Man Utd must finally bench 5/10 star who lost the ball 17x v Bournemouth

This wasn’t how the 2023/24 season was meant to go for Manchester United, nor was it how the opening act of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s time at Previous Trafford was meant to play out.

After securing Champions League soccer and profitable the Carabao Cup final time period, it gave United a platform, one which they need to have constructed upon throughout yr two of Erik ten Hag’s stewardship.

The Purple Devils are nonetheless within the semi-finals of the FA Cup however they have been bumped out of Europe within the group phases and now sit sixth within the desk, ten factors behind fourth-placed Aston Villa after failing to win any of their final 4 video games.

Ten Hag has discovered himself beneath stress for enormous components of the season and his tenure on the membership now looks like a ticking time bomb. How lengthy will or not it’s earlier than Ratcliffe provides him the boot? Certainly not very.

The Dutchman discovered himself storming out of a press convention following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday night. Questioned by his gamers too, notably Alejandro Garnacho, it does not bode properly for a vibrant future at United.

What occurred with Ten Hag and Garnacho

The Argentine has been one of the productive gamers through the present marketing campaign. Who can neglect that ludicrous overhead at Goodison Park final yr? Not many.

His performances have solely gone from power to power, scoring 9 targets and supplying 4 assists. That is not unhealthy for an attacker who, lest we neglect, remains to be solely 19 years of age.

The most recent of his assists got here for Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser within the first half on the Vitality on Saturday, however that was pretty much as good because it bought. Nonetheless, did he deserve to get replaced by Amad Diallo on the break? Arguably not.

Manchester Night Information journalist, Samuel Luckhurst, gave the winger a dismal 3/10 match score in his post-game ideas, noting of the teen’s efficiency that ‘the workload took its toll’ and he ‘had no pleasure within the first half.’

Ten Hag criticised his efficiency in his post-match presser, saying: “I believe we needed to restore over the suitable facet. We didn’t play properly, the areas have been there. In possession, we needed to deliver a sub there. Garnacho was through the week not coaching.”

Nicely, in a show akin to Jadon Sancho, the Argentine took to social media within the aftermath to love numerous posts defending him.

Regardless of a recreation that put the younger winger within the headlines, he wasn’t the one one in a United jersey attracting criticism.

Why Man Utd should now bench Rashford

Nicely, it might be moderately fortuitous on Garnacho’s half if he have been to achieve a begin once more subsequent weekend however fact be advised, it is not he who ought to be dropped to the bench.

Actually, it ought to be notable underperformer Marcus Rashford. Final season the Englishman was on fireplace, a scorer of 30 targets, however this time round he has simply eight to point out for his efforts.

An absence of labor charge has additionally damage the academy product, who has typically been noticed barely even breaking right into a jog to trace again and assist out his teammates defensively.

Nonetheless, as any good ahead ought to be, they’re largely judged for his or her output within the ultimate third. Sadly, that has been sorely missing this season and certainly, it was missing once more on the south coast on Saturday.

In a efficiency that Man United character Mark Goldbridge labelled as “terrible”, the Purple Satan misplaced possession of the ball 17x and was lamented by the aforementioned Luckhurst for being ‘wasteful’, subsequently handed a 5/10 match score.

That’s the story of Rashford’s season with the 26-year-old solely fashioning one goalscoring alternative and failing with every of his two dribble makes an attempt in opposition to Bournemouth.

Not solely that, however he solely received one in every of his 9 duels. As Luckhurst mentioned, wasteful stuff certainly.

For as soon as, the extensive man might not be the headline maker from their draw to the Cherries, however his efficiency should be put beneath the microscope. Ten Hag will doubtless now drop Garnacho, however he ought to be wanting over at Rashford too. Neither of them are undroppable now.