Unraveling Manchester United: Analyzing the Midfield, Defensive Struggles, Injury Woes, Off-Field Turmoil, and Beyond

Manchester United's troubled start to the season means there is no room for error as they head to Burnley on Saturday night, but what's gone wrong for Erik ten Hag's side so far?

Muddled midfield: Who plays with Bruno?

The central area remains the primary concern for Ten Hag, who has introduced five new midfielders since he became the manager of United. While Bruno Fernandes' position as captain is secured, the question of who will partner with or support him is still up in the air.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, once a promising duo last season, appear to be lacking their usual rhythm and form in the current campaign. Mason Mount, following his £55m transfer from Chelsea, faced difficulties in establishing his credibility in his initial two outings before sustaining an injury. Scott McTominay is yet to deliver a performance that validates the decision to retain him beyond this summer. Furthermore, the recent departure of Fred has left Manchester United wanting in terms of dynamism and enthusiasm.

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Casemiro has struggled defensively for Manchester United this season

Sofyan Amrabat and the promising young talent Kobbie Mainoo, who arrived on loan on Deadline Day, have not yet had the opportunity to make an impact. However, once they regain their fitness, they have the potential to significantly enhance the team. It is worth noting, though, that expecting two players without prior experience in the Premier League to immediately adapt and excel is a daunting task.

Finding the ideal combination in United's midfield remains a pressing concern for Ten Hag, who must prioritize resolving this issue promptly.

Injury crisis: Lack of options in key areas

Despite United's self-inflicted troubles, it is undeniable that Ten Hag has also faced a challenging situation due to injuries this season. The Dutchman has been particularly disappointed with the absence of prominent summer signings, as they were expected to overcome the team's obstacles.

There was an irritating delay for high-priced forward Rasmus Hojlund to make his first appearance following his transfer from Atalanta due to a back injury. Meanwhile, Mount made two appearances before being sidelined with a thigh injury.

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Mason Mount was signed from Chelsea for £55m this summer but has featured just twice so far due to injury

Amrabat was signed from Fiorentina to address United's issues in defensive midfield but has not played a single game due to back spasms suffered while on international duty. Additionally, the injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, along with Raphael Varane's absence, have disrupted the formation of Ten Hag's preferred starting eleven.

Premier Injuries reports that United currently has 11 unavailable players, which is only exceeded by Chelsea's 12 (although Jadon Sancho and Antony, who are fit but unavailable, are included).

Undoubtedly, the injuries have brought attention to the club's subpar past recruitment in certain areas. Considering the significant investment made in recent transfer windows, the team should have the necessary squad depth to cope with absent players. Furthermore, injuries affect all teams to some extent. However, sympathy can be extended to Ten Hag for not being able to fully demonstrate his plan this season.

Shaky defence consistently inefficient

United's defense this season has displayed a concerning level of consistency - but unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. One of these reasons is the consistent lack of available players due to injuries. Additionally, the team has consistently struggled in their ability to prevent goals in a specific manner.

Four teams - Arsenal, Brighton, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich - have all managed to score against Ten Hag's team through cutbacks into the penalty area. The midfield, which should be supporting Fernandes, has been struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. Furthermore, the back four seems to be lacking proper communication, occasionally forgetting the fundamental principles of defending.

And despite all the discussions about Andre Onana's proficiency in playing the ball, his ability to make critical saves has been inadequate. Onana allowed seven goals from the first ten shots he faced in the Premier League, and even scored an own goal against Bayern Munich. Perhaps the incident when he was outsmarted from the halfway line during a pre-season match against RC Lens was not just a random occurrence, but rather a warning sign.

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Andre Onana blamed himself for Manchester United's Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday

Discipline problems and off-field issues

Ten Hag's implementation of the notorious 13.8km-run punishment during his initial stages as the manager seemed to signify a much-needed restoration of authority at Old Trafford. However, this turned out to be just the tip of an immovable iceberg, with numerous other challenges that were simply beyond the manager's control.

