Manchester United: Erik ten Hag’s facet are Premier League’s greatest underachievers | Soccer Information

The jury is out on Man Utd once more with the membership languishing within the backside half of the Premier League desk – however is there any indication of enchancment?

Erik ten Hag claimed his facet lacked 99 per cent effort of their disappointing Europa League 1-1 draw with Twente on Wednesday, whereas the membership sits eleventh within the Premier League after 5 video games.

Nevertheless, the underlying numbers recommend his facet have, the truth is, improved since final season throughout the opening 5 league video games this time period – rating within the prime 5 throughout a raft of key attacking metrics.

Sunday twenty ninth September 4:00pm


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On the different finish of the pitch, United have been criticised closely for dealing with 667 pictures within the Premier League final time period – solely Sheffield United confronted extra.

Nevertheless, that quantity has almost halved as a per-match common this time period. The truth is, solely 5 golf equipment have confronted fewer pictures.

In the meantime, there have been slight enhancements in different defensive areas, having additionally made a league-topping 59 interceptions.

From overachievers to underachievers

United would leap six locations into fifth spot within the Sky Sports activities anticipated Premier League desk, which relies on anticipated objectives (xG) for and in opposition to.

Right here, Ten Hag’s facet would sit simply three factors adrift from table-topping native rivals Manchester Metropolis.

By way of the distinction between precise and anticipated league positions, United are the league’s joint-biggest underachievers this time period – together with Southampton.

Final season, United have been overachieving – ending eighth with their xG numbers putting them in 14th, simply 15 factors above the relegation zone. Solely West Ham outperformed their underlying numbers greater than Ten Hag’s facet.

Regardless of overachieving, the membership’s eighth-place end was their worst league end throughout the Premier League period.

The foundation trigger

So, why are United sat in eleventh when xG says they need to be six locations increased in fifth spot? Effectively, Ten Hag’s males have scored round 5 objectives fewer than anticipated, based mostly on the standard of possibilities they’ve created in entrance of purpose.

Once more, solely Southampton have a worse differential within the Premier League this season.

United have missed a league-high 17 massive possibilities to date – 5 greater than some other facet.

Which gamers are most culpable? Bruno Fernandes has registered 1.86 xG however is but to seek out the again of the online. In the meantime, Joshua Zirkee and Alejandro Garnacho ought to have scored no less than twice however have every solely scored as soon as.

The trio rank among the many backside 5 for xG differentials this time period, together with Cameron Archer (Southampton), Evanilson (Bournemouth) and Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham).

Is there a shining gentle? By way of entering into the field and creating possibilities, the chart under reveals Amad Diallo has outshone his team-mates by a distance to date – incomes ample game-time throughout the early levels of this marketing campaign.

Is inconsistency an element?

Marcus Rashford scored his first purpose since March in opposition to Southampton a fortnight in the past and adopted up with a double throughout the 7-0 win over Barnsley, however began on the bench in opposition to Crystal Palace and failed to attain in opposition to Twente.

The England ahead began centrally within the Carabao Cup – a place he has occupied in nearly 30 per cent of his game-time below Ten Hag.

Given United’s blunt edge in entrance of purpose, query marks stay over whether or not Rashford ought to assume the common No 9 function.

There have additionally been inconsistencies on the different finish of the pitch, with no centre-back partnership clocking greater than 500 league minutes collectively for the reason that begin of final season.

Essentially the most used partnership throughout that interval has been 36-year-old Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane, who left the membership this summer season and retired from soccer this week at simply 31 years outdated.

Has Ten Hag been backed?

Ten Hag has now entered his third season at Previous Trafford after INEOS backed him to stay on the helm after a evaluation in the summertime.

The Dutchman has additionally been backed financially, with £616.8m splashed on signings throughout his tenure – solely Chelsea have spent extra throughout that point.

Moreover, by way of the sources at his disposal, Ten Hag’s present squad price round £888m to assemble. Once more, solely Chelsea’s squad surpasses that determine.

Ten Hag now faces a crucial interval along with his facet internet hosting Tottenham below the Sky cameras on Sunday, earlier than touring to Porto within the Europa League in midweek and taking part in high-flying Aston Villa on the street subsequent weekend.

Ten Hag has develop into a grasp at weathering storms throughout his time at Previous Trafford and he seems to be approaching one other make-or-break interval.

This time, the Dutchman will likely be hoping his facet materialise their underlying numbers by changing clear-cut possibilities into objectives.