 3-0 to avenge last season’s EFL Cup final in February which United won 2-0.
That day was supposed to be the beginning of the Ten Hag era at Old Trafford but just eight months later the mood couldn’t be worse and the criticism couldn’t be more deafening.
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The Magpies opened the scoring through Miguel Almiron who rounded off a clinical counter-attack, although from United’s point of view, the impending shot on goal was obvious to see from the moment Tino Livramento disposed Alejandro Garnacho on the edge of the Toon penalty box.
A second came from summer signing Lewis Hall, who volleyed home superbly from the edge of the box. But yet again, United looked disjointed and unwilling to defend their own box. More awful defending followed in the second half as Joe Willock fired in Newcastle’s third from outside of the box under no pressure.
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Following the latest damaging defeat, Daily Star Sport looks at what Ten Hag needs to address ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham.
Reel in Hannibal Mejbri
How Hannibal hasn’t been sent off yet in a United shirt beggars’ belief. The 20-year-old midfielder was booked just 14 minutes in for an overexuberant and late challenge before escaping a second yellow card for a late tackle on Emil Krafth just minutes later.
It’s not the first time Hannibal has walked an incredibly thin tightrope for United and if his behaviour isn’t curbed soon, as it should do from Ten Hag or the experienced heads in the squad, he will eventually leave United a man down on the pitch.
What is Mason Mount’s purpose?
Mason Mount looks a worse signing for United with every game he plays. The England international has undoubted talent but his role in the current United setup is unexplainable. Not fancied ahead of Bruno Fernandes in the attacking midfield role and looks incapable of supporting Casemiro in the defensive phase – more on him later.
Lacklustre defending
Game after game United are carved open and all it takes is a team to have more determination and energy than the Red Devils and they’re able to create a chance, which so far this season is every team they’ve faced.
Granted, the defensive line has been hit massively by injury, but it’s the bare minimum expected of a semi-professional footballer, let alone a United side, to not be out-fought.
Casemiro
He was one of United’s best players last season and an incredibly vital part of Ten Hag’s success in his first season – chipping in with crucial displays and goals including the opener in the cup final in February.
But whether he’s been overplayed, carrying an injury or just been found out, he has encapsulated United’s woeful season. The 31-year-old is constantly being isolated and was hooked off at half-time having been booked.
He is a far too important player to be a passenger every game. Whether it’s giving him a break or giving Sofyan Amrabat a string of games alongside him, Ten Hag has to find a solution.
Playing Anthony Martial
Rasmus Hojlund is still finding his feet at Old Trafford following his £72million move and is yet to score in the Premier League. An outing against a much changed Newcastle side could’ve seen him get more valuable minutes in English football underneath his belt or even find the back of the net.
But instead, Anthony Martial walked around for an hour. Martial wasn’t sold in the summer, possibly due to a lack of cover up front, but his time at Old Trafford is surely up after yet another uninspiring, half-arsed performance. He is a defender's dream when he’s not at the races, and that’s every time he steps on the pitch these days.
Complete lack of discipline
Petulance again from United players is just embarrassing Ten Hag further. Just as it was on Sunday and against Liverpool at Anfield last season, United players cannot keep their heads when on the end of a drubbing.
And that reflects poorly on Ten Hag, whether it be a lack of mature heads, although seasoned pros Sergio Reguilon and Amrabat picked up needless yellow cards late in the second-half, the Dutchman has to get a grip of it. However, that mentality looks impossible to shift while prolific whinger Bruno Fernandes is captain.
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