So how many square pegs have been jammed into the gaping hole that is the Manchester United central
For a squad that has sporadically used a defensive trio, United’s record in the 3-5-2 is dire; played six, won none, drawn two, lost four and conceded 15. All six opponents have scored at least twice and one of them – Southampton – felt so short-changed they sacked their manager two days later.
Solskjaer was about as convincing as Young was after the 25th minute at Molineux when he was asked to legislate for choosing a square peg when round fits (Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo) were available.
“Ashley’s done that before against PSG away. He did okay, I felt. I thought Ash gave us the outlet of when you have three
Solskjaer has a tendency to tail off with his answers, or start a response and not finish it. They usually end with conviction yet it was lacking in his reply on Young and his clammed up body language was a giveaway. Young would not have been asked to play Jota onside and collect two yellow cards.
On a day Jose Mourinho reminisced about his time at the club, United endured a performance comparable with his final months. There was a porous back three, Paul Pogba had to accommodate Scott McTominay and the result was negative. It is now three defeats from the last four and the longest of managerial honeymoons has finally ended. The carriage is turning into a pumpkin.
Mourinho was mulling over playing Matic in a back three during pre-season and United’s dearth of quality
Solskjaer has enhanced Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling but United do not have a collective back three capable of functioning. Smalling and Jones, as is their
United sources said they were prepared to pay £100million for the perfect profile of defender in August and they need to do as they say. It is one of two areas in their squad (along with the right flank) where they are going have to pay a premium.
United have spent £76.9m on
Money might be a solution for Paul Pogba, though. In these shallow times, the go-to method for clubs to reinforce a player’s focus is remuneration and Pogba’s regression has been so stark Ed Woodward might resolve to offer him a substantial pay hike.
His Excellency was not excellent again at Molineux, where the gloves came off from Pogba. He tossed his mittens at the away dugout in a first-half where he was switched from left to right with Scott McTominay. How it must smart for Pogba that, even with McTominay’s biggest champion no longer at the wheel, he is now the apple in Solskjaer’s eye. Caption this.
The starry-eyed fans forget how destabilising Pogba was until Solskjaer was installed as caretaker manager on December 18 and he was at it again during his time with France. Pogba fluttered his eyelashes at Real Madrid and the Spanish seduction began last week in Zinedine Zidane’s press conference.
Gary Neville sussed Pogba when he was at his zenith in February. “In the back of my mind, the problems that we witnessed in the first two years will emanate again at some point. Because I think his agent will be into him, he’ll be wanting his little move away, he’ll be wanting his next pay-off and that’s my problem with it. His commitment to the club has got to be long-term.” Mino Raiola advised Pogba to rejoin United on the proviso he
Pogba is effectively coming up to the midway point in his United contract (they have the option of an additional year to retain him until 2022) and it is time to test his resolve and commitment. Yes, United would be kowtowing to player-power, but they did that with their refusal to back the previous manager in the summer and the winter.
Pogba is not the only individual playing as though his head has been turned. David de Gea was as timid as Hugo Lloris when Jonny’s cross dropped in the six-yard area and his lack of bravery suggested he did not want to muddy his kit.
De Gea’s protracted contract negotiations are relevant, considering errors crept into his game four years ago – when he was about to enter the final year of his previous United deal. Alexis Sanchez has left the United attack and wage structure lopsided.
And beyond the soft centre and marquee mither, the right-sided forward position was occupied by a right-back in Diogo Dalot against Wolves. Another square peg in a round hole.