Another week of ups and downs in what is quickly proving the default pattern for Manchester United.
Two games against West Ham United with different results, different squads but relatively similar performance levels demonstrate that the margins for error for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are impossibly small.
With Aston Villa and Villarreal travelling to Old Trafford, another big week for the Red Devils await.
Two Games, Two Squads, Two Results…Similar Lessons
Manchester United’s two fixtures against West Ham United this week, away in the Premier League and at home in the Carabao Cup respectively, could not have been more different for a number of reasons.
A first-choice XI at London Stadium, a firmly second-string XI at Old Trafford.
A roller-coaster win in the Premier League, a relatively flat and uninspiring defeat in the Carabao Cup.
Interestingly, despite their key differences in squad selections and outcomes the two performances actually shared a lot in common.
United dominated possession in both games – with over 60% of the ball on both occasions.
United created a range of chances in both games – 10 out of 17 shots on target at London Stadium in the Premier League and six out of 27 shots on target in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford.
So, what does this tell us?
It tells us what we probably already knew.
United struggle to create enough high-quality chances against teams who play with a low defensive block, and because of that the chances of Manchester United winning any major silverware this season remains incredibly slim.
Not impossible by any means but incredibly slim nonetheless.
Why?
Because United’s chances of winning games relies almost completely on the ability of its forwards and midfielders to score goals from range or converting one of the very few quality chances created from close range.
The addition of Cristiano Ronaldo means that the likelihood of United scoring from relatively few chances increases exponentially.
Take him out of the team and replace him with the insipid Anthony Martial and it’s a different story – to phrase it delicately.
Full-Time on Martial’s United Career?
There is no doubting that there is a large part of the United fanbase who would love nothing more than for Anthony Martial to be a success at the club.
I’d like to think that anyone who supports the club would hope the same for anyone who pulls on the shirt.
But with each passing appearance, it seems less and less likely that Martial can make it work at United.
In a team where he is never going to be relied on week in, week out, the Frenchman just does not have the luxury of having three to four games to play himself into form.
There is just too much quality ahead of him and with Edison Cavani and Marcus Rashford to return to the fold in the coming weeks, it’s hard to make a case for Martial’s long-term future at United.
Another hot/cold pre-season, followed by less-than-convincing competitive appearances this year surely means “Anto’s” time is up at United. If there really are clubs out there considering a GBP40million bid for the Frenchman, then it’s time to snap their hands off and invest the money in midfield.
