Erik ten Hag – having declared earlier that he could barely wait to name his strongest first XI when his injured best are back and ready for engagement –finally got his chance to pick his strongest Manchester United side against Wolves.
Unfortunately, the Reds still nearly managed to dump everything away.
Sure, there were certainly positives to take from that performance, and it might well have been a victory by a far bigger margin had it been another day. However, the glaring harsh truth is that the victory wasn’t anywhere near what the Reds would like to make of it.
It was no different from the script they had against Newport a week ago where United could have won by a 3- or 4-goal margin – instead, they again carelessly squandered another opportunity to lead.
It would definitely register as a surprise if they chose to make any changes today against West Ham. After all, Ten Hag has been regularly reiterating his ambition of having a full, settled squad, and now he has the opportunity to do exactly that.
Prejudiced though this might sound to a diehard United supporter, while the former Ajax boss is finally able to deploy what should be to him the strongest United side on paper, there is still an argument to suggest it could be even more formidable.
Case in point – United’s midfield was easily ripped apart twice in the last week – yet Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo won’t be dropped – with the dodgy defence conceding five goals in three matches when the center-back pairing is perceived to be world-class.
While the responsibility of keeping a clean sheet is not solely the task of only the center-backs, they still play a dominant role in keeping the fort safe from all intruders. Despite Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane still widely being acknowledged to be the best two at the club, the goals are still adding up for the rivals.
Admittedly the partnership of Martinez and Varane is neither an easy nor convenient one to endorse due to their respective injury concerns as both have both missed a large part of the season, with the Argentine being replaced again in midweek as a precautionary measure by Ten Hag.
The regular changes at center-back are clearly undermining the Dutchman’s pursuit of consistency and momentum and reliable familiarity stemming from a hand-in-glove defensive pairing is urgently needed with the busy fixture schedule ahead.
Thee’s no doubting Martinez’s role as being integral to Ten Hag’s plans due to his passing ability and the different angles he opens up as a left-footer, but the plan for the summer should be to sign a suitable partner for him who fits well into his style of play.
Clearly Varane is the boss’ preferred choice over Maguire now but the real test will be to ensure the former Real Madrid ace is fit, which is a task easier said than done.