The transfer window is finally in the rearview mirror after two months of chaos, conflicting reports, and excitement over rumours.
The focus now turns completely to on-pitch matters, and the time for Erik ten Hag and his men to deliver is now.
Only this time, there can be no excuses as the team off the pitch has delivered in remarkable fashion by strengthening the squad with surgical precision.
It was also the summer in which Manchester United netted more than £100 million in sales, aiding their ability to sign players.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
At the end of the window, it is clear that barring freak injury worries, Ineos have assembled a world-class XI for Ten Hag. Here’s how it looks-
(Note: Formation is 4-2-3-1 because Ten Hag won’t persist with playing without a striker after buying another in the window)
Goalkeeper- Andre Onana
This was one position they didn’t need to touch this summer after an overhaul last year and that proved to be the case. Onana came through last season’s growing pains to improve near the end and he has kept up the momentum this season too so far.
With better players in front of him, his game will only improve further and that is an exciting prospect for the fans.
Right-Back- Noussair Mazraoui
It is a credit to Noussair Mazraoui that after just two games in the Manchester United squad, he has done enough to make that right-back position his own.
He will face greater challenges and better teams, of course, and the euphoria of the move will fade away too, but nothing he’s shown so far has signs of this form being unsustainable.
Ten Hag has a new right-back and the performance of the old right-back in a different position (more on that coming) makes it an easy decision for him.
Centre-Backs- Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez
This is probably the dream partnership that could walk into the first XIs of the best teams in the world. They have everything- a left-footer and a right-footer, both comfortable with the ball, one stopper and one cover defender, plus much-needed height and physicality.
Harry Maguire has been preferred over De Ligt so far as the latter builds up his match fitness but the game against Liverpool is when this partnership should be christened and kept for the long term. The potential is tantalising.
Left-Back- Diogo Dalot
Ten Hag’s decision has been made easy for this position because Dalot has taken to playing left-back like duck to water.
Luke Shaw, when absolutely fit, should still be the first choice for this position but Mazraoui and Dalot’s performances, plus Shaw’s own fitness, probably make it certain that the Englishman will be a squad player this season.
It’s better for Shaw too, and Dalot becomes free to underlap on his stronger right foot while playing on the left. This is a fullback pairing that makes perfect sense.
Defensive midfielders – Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte
After 12 years, Manchester United finally have a midfield that looks like it will hold for more than a season or two.
Manuel Ugarte’s style of play makes him a perfect fit next to Mainoo, and in front of De Ligt and Martinez. He’ll be the ball-winner and Mainoo will be the ball-player.
Casemiro will finally play the role suited to his strengths at this stage of his career- a destroyer off the bench with fresh legs who can create the odd overload by running forward.
Right-Winger- Amad
This is the bravest call in this article not because of Amad’s suitability on the right, but because of what it does to a player on the left (more in that coming!).
The Ivorian leveraged a sterling pre-season to gain a place in the first XI for competitive matches and he has done nothing to get dropped now.
The competition for places on the right is not as hectic because Antony is a shadow of the player United spent £85 million on and Garnacho’s natural position is on the left.
With the form hierarchy clear, this position is Amad’s to lose.
Left-Winger- Alejandro Garnacho
That’s right. Because of Amad’s emergence on the right, Ten Hag no longer has an argument to start with Marcus Rashford here and shoehorn Garnacho on the right.
The early signs of it were visible vs Brighton, when Rashford came off for Garnacho, not Amad. Furthermore, United will need to play with two inside forwards if they start with a linkup player up top.
Garnacho on the right takes away his ability to cut inside to a great extent. United finally have competition out wide now and Rashford will have to impress from the bench to exert pressure on the young starting pair.
Attacking midfield – Bruno Fernandes
No prizes for guessing this! United signed five players this summer but even if they signed 50, Bruno Fernandes would be the first name on the teamsheet.
The Manchester United captain remains the beating heart of the team and the repercussions of even subbing him off were clear in the defeat to Brighton.
Maybe to rest him in the odd game, Ten Hag can get creative and play Joshua Zirkzee behind Rasmus Hojlund but as it stands, this selection needs no elaborating.
Striker- Joshua Zirkzee
This is not a damning statement on Rasmus Hojlund, who has limitless potential and his ceiling is arguably higher than Zirkzee, but the Dutchman’s arrival will finally help Hojlund into the role he should have had since arrival- a spark plug off the bench.
Zirkzee’s style of play can make the attack tick as he brings wingers into play with smart layoffs. He showed against Fulham that he crashes the box at the right time to finish chances too.
If United play with two “score-first” inverted wingers, and a world-class finisher in Bruno Fernandes, then it makes sense for Zirkzee to play instead of Hojlund, who’s more of an old-fashioned striker.
Ultimately, having multiple options gives Ten Hag the ability to set the team up as per the opposition and that’s exactly what Ineos have provided him with.
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