Ten Hag confirms defensive pecking order
This was the clearest indication yet of Erik ten Hag's defensive pecking order at Manchester United. Tyrell Malacia was the reserve right-back option in the absence of Diogo Dalot, and Victor Lindelof was selected ahead of Harry Maguire in the heart of the defence, despite both being of them being available.
United will still be in the market for a new right-back next year, while signing a back-up centre-back might well become a growing issue going forward if either Lindelof or Maguire seeks a transfer in pursuit of more meaningful playing time.
What is clear after Sunday is that Varane and Dalot will both come back into the line up when available, without question.
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Martial's mixed bag
Much to the dismay of one 'influencer', Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't available for the trip to Fulham, and even if he had been, there is no way he would have started ahead of Anthony Martial. The Frenchman started his first league match since the win at Everton last month but was himself not a notable 'influencer' at Craven Cottage.
With the Martial in attack, there did seem to be more purpose to the way they played, and even when they came unstuck against the Fulham backline, his movement proved crucial in finding pockets of space to exploit.
If he had been fit all season, then there is an argument to suggest that United would be higher in the league heading into the World Cup break. They are a far more cohesive side when Martial is playing, and even on an afternoon when he underperformed, this was clear to see. Take this as the weekly reminder that a new striker is needed.
A point to prove
It was for the best that United and Andreas Pereira parted ways last summer, but that doesn't mean he will necessarily agree with the decision to do so. He was once a Brazil international during his time at Old Trafford, and in an alternate universe, one might well wonder if he'd be heading to Qatar this week had things turned out differently. Mind you, in an alternate universe we would all be on that plane.
Pereira was at the heart of nearly everything Fulham did well in the game, but it was telling that even on a day in which he caught the eye, he also fell short in key moments.
Fulham are certainly a better side when Pereira is on the pitch, but United have also improved since he left. The same can be said for Dan James, who, although he scored, is another player who was far too inconsistent for Old Trafford.
Both of them are looking bright at Fulham and enjoying their football with a team that can tolerate their shortcomings as well. It doesn't mean they are missed, though.
Garnacho fixed Ten Hag mistake
United were in the lead and doing well to subdue the Fulham threat. Then Ten Hag made a change that swung the pendulum back the other way.
Despite looking so dangerous on the counter-attack, they made a pragmatic change when Anthony Elanga was replaced by Scott McTominay, who entered the pitch as a No.10 but would soon drop deeper as they searched for a way back into the game.
It is not a personal attack on the Scotland international for what he brought to the occasion, more so a criticism of Ten Hag for a tactical change that saw United lose a key attacking outlet and resort to a style that Fulham thrived against.
The introduction of Alejandro Garnacho from the bench once again gave United the balance and brightness they had been lacking in attack, but it begs the question why they didn't do that in the first place, rather than respond after having thrown away a lead.
Garnacho was the solution to a problem that United had created themselves.
Fifth avenue
We're not quite at the halfway point in the season, but we've seen enough from United to appreciate that finishing in the top four might be as good as it gets next year.
If you had offered to be fifth in the table by the World Cup break, many would have reluctantly accepted it as progress from last season, if not snatched it after the first two games of the season.
United have shown steady signs of improvement since then, but Sunday's trip to Fulham was another reminder of just how much work is still to be done and how thin the squad is when a few key players drop out of it.
There is plenty of work to be done, but they are on the right track.
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