The aftermath of Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford has been ugly. Protests against the Glazer family were already being planned but the mishap in London has provided much-needed traction for the movement.
On the pitch, United were at their calamitous worst as Thomas Frank’s side dismantled the Reds with ease and strolled to a 4-0 lead after just 35 minutes.
Only due to Brentford’s display of mercy, most likely a decision taken by management amid the scorching weather, did it not turn into a record-breaking defeat.
Lisandro Martinez, United’s marquee signing of the summer thus far, targetted by Brentford and Ivan Toney later spoke about Ten Hag’s decision to take the Argentine off after just 45 minutes.
But it has now been revealed that Martinez was always in Ten Hag’s plans to start the game, with the other centre-back position up for debate.
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According to The Athletic, the tactical plan ahead of the game was laid out by the manager on the preceding Wednesday and 10 players had been elected to start the 90-minute affair.
A decision on Martinez’s centre-back partner was not made until the day after, with Ten Hag ultimately deciding to go with Harry Maguire over Raphael Varane.
The late decision by Ten Hag proved to do little to keep United from folding and by the time United kicked off the second half, it was Varane and Maguire who were locked in defence.
SN’s verdict…
Ten Hag made an interesting decision over the summer and that was to resist calls for him to make a change to the captaincy position. Maguire has been the skipper since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named him captain in 2020.
But evidently, Ten Hag has still not made a decision over whether Maguire will be in the side on any given matchday. Martinez seems like a shoo-in at this point.
Varane is also vying for an indefinite stay in defence and who can blame him? The four-time Champions League winner has endured a troublesome start to life in Manchester but he’ll back himself against United’s current group of misfits.
I just don’t get it .. they need some warriors in to add some grit into that team .. Malacia looks up for a fight and their best defender is in fact Bailey he is tenacious fast tall and skillfull that’s why everyone wants him and the club are selling him along with garner another tenacious player
The club deserve nothing but relegation
Nutters !!