Manchester United have encountered a somewhat unexpected issue in the first two games of this season, with Erik ten Hag’s midfield malfunctioning in games against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Dutchman had seemingly solved United’s longstanding midfield issues when he signed Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer, with the pair forming a stunning partnership at the heart of the team.
That is no longer the case, however, with Casemiro and Mason Mount struggling in the first two games. United were overran in both games and that has sparked an inquest into United’s middle third.
Tim Howard, the former United and Everton shot-stopper, has become the latest figure to speak on the matter. Howard does not think United’s issues is down to the personnel but rather a structural problem.
“No, it’s not the personnel. I agree, I like all three of them. I like them coming into the season,” Howard told NBC, via the Manchester Evening News.
“When we look last season it was Casemiro plus Fred or plus McTominay. He’s trying to get away with that to have him play on his own, I don’t know if that’s quite working out. We talk about balance, there may be a re-structure but then who goes there? I don’t think Bruno’s better deep-lying, Mason Mount certainly isn’t but then Casemiro might need a partner.
“Sometimes it was Eriksen and they played really well together but that has to shuffle things ahead of the ball as well. So, he certainly has a problem on his hands, a dilemma.”
At times last season, Ten Hag would call on Fred to assist the midfield when the opposition were targetting a overload but that is no longer an option following the Brazilian’s exit.
Fred has not been replaced with a like-for-like replacement and that could prove to be costly. It remains to be seen whether United enter the market for another midfielder before the end of the transfer window in roughly two weeks.
Eriksen was all we needed, then Casemiro was all we needed “tell them I’ll fix this “, then Mount was all we needed, and on and on it goes. Three fine players combining to make one hopelessly inadequate midfield. The McTominay who plays for Scotland is what we need.