On the eve of the new season, Erik ten Hag insisted he was happy with the squad he had at his disposal, reiterating that he would only look to add to it if the ‘right players’ were available. Fast forward a week and the Manchester United manager was demanding new additions following his second humbling of the campaign, the latest painful reality check of how much change is still needed.
For all their summer rhetoric of a fresh start and new ideas, United remain as clueless as they did last season. The pieces might be different, but the puzzle is still the same.
There can be no denying the need for new additions to a playing squad which is paying the price for years of neglect, but there is little faith that United will actually be able to do that.
READ MORE: Dressing room row erupted between United players before Brentford debacle
The news that they are looking to sell promising homegrown talent James Garner and replace him with the problematic Adrien Rabiot begs all sorts of questions about their recruitment strategy, or more so, the lack of one.
United’s concerns are not only about those they target, though, but also how they actually look to use them.
Lisandro Martinez was Ten Hag’s top target at centre-back but fell victim to all the concerns about his physique at the weekend, being withdrawn at the break with his side four goals down to Brentford. Tyrell Malacia looked lively in pre-season, hardly got a kick against Brighton but at least showed that it’s still alright for a degree of fight on Saturday night.
Then there is Christian Eriksen. He is a worthy addition to a United side that lost so much experience in the summer, but despite being effectively signed as a replacement for squad players Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata, he is already a key part of the line-up.
It is hard to imagine any other top club signing Eriksen to be a regular starter, but it sums up how poor their options are that he has arrived and already performed as one of their best players.
Ten Hag prioritised the pursuit of Eriksen because he wanted to add a technically gifted playmaker to his side, but one who was far more sensible in possession of the ball than the risk-taking Bruno Fernandes. The Danish midfielder also arrived with a wealth of experience, having been a recent Serie A winner with Inter, and has Premier League experience from his spells at Tottenham and Brentford.
Another key aspect was his versatility, though that in itself has exposed United’s clear lack of planning.
On the opening day of the season, the 30-year-old started as a false nine before dropping much deeper to fill in for the false midfielders being overran by Brighton. He looked far more accomplished in the deeper role and kept it for the trip to his former club, Brentford.
Yet his complacency on the ball saw Brentford pounce for their second of the night when Mathias Jensen robbed him of possession on the edge of the box before coolly dispatching the ball into the back of the net.
Of course, David de Gea also deserves most of the blame for the hospital pass, but it was as much an issue about using Eriksen as a makeshift defensive midfielder against a side who knew all about his weaknesses and how to exploit them.
Ten Hag got the player he wanted but still doesn't know how to use him properly in the Premier League, something that casts doubt about anyone else he might manage to sign before deadline day.
When analysing the issues at United, it is important to note everything stems back to the owners and the years of their neglect that has led to this current climate, and until that changes, it is hard to see the club ever truly break from the same habits of old.
The lack of a clear plan has roots at the very top of the club and Ten Hag’s lack of clarity around Eriksen is only the tip of the iceberg.
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