From the unexpected to the expectant. Erik ten Hag is discovering that managing Manchester United in a run-in is markedly different to managing Ajax.
Since the season resumed after the spring internationals, Ten Hag has miscalculated with alarming regularity and his game-management - his Midas touch for three-quarters of the campaign - has deserted him.
It was not so much who Ten Hag put on at West Ham as who he didn't. Alejandro Garnacho has been training for the best part of a fortnight and was unused while five teammates emerged.
Also read: Doubts growing over De Gea's role at United
Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho have had their best impacts off the bench this season, though so has Garnacho. His game-changing impacts have also been more pivotal.
There was the winner at Fulham, the assist for Marcus Rashford in the January derby, the clincher at Leeds. Garnacho came on in the League Cup third round tie against Aston Villa with United 2-1 down and they won 4-2, with the Argentine creating two of the goals.
Supporters were not the only ones wondering why Garnacho's bib stayed on at the London Stadium. Ten Hag was asked why at his post-match press conference.
"He was on the bench, then, of course, he is capable of playing," Ten Hag explained. "But we also had other options with Martial, with Jadon Sancho, with Sabitzer, offensive and fit - very fit - players are there and present, then you have to play them.
"But in one week, you have to see, it's one week extra and he is brave, he can make a difference, yeah."
Garnacho, back in the squad for the first time after a seven-week absence with an ankle injury, may have a significant role to play in United's run-in. Ten Hag's thinking is at times so muddled he has started three different strikers in the last three games and United have scored once; hardly a carousel of progress.
Marcus Rashford, the highest scorer on 29 goals, has a meagre five in his last 17 appearances. He remains the favourite to start at the apex of United's attack in the FA Cup final on June 3.
Some will still press the case for Martial, dropped in favour of Wout Weghorst, scorer of two tap-ins in 27 matches. Rashford prodded in his derby winner by moving to a central role.
Ten Hag is well aware Rashford is a more destructive forward off the wing but, until Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen or an elite centre forward pulls through the Carrington barriers, Rashford is the stop-gap striker.
It is damning that Rashford is liable to find himself in an identical situation five years on from his last FA Cup final appearance. He started up front against Chelsea with a struggling Romelu Lukaku on the bench and United will be devoid of an available starting striker against City.
So if Rashford is to lead from the front at Wembley, Ten Hag has to start Garnacho, Sancho or, at a push, Martial on the left. He will at least be able to call upon two of them off the bench if or when United need to energise their attack.
Garnacho has also struggled to excel as a starter, though he is cut a thick slice of slack as an 18-year-old who debuted barely a year ago. "I see today another step," Ten Hag said after Garnacho's added-time winner against West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round.
"I said to him before the game, 'It's time. You have an impact when you come on but now you have to have an impact as a starter'. And I think he is capable of it, so that is the next step he has to make."
It is an unusual quandary for Ten Hag: left-sided wingers aged 18, 23 and 27 whose efficacy is higher as a sub than a starter. Five of Martial's seven goals this term have been as a substitute, two of Sancho's six have been via the bench yet his outstanding performance was as an interval arrival against Leicester.
Sunday was not the first time Ten Hag described Garnacho as "brave". It would be brave to start him at Wembley. Some United fans will expect it.
READ MORE:
