Not a great start from them, but time to turn it around.
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00:00 United's midfield has raised a few eyebrows so far this season, obviously two games in.
00:08 What's your take on it? Why hasn't it so far really clicked in there with the three that have been playing?
00:16 I think there's a lot of things to it. I think that's a new sign in Mason Mount.
00:22 Obviously, they haven't really worked out the best way to utilise the three, being Mount, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes.
00:29 I think that's part of it. I think there's been some basic tactical flaws from Ten Hag, if I'm totally honest,
00:36 in terms of how much Mount, certainly against Wolves, how much Mount and Fernandes pushed up.
00:41 That was incredible to see, really, just how exposed Casemiro was.
00:44 It wasn't quite as bad against Spurs, but it still wasn't great.
00:49 There were once or twice, I remember at the end of the first half, Spurs just absolutely cut through United with ease.
00:54 That is a bit of an issue. You said before the call, are Mount and Fernandes two similar players?
01:00 Maybe, but I do think they could be utilised correctly. I think that Fernandes played deeper last year and was good.
01:07 I think Mount's intelligent enough to work out a way of doing it. I think they can do it, but they just need to work it all out.
01:14 It's quite interesting at the moment that United are going, almost reverting slightly back to the Solskjaer-Rangnick style of two seasons ago,
01:22 which was very look to hit teams on the counter. It was very on transitions rather than controlling the game.
01:29 It feels like that's a little bit what United have gone back to a bit under Ten Hag.
01:33 Plenty of long balls down into the wide areas, obviously struggling at the moment as well.
01:38 I think the midfield is impacted by the fact they haven't got a proper centre forward, if I'm honest.
01:42 That's a bigger issue throughout the season. I think that could come back to haunt United, potentially.
01:47 It's an interesting one that they don't really seem to be going for a midfield control at the moment.
01:53 As a result, it means that the other team are dictating to United. I know it's only two games, but Wolves and Spurs so far have dictated to United
02:00 what sort of match it was going to be. Basuma and Maddison absolutely ran the show against Spurs.
02:05 Wolves repeatedly cut through United in midfield. They need to wrestle back some control in the middle of the park.
02:11 I think there's plenty to address going forward. I think we just touched on it in terms of sound.
02:17 I think if they could bring in someone that perhaps just gives them another option.
02:21 I think that, let's say, Casemiro Fernandes will always start. I think you've got Mount, who is more of an attacking player.
02:27 He can press really well. You've got Christian Eriksen, who helps to maintain possession.
02:33 You've got Scott McTominay, who's more of a, let's say, an energetic presence without a huge amount of quality on the ball.
02:39 If there is someone who maybe could sit in alongside Casemiro a little bit and help maintain possession
02:45 and offer a little bit more of an attacking threat, something they don't really have at the moment,
02:49 so kind of a bit of a hybrid almost of a couple of the players they've got,
02:53 that would be quite interesting to see what they can do in the transfer market.
02:56 But, yes, I do think that in just after two matches, I think it is quite worrying how United's midfield has looked, if I'm totally honest.