Football Digest: Analysing Man Utd's failed recruitment
Erik ten Hag faces the ultimate humiliation on Saturday if Manchester United don’t resolve their early-season midfield mess against Nottingham Forest. With Mason Mount sidelined through injury, Ten Hag has a big decision to make after gaping displays against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.
Casemiro has looked like a shadow of the £70million star who landed at Old Trafford last season and helped United turn their early disarray into a successful season.
But that’s primarily down to the isolation the 31-year-old has faced in United’s opening two games as Mount adapts to his new surroundings after a £60m switch from Chelsea.
Mount’s attacking tendencies, paired with Bruno Fernandes’ natural advanced positioning, has resulted in Wolves and Tottenham slicing through the Red Devils’ midfield with ease.
Ten Hag’s side got off the hook in their 1-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford but didn’t get off as lucky against Spurs, losing 2-0.
And with Forest on the horizon, the Dutchman has a significant decision to make to avoid embarrassment against a player he was happy to ship off earlier this summer.
Anthony Elanga – boasting electric pace on the counter – is the ideal weapon against Ten Hag’s porous engine room, and he’ll be chomping at the bit to return to M16 after his £15m exit.
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The 21-year-old winger debuted with an instant impact on the opening Premier League weekend against Arsenal, ripping through Mikel Arteta’s men to set up Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest’s goal ended up as a consolation in a 2-1 defeat but made for a nervy final 15 minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
Elanga once again showed his threat in transitions in the final 20 minutes of Forest’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United at the City Ground last time out.
If Ten Hag doesn’t nail his midfield selection, there is a strong chance the Swedish academy graduate will come back to haunt his boyhood club this weekend.
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Mount is expected to be sidelined until after the international break, leaving Ten Hag two options after he sanctioned the £13m sale of Fred to Fenerbahce earlier this month.
The United boss can revert to what was his first-choice midfield for most of last season by reintroducing Christian Eriksen to the fold.
Or he can opt for a hard-hitting option in Scott McTominay, who could be more effective in shutting down Forest’s threat on the break.
Anything less than a triumph would be a disaster for United, with a daunting trip to Arsenal to come next weekend.
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