This time last year, Manchester United were in mid-table and returned from the October international break needing a big win to get back on track after an early season loss to rivals Man City and poor draw in the capital against Fulham, among other missteps.
While the intervening 12 months saw Michael Carrick come in as manager, a good run of form that dragged the team to a third place finish and almost £150million splashed out on a shiny set of new midfielders, we come back from this year’s international break with the distinct scent of deja vu starting to foul the Old Trafford air.
What happens if Bruno Fernandes gets injured? Who should start up front? Why are Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw still the first-choice options at fullback? And why, please can someone tell us why, is the United midfield still so easy to play through?
New signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos have so far failed to impress, with the former partnering Kobbie Mainoo in recent games to become one of the slowest midfield pairings in the league.
Tielemans was a good, budget-friendly signing but not one you want trying to fill gaps that even Casemiro couldn’t. Carrick will be hoping his slow start is down to no more than growing pains and that his experience can start to show sooner rather than later.
Spare a thought, though, for poor Santos, who has gone from being Chelsea’s fourth choice midfielder last season to… the same position at United this time around.
The Brazilian started the opening game of the season where he was part of a midfield that was outfought by Hull, and has played just 16 minutes in the four league games since then. £50million very well spent and another midfielder already struggling to fix United’s problems.
Enter Carlos Baleba, the central midfielder that fans are hoping will be if not the final piece of the jigsaw, then at least one of those handy corner pieces you can build everything else around.
The 22-year-old cost £70million from Brighton and was signed despite having an ankle injury that has left him waiting until now to make his debut.
Baleba’s potential impact, especially in defensive transitions, has only grown in importance during his absence – United’s social media channels have been teasing a potential start in recent days and he should at the very least make an appearance off the bench this weekend after featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Swiss side Lausanne Sport last Friday.
Will Michael Carrick still be the Manchester United manager at the end of the season?
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Yes
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No
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It’s too early to tell
Long term, it looks like Baleba and Mainoo have been lined up to be given the keys to United’s midfield for the coming years and if things do click, that pair and Bruno backing up Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo could be a force to be reckoned with – at least on paper, with each of the front four capable of magic on the right day.
As ever, consistency is key. Many put United’s third place finish last season down to the lack of European football and a more settled starting lineup.
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There are no such luxuries this time around and Baleba will need to hit the ground running no matter who he’s partnered with as United’s five league games before the next international break are against Spurs tomorrow, away at Leeds, at home to Bournemouth, away to Chelsea and at home to Aston Villa – all games you can make a good argument against Carrick’s side winning.
Throw in a couple of Champions League ties to get players’ legs nice and tired, and it could all start to unravel in November and December. Again.
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