Erik ten Hag is piecing together his Man Utd - but there's still plenty missing
From St. Mary's Stadium - After an embarrassing opening two defeats from their opening two Premier League matches, Manchester United have bounced back...and backed it up.
Two wins from two for the first time since February, the latest at Southampton to put to an end a run of seven consecutive Premier League defeats on the road. It wasn't pretty, but Erik ten Hag has stressed on a number of occasions already that at a club like this, winning is the most important thing.
Bruno Fernandes' early second half goal proved the narrow difference, but the win only masked a performance still found wanting in crucial areas.
Casemiro's introduction and presence in the latter stages should help protect a defence much improved after months of dysfunction - the improvement thanks in large part to Ten Hag's signings Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia. Both have added a substance alongside Raphael Varane's experience. Long-underperforming Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are now firmly benched.
But their problems lie further ahead, and Ten Hag has demanded for most of the summer for reinforcements in midfield and the final third.
Christian Eriksen's calm and composure in midfield is a rarity in this United side. Throughout the afternoon he looked the only United player not to be playing hoof-ball before himself running out of energy. And while Fernandes decided the match with a tidy finish, his desire for a Hollywood pass doesn't provide United with enough control.
Man United passing vs Southampton since scoring the goal 😂😂😂 https://t.co/Qn2xlDPmQS pic.twitter.com/5sDTE8EYql
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 27, 2022
One statistic taken during the second half says it all.
Perhaps Bruno can adapt his game to the Ten Hag way in the months ahead, but United before Casemiro's signing were still stressing the ideal of two new midfielders. They've only landed one. We all know who the main target has been and there's still a Frenkie de Jong-sized hole in this United side. It might be there for a while.
But while United lack the ball-players in midfield to control matches, they still don't have enough options further forward capable of keeping them up the pitch in possession for consistent spells - even if Ten Hag insists he's satisfied with his options.
Marcus Rashford has started the last two games through the middle as Anthony Martial struggles with injuries, but can't offer the close control that Martial can and didn't get the opportunity to exploit the space in behind Liverpool's defence that he was afforded on Monday night. Rashford also lacks the poacher's instinct of a classic number nine.
The other option, Cristiano Ronaldo, still has a cloud hanging over his future before Thursday's deadline and his fit for this United side had long been questioned before Ten Hag's arrival. United don't have a viable focal point to build off at present.
Nor do they have that natural option from the right hand side, as United continue to chase Antony from Ten Hag's former side Ajax for his ability to take the ball under pressure in wide areas and drive inside and out - much like Sancho can on the other side. The Brazilian, who will be among United's most expensive ever signings if he joins, offers a vastly different option to Saturday's choice on the right hand side in Anthony Elanga.
Ten Hag has again stressed United will "strike" in the transfer market if the right player is made available before the deadline, and his early season track record with new arrivals suggests his choices are paying off. But they'll have to be busy in the coming days to give the manager all the tools he needs to succeed.
They managed to get by this time.