What is Erik ten Hag’s best Man Utd midfield?
In August, Erik ten Hag declared that Manchester United had „a new midfield“ – and that was before Sofyan Amrabat was signed as another central option.
„We can, we have to step up there, we have to improve,“ Ten Hag demanded to no one in particular at a press conference.
In search of the perfect midfield, Ten Hag has cycled through half a dozen different players across three systems, experimenting with seven unique setups across the first 13 games of the new campaign.
Here are the best options at Ten Hag’s disposal in the all-change central slice of the pitch. How he plugs the gaps which exist in defence and attack is a challenge for another day.
(4-3-3): Casemiro; Fernandes, Mount
(4-2-3-1): Casemiro, Mount; Fernandes
In an unusual piece of foresight and planning from the bumbling powers that be at Manchester United, Mason Mount’s £55m move from Chelsea was confirmed as early as July 5, five weeks before the start of the new campaign.
With a full pre-season to adapt to his new teammates, Mount was primed to slot straight into United’s starting XI. Ten Hag duly fielded what many expected to be his first-choice lineup across United’s two opening matches; Casemiro flanked by Mount and Bruno Fernandes.
United owed VAR and woeful finishing from Wolverhampton Wanderers for their three points in this starting sequence as both Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur cantered through the unguarded swathes of green grass with ease.
However, Ten Hag would not blame his new-look central trio, arguing: „It is not about the midfield, it is about the back and the front, that is why we were open. They didn’t run. Or they run in the wrong moment, too late. Especially the front didn’t recover.“
With Rasmus Hojlund’s energy injected into the first wave of United’s press, Ten Hag could return to this trio which was broken up by Mount’s injury.
(4-2-3-1): Casemiro, Amrabat; Mount
Mount’s ability off the ball is routinely upheld as one of his greatest qualities. But United’s second-most expensive acquisition of the summer may feel the benefit of playing in front of a solid base of Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat, rather than dropping back alongside one of the specialist defensive midfielders.
Christian Eriksen still possesses a layer of subtlety and guile unmatched by most of his teammates in the final third – reminding Ten Hag of his quality when coming off the bench against Kobenhavn in midweek – but has spent more time being buffetted around when faced with more physically dominant midfielders.
Unshackling Mount does not necessarily mean shunting Bruno Fernandes wide on the right – though he has filled in well when required. Mount’s most productive season at Chelsea – when he became the first Blue to hit double figures for Premier League goals and assists since Eden Hazard – came while drifting in off the right flank as one of two No 10s behind a centre-forward.
It would be far too early to give up on Mount but he has offered few highlights beyond his frosted tips. Raphael Varane has taken more shots (and scored more goals) than the attacking midfielder who has carved open as many chances as the infamously uncreative full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
(4-2-3-1): Casemiro, McTominay; Fernandes
(4-2-3-1): Amrabat, McTominay; Fernandes
On 92:05, Brentford fans began to chant: „You’re getting sacked in the morning!“ at Ten Hag in United’s most recent Premier League home game. On 92:47, Old Trafford was on fire celebrating the equaliser which Scott McTominay rose off the bench to swat in.
The boyhood Red Devils fan completed the comeback in the 97th minute and scored when he was given a start away to Sheffield United after the October international break. McTominay’s prolific burst is a bonus but Ten Hag is just as interested in the industry he offers.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, Ten Hag bragged: „We have the most ball regains from the whole Premier League, the most middle regains in the whole league, our defending and pressing organisation, that is us.“ A feverish desire to retrieve possession helps explain Hannibal Mejbri’s dotted appearances but McTominay is slightly more refined than the rough and ready youngster.
(4-2-3-1): Casemiro, Amrabat; Fernandes
Injury has prevented Ten Hag from fielding what may well be his best midfield. Club captain and creator-in-chief Bruno Fernandes offers the link to the front line and is hardly a slouch off the ball. Amrabat, free from his purgatory at left-back, brings all the swash and buckle Ten Hag desires while Casemiro, with that early season rust beginning to fade, is an iron fist in a velvet glove at his best.
The Brazilian faces a „race against the clock“ to be fit for Sunday’s Manchester derby but Ten Hag’s injury updates are always masked in subterfuge. If Casemiro has managed to shake off his ankle problem, the visit of Manchester City to Old Trafford could be the lofty stage for United to unveil arguably their best midfield trio.