Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is a great disciplinarian, so we don’t really believe that he is at fault for yesterday’s disaster at Newcastle United. There have been a handful of times that the team just hasn’t shown up at all to play this season, and Sunday was another prime example.
We think the issue is less with Ten Hag and more with the fact that he inherited a big mess from Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and it’s just going to take some time to clean it all up.
Manchester United vs Brentford FC FYIs
Kick off: 8pm local, Wednesday April 5, Old Trafford
United Team News: go here
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Form, Standing: United LDLWW 4th, 50 pts Brentford DDWLW 7th, 43 pts
Google Result Probability: United win 59% Draw 22% Brentford 19%
Look no further than the Cristiano Ronaldo situation- Ten Hag maintained a hard line, showed discipline, and CR7 left. The departure of Ronaldo was addition by subtraction for United, as this year’s team has better chemistry and spirit than last year’s side.
Hosting Brentford FC in midweek, United will be looking to avenge the reverse fixture, back in week two, which was a total disaster.
Given all the jokes being made at the time about United potentially being relegated, motivation shouldn’t be an issue here.
Ten Hag will start the players who really want to give it their all. It is too bad Casemiro is still suspended, as his leadership is badly needed right now.
Maybe we’ll see a little squad rotation too while we’re at it.
Manchester United Starting XI Prediction vs Brentford FC
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Sabitzer, McTominay; Martial, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.