For all the rumours surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's future, and concerns about the lack of transfer spend or strategy after the club's worst Premier League season in the 38-game era, there was a feeling that Erik ten Hag would provide solutions to Manchester United's problems. However, just two games into his tenure, he is already under serious pressure.
Even for post-Alex Ferguson United, the current situation is shambolic. An opening day defeat to Brighton was followed up by a 4-0 hammering away to Brentford, leaving the team rock bottom in the league standings. There are undoubtedly issues that go beyond the manager and players - the club has been poorly run for many years, with a reactive transfer policy seemingly designed more to placate fans than to win trophies. But there are also difficulties relating to the team's style of play, which is why they are losing games that in theory they should be winning.
Ten Hag built his reputation as a top manager at Ajax, where he achieved success with free-flowing combination play. There were always options around the ball, and the players knew one another's game instinctively. It was fun to watch, and produced good results. There are signs that the Dutchman is trying to instil something similar at Old Trafford, but he has run into early teething troubles.
One of the obvious routines United are trying when playing short passes from the back is the up-and-back, from goalkeeper to defensive midfielder to centre-back. It's a simple combination designed to attract pressure centrally and free up the central defenders to play forward. But opponents know all about it already, and are finding it all too easy to nullify.
Nine minutes into the Brighton game, David de Gea passed into the feet of Fred, who was man marked by the opposition. Under pressure, the Brazilian played a wayward pass that didn't reach a teammate. Brighton intercepted the ball in United's penalty box, but didn't take the opportunity presented to them.
In the next game, the same thing happened in the 18th minute. Only this time the opponent took full advantage. Christian Eriksen, keeping his holding midfield role after being shifted there in the second half versus Brighton, was fed by De Gea under pressure, and gave the ball away inside his own penalty box. It was a gimme of a goal, and it had been coming.
As an aside, it is ironic that, in the same year Manchester United allowed Paul Pogba to leave - in part because they didn't trust him to play in holding midfield - they now find themselves using another adapted attacking midfielder in the same role, and being found out. Pogba is not a natural holder, but neither is Eriksen. And many would argue that, in terms of resisting pressure, escaping a marker, making space for oneself, Pogba is the superior player.
United's inability to execute even the simplest of combinations and being punished by high-pressing opponents is one issue; another is the severe lack of quality in possession. Even if they keep the ball and move up the field, there is no tempo to the team's play. Either it is too slow, leading to hopeless punts into the box, or it is too fast, leading to needless early turnovers.
Against Brighton, United went too long too often, seemingly without a plan to secure second balls. In both of their opening two games, United's midfielders have lost possession too easily, and there is generally a lack of players showing for the ball. Sky Sports' stats graphic nearing half-time, shown below, told its own story. This, perhaps, is a confidence issue more than anything else. Still, confidence issues two games into a new season under a new manager? That in itself will be a concern.
One problem that Ten Hag has categorically brought with him is the issue of Lisandro Martinez at centre-back. The Argentine stands at just 5ft 9in, making him small even for a Premier League midfielder, but he has been tasked with winning aerial duels against big strikers such as Danny Welbeck and Ivan Toney. So far, this experiment has failed.
Brentford's third goal in their 4-0 win came via a Ben Mee header. Mee is, himself, not the tallest of players, but he managed to beat Martinez to the ball at the far post and score in the air. Martinez also had problems against Welbeck – in the still below, we see him failing to win a header and letting Welbeck bring the long ball down in United's half. Again, it is ironic that a player United let go eight - yes, eight - years ago was able to run rings around their new £50 million defender.
There are rumours that Casemiro may be on his way to Old Trafford from Real Madrid. If that move does happen, United would finally have a top defensive midfielder to sit in front of their defence. Whether he fits into Ten Hag's of play is another issue. So too is exactly how long he has left at the highest level given he turns 31 next February. Casemiro has never been the fastest, even at his peak, and would be playing in a more transitional team in a higher-pace league.
Potential new signings aside, though, there are fixes for Ten Hag and his players to work on in training. One would be the speed of their combinations - there must be less dallying and more one- and two-touch play if they are to play out of pressure. Confidence also needs to be boosted - right now, the players look as if they are either in a rush to attack or unable to break down a set low block. And finally, a new position must be found for Martinez, who simply does not have the capacity to defend high balls expected of a top-tier centre-back.
Ten Hag will have learned a lot about his team in those opening two defeats. Now he must take those lessons and apply the necessary fixes.
