McTominay starts and fernandes changes role- the Manchester United Midfield without Casemiro
Man Utd could change the way their midfield looks for the rest of the season after defeat to Fulham at the weekend
United could drop Bruno Fernandes deeper
Erik ten Hag might need to go back to the drawing board after Manchester United fell to a disappointing defeat to Fulham in the Premier League at the weekend.
United were second-best for much of the match and can have few complaints about the end result as their luck finally ran out against a well-drilled opposition side. What will be of particular concern to Ten Hag is that once again, his midfield struggled to get a grip on the game, as both sides thrived upon the chaos caused by the looseness in the middle of the pitch.
It is even worse for United given that they started the match with what many regard as their strongest midfield. Casemiro partnered Kobbie Mainoo at the base of a trio, with club captain Bruno Fernandes given freedom in the more advanced role. Yet, despite facing a Fulham side without star player Joao Palhinha themselves, United never had control over the proceedings, even before Casemiro went off injured shortly into the second half.
Ten Hag pointed to Casemiro’s withdrawal as a key reason why his side conceded twice in the second-half on Saturday afternoon, which comes across as revisionism when you remember how poorly he played. Casemiro had a couple of bright moments with a fine sliding tackle and a dangerous through ball, but his performance will best be remembered for kicking the ball straight out of play and a careless backheel on the halfway line that gifted Fulham a counter attack.
It was another worrying sign of the Brazilian’s decline this season, and while he still remains arguably the best defensive midfielder at the club, they need a plan to replace him sooner or later. Casemiro could be a doubt for this week’s matches against Nottingham Forest and Man City after his injury withdrawal, and it means Ten Hag might well be forced into a midfield mix-up whether he wants to or not.
Mainoo is the most suitable option to occupy the holding role, but in order to facilitate him there he would need adequate support from another midfielder capable of offering defensive cover and calmness in possession of the ball.
How the United side could look without Casemiro this week
Bruno Fernandes has played some of his best football under Ten Hag in that role, and he could well benefit from being dropped deeper, given how poorly he has played in recent weeks. The Portuguese playmaker has been guilty of some poor decision-making lately and has been unable to mask his shortcomings with the type of creative flair and goal threat that have been so regularly seen during his time at the club.
Fernandes has always been somewhat of a luxury in the United side and they are not currently in a position where they can afford to indulge him as an attacking threat when there are so many defensive issues underpinning their performances.
Ten Hag is also not helped by the fact Christian Eriksen performed so poorly from the bench at the weekend, leaving him with only Scott McTominay as a reliable option to come into the side if needed this week. If indeed United head into either match without the services of Casemiro, then it would make more sense for Fernandes and Mainoo to play as a pivot, with McTominay given a rare opportunity to operate in the attacking midfield role.
The Scotland international has been an attacking threat throughout his United career but has rarely been afforded the luxury of being utilised as an attacking midfielder due to Fernandes’ stranglehold on the position.
It does not look like an ideal long-term solution given the lack of a specialist defensive midfielder, but given that the theoretical ‘strongest’ selection also isn’t currently working, it is probably worth a risk. United need to plan for life after Casemiro; it shouldn’t take him being injured to realise that.
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