Manchester United this season have become somewhat of a “nearly” team, in that fans come into the game with a sense of hope because the performances have genuinely been good, but the win eludes them more often than not.
This is shown in the statistics as well, as Manchester United have won less than 50% of their games so far and the bulk of their scoring was done in the 7-0 win vs Barnsley.
In short, they are a team of higher peaks and lower troughs than almost any other elite team in Europe, hardly a mark of winners.
It is why they have also been a cup team and struggled in the league, which demands focus and consistency over 38 weeks.
Erik ten Hag has now revealed the choices made at Manchester United that have led to that inconsistency.
Erik ten Hag on inconsistency
Since taking charge at Old Trafford, the Dutchman has overseen a spending of more than half a billion pounds which has engineered an almost complete overhaul of the squad.
Now in his third season, he is no longer in a position to preach patience over a playing style and identity either.
Of course, injuries have played a part in creating a stumbling block for progress, with the 2023/24 season historically bad for it.
However, Ten Hag has now revealed that the key reason behind the team’s inconsistency is much simpler, and stems from a choice they have had to make at the club due to restrictions.
He spoke to the media in the embargoed section of the press conference in the buildup to the game at home vs Tottenham.
He said: “That is the choices [deploying young players] we have made the last two seasons. I understand the impressions many have for Manchester United, because the history is so big, but that is the choices we have made, and that has also to do with some financials, and other restrictions we have to deal with.
“We made a choice for young players, and the young players are not in the level, you can’t expect them [to be], we have to improve them, and they have to improve themselves.
“And we have to find a team that can be successful on a consistent base. And this team, in the last two years, they’ve shown they can do it, on occasions, and on occasions we can win trophies, but we have to get more consistent.”
Unpacking Ten Hag’s words
There has been a concerted effort towards buying younger players, especially since Ineos took over the football matters at the club.
However, during Ten Hag’s first summer, signings like Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were made, two players who are squad players now.
Therefore, while Ten Hag reasoning for the inconsistency in results can be taken somewhat at face value, it still doesn’t excuse the inconsistency in a style of play.
Building a young team towards getting better and winning inconsistency undoubtedly comes with growing pains, but even young teams should play with an identifiable identity, where one look at the team makes it clear what they want to do.
That hasn’t been the case at United under Ten Hag and while the initial signs of it have started to become visible in the last few games, it has arrived when the need for results is more urgent.
Manchester United vs Tottenham prediction made earlier points to the same fact and the reality is, regardless of this being a young squad, it is not a crutch Ten Hag can afford to lean on for long, especially if the league results don’t pick up.
Performances indicate they will, but that ship will sail soon if it doesn’t happen quickly.
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