Managing the delicate political dynamics involving Cristiano Ronaldo during his early months was no easy feat, and yet Ten Hag emerged triumphant following the public outbursts from the forward when his contract was terminated amidst the World Cup. Nonetheless, the manager has had to grapple with even more troublesome issues.

Mason Greenwood's suspension predates his arrival, and now Antony, his most costly signing, has distanced himself from the first team due to ongoing personal issues. This decision to isolate Sancho becomes even riskier, as it seems Ten Hag has no plans to backtrack, leaving him without any experienced right winger.

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Jadon Sancho continues to be unavailable for Manchester United due to disciplinary problems. This situation has further contributed to the growing speculation about the club's potential takeover, although it has been replaced by absolute silence in recent months. However, what concerns Ten Hag more is the lack of development this situation brings.

Have major decisions gone against United?

Is there validity to many United fans claiming that their team has suffered from numerous unfavorable decisions this season?

United were insistent that they deserved a penalty in their 2-0 loss to Tottenham last month. The incident occurred when Cristian Romero blocked Alejandro Garnacho's shot with his arm while the game was still tied. Two weeks later, Ten Hag expressed disappointment with three crucial decisions in their 3-1 defeat against Arsenal. One of these decisions involved ruling out Garnacho's late strike, which would have given United a 2-1 advantage, citing an offside violation.

Recently, a portion of United supporters felt indignant when Hojlund's 'equaliser' in their eventual 3-1 defeat against Brighton last weekend was disallowed by VAR due to the ball going out of play prior to the goal. Additionally, in their Champions League opener against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Eriksen gave away a penalty for handball shortly after United had narrowed the lead to 2-1.

Does United's poor start rest with Ten Hag?

Ten Hag's team had a stroke of luck as well. A crucial decision favored United during their 1-0 victory over Wolves at the start of the Premier League season. If Onana had been penalized for his forceful collision with Sasa Kalajdzic in stoppage time, United's start to the new campaign could have been considerably worse. Moreover, United benefited from two pivotal incidents when they triumphed 3-2 against Nottingham Forest after being 2-0 down on August 26.

Many factors have been attributed to United's struggles - such as the Glazers, perceived lack of investment in the team, and unfortunate injuries. However, the extent of Ten Hag's responsibility should also be considered.

With over a year in his managerial position, the manager has successfully navigated three transfer windows. The challenge he faced was monumental, considering the extensive rebuild that awaited him. However, he was granted the authority to offload players who no longer fit his vision, including Ronaldo, David De Gea, and Fred. In addition, Maguire's role as captain has been revoked, and he has been sidelined from the team.

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Manchester United have lost four of their opening six games this season

Ten Hag has been given the authority to recruit players he is familiar with, and this includes Onana, Amrabat, Antony, and Martinez, all of whom have previously played under him.

Despite Ten Hag's extensive financial investment of over £330m in restructuring the team, several of the players he personally chose have failed to live up to expectations.

Antony, who was Ten Hag's costliest signing at £86m, had a disappointing season and is currently unavailable due to troubling off-field allegations. Meanwhile, Onana's performance at United has not been impressive and Martinez's form has taken a nosedive. As Ten Hag's influence becomes more evident in the United team, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to escape scrutiny for their failures.

Follow live updates of Man Utd's trip to Burnley on We' digital platforms from 6.30pm on Saturday, kick-off 8pm. Watch free highlights shortly after full-time.

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Ten Hag insists the challenge facing him at Manchester United is no surprise and is determined to turn his side's fortunes around

What's coming up for Man Utd?

September 23: Burnley (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm

September 26: Crystal Palace (H) - Carabao Cup, kick-off 8pm, live on We

September 30: Crystal Palace (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

October 3: Galatasaray (H) - Champions League, kick-off 8pm

October 7: Brentford (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

October 21: Sheffield United (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm