Manchester United bounced back from their dismal start to the season, with Lisandro Martinez epitomizing their progress forward.
Few would have considered the Reds contenders for the Premier League title before the season. Actually they are not. But they are much better than in 2021/22 than anyone anticipated.
Lisandro Martínez rejuvenated Manchester United
One aspect of United’s downfall has been recruiting. All the coaches have found the support of the Glazer family to be inconsistent.
Furthermore, a wholly inadequate technical structure headed by investment bankers further contributed to the transfer policy chaos.
The club brought in players with no idea how they fit into a team. Sometimes there were even questions about who would train the players.
However, Lisandro Martínez was the first big transfer of the Erik ten Hag era and he has shone. After great initial criticism for his height, the Argentine has been United’s best-performing player in 2022/23.
He ranks high in the Premier League for winning aerial duels. This is something that the great Graeme Souness said was impossible.
In addition, he has composure on the ball and a passing ability that would make him a gifted holding midfielder. People once thought that Harry Maguire was good with the ball. Martinez’s arrival has shown people what a true modern defender he is.
Every week the Argentine defender has improved. His attitude has made the defenders around him proud of a clean sheet.
He gets his team out of a jam. He finds passes that link the ball from defense to midfield. Martínez sets the pace of the game for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.
Manchester United no longer looks like a burning dump
Manchester United’s technical structure is still far from perfect. It is currently based on Ten Hag’s and personal knowledge of him.
Unfortunately, that will only change once there is a change of ownership at Old Trafford. Although, fans dreaming of an exodus from Glazer can finally take solace in a trainer who truly is in the elite.
Each of Ten Hag’s signings has improved the team. Every signing has a prethought-out place in the starting eleven and stands out in it.
It may sound cheap, but Ten Hag’s recruiting has been almost Michael Edwards-esque in his hit rate.
Manchester United no longer looks like a burning dump. Finally the chaos is gone. Aside from the fact that the ownership structure is still lousy, bordering on a legalized version of theft, it has to be said that the trainer setup is figured out.
Ten Hag knows the players he wants and the fans trust him. The Manchester United screens are the same every week. That is positive. They have a clear style of play that players understand and enjoy.
Each player knows his task. You no longer have Paul Pogba wandering around midfield not knowing if he should be defending or assisting attacks… or both.
Erik Ten Hag will need more signings
Manchester United will not reinforce its squad in the winter. In any case, only a possible exit of Cristiano Ronaldo could change that.
However, United are heading into a transfer window for the first time in years that doesn’t look like a faulty bucket. There are no countless holes to fill. There is no need for 7-10 players just for the team to be competitive.
Manchester United really need 2-3 signings from Ten Hag to secure a place in the top four in 2023/24. Then another window after that with a similar strategy and you can realistically see a title challenge.
For some, this may not be enough. Not being first every season is considered a failure for United. Unfortunately, this is unrealistic in today’s landscape of state clubs biasing the sport.
Manchester United had a team in 2021/22 that didn’t even want to run. The work Ten Hag has done to get them into the top four in six months is outstanding.
Whether people want to acknowledge that or not, he’s doing wonders. Finally, Manchester United seem to be moving in the right direction. A modern address.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
