THERE are a lot of directions from which to approach Manchester United’s traumatic season but almost all of the roads eventually lead to their wastefulness.
To date, they have averaged 14 shots per 90 in the Premier League, a perfectly respectable number, if not spectacular. Yet, with the second worst chance conversion rate in the top-flight, they have scored fewer goals than Luton Town.
Only once in the post-Ferguson era, that has seen the club burn through a succession of managers and endure all manner of sustained crisis, have they come anywhere close to scoring as few goals this deep into a campaign.
The blame for this naturally takes us to the forwards but at the risk of indulging in manager-speak every player must take responsibility for it. Only Bournemouth, Burnley and Sheffield United have benefited less from defenders getting on the score-sheet.
A dysfunctional midfield meanwhile have hardly pulled their weight, Scott McTominay aside. That the Scot has converted 22.7% of United’s league goals is damning.
But, of course, above all others, it’s the strikers who must be held accountable. Between them, Rashford, Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho, and Martial have scored every 597 minutes in the league this term. That’s just shy of a goal every ten hours. That’s ludicrous.
Such profligacy was in evidence once again at the DW Stadium on Monday evening, with United taking on a shot every 2.7 minutes but still needing an iffy pen to seal their cup progress. It was slotted home by Bruno Fernandes who has been one of the Reds’ very few positives this season, creating 37 chances in the league alone.
Even this impressive stat, however, comes with a kicker. Only two players in the Premier League have lost possession more often.
Still, a win over lower league opposition is a win regardless, and means that for only the third time this season – from 29 fixtures – Erik Ten Hag’s strugglers have beaten a side by more than a single goal margin. Furthermore, with Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof all in the reckoning to return to action this Sunday there are seeds of encouragement for an otherwise defective group that have lost 48.2% of their games in 2023/24.
It’s really not a lot to go on, but with the form of teenager Kobbie Mainoo, the ability of Fernandes to conjure up moments, and important players returning, at least there is something.
We should probably throw a spirited second-half performance at home to Aston Villa on Boxing Day into the mix too.
Said with a large slice of understatement, Ange Postecoglou has little cause to be jealous of any aspect of Manchester United’s season, but he will certainly be envious of them clearing out some space in their treatment room.
Having flown out of the blocks this season, unbeaten in ten and scoring two-plus goals in all-but-one of them, Spurs’ momentum was cruelly halted by a spree of injuries and suspensions that made them ordinary. A poor run of results duly followed.
A period of readjustment was required, one that eventually led to four wins in five, in addition to making progress in the cup, but now that Tottenham are on a surer footing Postecoglou is deprived of three of his best players, with Son Heung-min heading to the AFC Asian Cup, and Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr going to AFCON.
It should not be underestimated how substantial this trio of losses are, especially when affixed to a lengthy injury list that may have defender Ben Davies joining it, the extent of his hamstring problem currently unknown.
Only one player scored more Premier League goals in December than Richarlison! 🔥
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The best Son replacement? 👀 pic.twitter.com/wWtVuUpqNG
— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) January 3, 2024
Son Heung-min has scored 28.6% of Tottenham’s league haul this term while Bissouma and Sarr have provided so much of their team’s energy and endeavour.
All of which means that Spurs will have a makeshift look about them as they travel to Old Trafford with a line-up likely identical – Davies depending – to the one that beat Burnley at the weekend in the FA Cup. Other options are extremely limited.
Against the Clarets, Postecoglou’s men succumbed to a touch of United-itis in spurning several opportunities and even with their opponent’s woes they probably won’t get that luxury in Manchester. From an away perspective therefore it is crucial that the ruthless recent version of Richarlison turns up – scorer of five in five – rather than the erratic forward who has missed six big chances this term.
It’s pertinent too that Dejan Kulusevski is in the top ten for chances created.
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