Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat against West Ham United and it was two former Erik ten Hag players who punished the Dutchman.
Erik ten Hag started another two former Ajax players for the game at the London Stadium but they both failed to impress.
Manchester United winger Antony, once again, looked aimless down the right-hand side for the Red Devils and the Brazilian was rightly taken off with just five minutes of the game to go.
Andre Onana could have done better with the opener from Jarrod Bowen for the Hammers but the Cameroon international could do nothing about the second goal scored by another former Ten Hag player, Mohammed Kudus.
Two former Ajax players impress
Edson Alvarez and Kudus impressed for David Moyes’ side with the Ghanaian forward, in particular impressing and leaving the United defence scarred.
Antony, however, was atrocious and in light of the news about United’s original valuation of the Brazilian, it is perhaps unsurprising that the 22-year-old continues to struggle.
Alvarez could have been a United player and the Mexican midfielder would have cost a fraction of the price but the reality is United’s poor recruitment was well and truly hammered home by the London side.
If the makeshift defence, United’s ninth different combination, was a message that the recruitment has to improve then the performances of Kudus and Alvarez, in particular, will certainly ram home that message.
Kudus and Alvarez
Alvarez completed 88% of his passes and had 42 touches of the ball throughout the game as he was keeping things ticking over and helping the Hammers push forward.
As for Kudus, his goal aside, the winger was a constant threat for the Red Devils down United’s left-hand side with Luke Shaw struggling to deal with the 23-year-old.
He won 72% of his 18 ground duels that he contested and he was a real threat, a rather telling juxtaposition to other right-winger on the pitch as Antony continued to struggle.
For just £38 million, under half that of Antony’s valuation, West Ham have signed a gem and the Red Devils could learn a thing or two from the Hammers’ recruitment strategy.
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