Former Arsenal star turned Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson laid into Manchester United on Saturday after a shocking performance in the 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.
Merson echoed the feelings of a number of fans as we left Old Trafford, with growing concerns over the team’s lack of identity.
The former Arsenal midfielder rightly claims that the Reds are too reliant on Marcus Rashford to provide the magic in games. He suggested Erik ten Hag’s team needs more movement.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, Merson said (via The Sun): “You watch Man United play and you just don’t see the pattern of play. It’s like if it comes off, it comes off.
“You watch Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man City play, they have patterns of play. Someone will go in and come back out, but at Man United, it’s get the ball out wide and hope that Rashford does something and if he does, we might score a goal.
“Amrabat was wasted out on the left in the end, he did come into the middle in the end but he should start off there.”
🗣️ “At Man United, it’s just get the ball out wide and hope [Marcus] Rashford does something and if he does something we might score a goal.” @PaulMerse says Manchester United have no game plan. ❌ pic.twitter.com/De92AQSZvd
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 2, 2023
Footage courtesy of Sky Sports (H/t Football Daily)
Merson stressed United were “lost for ideas” in the final third for a lot of the game. This doesn’t bode well for a team that has lost four of their opening seven league matches this season.
Something needs to change and fast because we are currently on nine points and a goal difference of minus four.
It’s nowhere near good enough and I don’t usually agree with Merson when it comes to United. This time he’s bang on the money.
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