Manchester United’s 6-1 defeat to Tottenham was the heaviest suffered under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management at the club.
It is right up there with the 4-0 loss to Everton in April 2019 in terms of the worst performance.
With the transfer deadline over, we can return focus to the woeful performance served up by United.
Here are five key questions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to look at…
What is United’s best defensive partnership?
United have a big dilemma at centre-back. Harry Maguire has been undroppable, but perhaps this needs to change.
Eric Bailly came in to replace Victor Lindelof, and the partnership did not work. This might have been the wrong match to make that change.
United will probably revert to the Maguire and Lindelof partnership, but Bailly and Lindelof is an option too.
Axel Tuanzebe’s return to fitness [Telegraph] opens up the competition for places further.
Should Solskjaer abandon playing out from the back?
Is the problem the players, or the coaching? United were undone by Tottenham in part due to an inability to play the ball out of defence.
Opponents have had success pressing United in their own half, going back to the Southampton game in July.
With United’s defenders not playing well, it should be a priority to get the ball upfield as quickly as possible, and a more route one approach be considered.
Solskjaer may not want to change his tactics, but it could be time. He must evolve, especially if opposing managers are figuring United out.
Would a goalkeeper change help?
United do have an option to change the goalkeeper and bring in Dean Henderson, who has two clean sheets this season in the Carabao Cup.
David de Gea has not done much wrong this season, but he has conceded 11 goals. Tottenham’s fourth he could have done better for, beaten at his near post.
Bringing in a confident Henderson could have a galvanising impact on the defence.
Tough moments call for tough decisions, and Solskjaer has a big call to make.
Is it time to drop Paul Pogba?
‘Will Paul Pogba ever be the player we want him to be?’ is a deeper question over the out of form Frenchman.
Pogba was one of United’s worst players against Tottenham and he has no automatic right to walk back into the starting line up.
United have Donny van de Beek ready to step in for him, while Fred and Scott McTominay are pushing for game time too.
United have options in midfield and Pogba is just one of many. He must earn his place in the team now.
Can Rashford and Greenwood help the full-backs out?
The MEN reported that Spurs targeted United’s full-backs because Jose Mourinho doubted whether Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood would help them out defensively.
Opposing bosses will likely try to replicate this, and Rashford and Greenwood will both have to work harder not to leave the full-backs isolated.
This is a tactical conundrum for Solskjaer to try to solve too, but the attackers must put in the work too.
- How Marcus Rashford fared for England in 4-2 World Cup win vs Croatia
- How Bruno Fernandes fared in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo
- Tom Heaton tips resilient Harry Maguire to bounce back from England snub
- ‘Rejected’… Ruben Amorim suffers major blow as AC Milan deal for key addition collapses already
- What sources close to Patrick Dorgu are now saying about his long-term future for Man Utd
- Kobbie Mainoo says England are about to face a player Casemiro speaks so highly about, ‘Pedestal…’
- Bruno Fernandes has now told Man Utd to sign £85m midfielder who is ‘very keen’ on transfer
- Michael Carrick lifts lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe relationship as optimism brews for new season
- Graeme Souness says he’s now changed his mind about Bruno Fernandes at Man Utd
- Harry Maguire says he knows why Trevoh Chalobah has been called up for England ahead of him and Luke Shaw
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
