After a run of 11 games in the space of just 36 days, it was inevitable that Manchester United were going to experience a bad day at the office at some point.
Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park marked the end of United's impressive nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions, marking their first loss since the derby day humbling at the hands of Manchester City on October 2. While one defeat in ten games is nothing to get too downhearted about, especially when you consider the calibre of opposition United have faced in recent weeks, it was the manner of Sunday's defeat that was the most concerning.
Villa, energised by the arrival of new head coach Unai Emery, were always going to offer a stern test, such was the occasion marking the Spaniard's first game in charge. United, though, did little to help themselves, conceding two poor goals from their point of view to find themselves two goals down within 11 minutes. They were beaten from that moment onwards.
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While United's defensive performance at Villa Park was certainly up for criticism, it was higher up the pitch where their biggest issues shone through most, particularly in two positions. After collecting his fifth Premier League booking of the season in the 1-0 win over West Ham United a week earlier, Bruno Fernandes was suspended for the clash in the Midlands, meaning manager Erik ten Hag had no choice but to make an enforced change.
Almost everyone, despite Ten Hag's refusal to do it when Fernandes didn't start in the 1-0 home defeat to Real Sociedad in September, anticipated that the Dutchman would move Christian Eriksen into the advanced-midfield berth, allowing him to pick up the baton as architect-in-chief. That would have seen either Scott McTominay or Fred slot into Eriksen's No.8 role and play alongside Casemiro.
However, Donny van de Beek, despite proving almost non-existent in the 1-0 win over Sociedad in San Sebastian less than 72 hours earlier, got the nod, in what Ten Hag, in pre-season, described as his best position. He failed to support his manager's argument, registering a paltry 18 touches of the ball in 65 minutes. He could not have been less influential had he have tried.
Based on Sunday's evidence, as well as in previous performances where had failed to pull up any trees, Van de Beek does not deserve to start Thursday night's clash with Villa, this time in the Carabao Cup. Such is the demand United's players have been put under in recent weeks, the Carabao Cup, at first glance, presents Ten Hag with an opportunity to rotate his pack and dish out opportunities to those who have been starved of regular game time.
In normal circumstances, therefore, Van de Beek would have been one of a handful of players chomping at the bit to bag a rare start. This time around, however, the former Ajax man does not deserve to start, whether it's in the No.10 position or not.
Fernandes is back available for selection again, but Ten Hag might refrain from picking him, instead putting a firmer focus on Sunday's Premier League clash with Fulham. Marcus Rashford, too, might be in the same boat as Fernandes. He has played a lot of football in recent weeks and could benefit from a rest against Villa.
In truth, resting him might be a better option than playing him on the right-wing again, as Ten Hag did on Sunday. Rashford, by his own admission, is at it his best and most dangerous when playing on the left. He has thrived in that role time and time again this season, meaning his best position is no longer up for debate.
Ten Hag got it wrong by starting him on the right-flank at Villa; he was ineffective and failed to show his true capabilities. He should have moved Alejandro Garnacho to the opposite flank and allowed Rashford to continue in his preferred role.
The latter is the more senior of the duo, so should have taken priority in the Dutchman's thinking, although, to caveat that, Ten Hag might have thought that Rashford's experience could have helped him adapt to a new role easier than Garnacho, who is only 18.
Ultimately, however, it was another tactical decision that backfired on Sunday. United have options to play on the right side against Villa, those being Jadon Sancho (if fit) and Facundo Pellistri, who is still awaiting his debut.
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