Manchester United followed their pattern of ‘one step forward, two steps back’ as they conspired to lose 2-1 against West Ham after missing a barrage of chances.
The team should have been out of sight after the first half itself but some changes from West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui, combined with United’s own intensity falling led to this result.
It leaves Manchester United 14th in the league table after nine games, looking down rather than up, and the Erik ten Hag question hovers over the club.
It was generally a good performance despite the dropoff in the second half, as even Matthijs de Ligt, who was adjudged to have conceded the dubious penalty, played a good game.
However, Marcus Rashford struggled on the right wing after a recent hot streak. Here’s the game’s major winner and loser-
Biggest loser- Marcus Rashford
Diogo Dalot missed a horrendous chance and De Ligt conceded the penalty, but at least Dalot kept making the runs that penetrated West Ham and the less said about the penalty incident, the better.
Rashford, however, fell far below relative to the expectations he had set for himself after a hot streak of recent games.
The academy graduate had formed a nice partnership with Garnacho and despite historically struggling on the right, was coming into his own.
Rashford impressed vs Fenerbahce, even showing a newfound ability to cut inside from the right wing, while his playmaking efforts vs Brentford were a thing of beauty.
However, against West Ham, the struggling version of Rashford was back as nothing he did came off. Eventually, he was so peripheral to the proceedings that he was taken off just before the hour mark.
A natural right-winger Amad immediately made a difference with smart switches of play and threatening progressive passes.
This was Rashford’s third game in a week and he clearly looks like he needs a rest in a role that demands the world from him on and off the ball.
The Carabao Cup game vs Leicester is where that should happen.
Biggest winner- Bruno Fernandes
If Rashford’s hot streak ended at West Ham, Man Utd fans would hope another one began in Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese’ struggles this season are well documented by now. Frustration has been palpable and that has reared its head in the form of sending-offs and petulant bookings.
The passes were overhit, the shots were off target, the ball was being lost in dangerous positions and the playmaker who took the game by the scruff of its neck was MIA.
Against West Ham, he looked close to his best again. With 96 touches of the ball, he led the way for United, and at times, his raking passes from deep seemed like United’s only plan for attack.
The amount of times he sent Garnacho free with a single pass was amazing and that growing confidence trickled through in his overall performance as well.
He was everywhere defensively with seven recoveries and four defensive actions while his 14 passes into the final third spoke of a player who was confident again playing those passes.
Fernandes being at his best is imperative for United to play well so this game will hopefully be a turning point for the player.
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