Nine games, five wins, three defeats and a draw does not tell the full story behind Man United’s improvement under Erik ten Hag, who now has to sustain it.
United are on the rise under Erik ten Hag after a challenging start to the season, with several displays of recovery on show in recent weeks.
United have won five Premier League games from their past seven and were unlucky to not stretch that tally to six after some controversial decisions in their game against Newcastle.
The Red Devils are showing signs of progress as the club continue to adapt to Ten Hag’s methods and a number of names have rediscovered their best form in recent weeks.
The wheels nearly came off in those opening weeks of the season as back-to-back losses to Brighton and a humiliation against Brentford culminated in a chastising of the club from top to bottom, scenes we had not seen at Old Trafford since the turmoil of the mid-80s.
From the depths of despair Ten Hag made some of the boldest decisions of his career in the aftermath and the response was emphatic.
The Liverpool fixture had loomed ominously for United fans and looked terrifying so soon after a massacre. Yet United overwhelmed one of the best club teams of the last five years, feeding off a mutinous and raucous atmosphere in a breakneck first 20 minutes.
A demolition on derby day at the hands of their fiercest rivals does put things back under the magnifying glass but few teams could stand up to the might of the Blue half of Manchester these days.
Ultimately United are still a side recovering from last season’s calamities and whilst they are still trying to find their feet this season there are positive signs in a side that is spirited, persistent and good at grinding out results when it matters.
Their form is inconsistent but even so they have still managed to maintain fifth place in the Premier League despite concerns over their performances.
Fans looking to bet on United to finish in the top four should be looking for the best betting offers when they do.
The 6-3 thumping to City was a reality check and they haven’t put in a convincing display for the full 90 minutes since but they have still managed to win eight of their last eleven matches in all competitions since their opening two defeats; whichever way you spin it that’s a good set of results.
Furthermore, despite some big decisions regarding club captain Harry Maguire and routinely leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, there are plenty in that dressing room buying into the attacking style of football Ten Hag is trying to impress on the players.
Casemiro’s arrival from Real Madrid was expected to signal the end for McTominay as a regular in the holding role, but he has instead dug deep to produce a fine run of form.
The Scotland international was outstanding in the wins over Liverpool and Arsenal at Old Trafford, where his energy and combative brand of football impressed.
Diogo Dalot’s development defensively has been notable, adding to the attacking threat he has long carried. His cross for Bruno Fernandes’ winner at Southampton was a highlight, but perhaps more pleasing was his celebratory reaction to a recovery challenge at Leicester.
Marcus Rashford appears to be getting back to his best and, perhaps more crucially, enjoying his football once again. The 24-year-old has three goals and two assists from his nine games so far, just one goal contribution less than his entire total for last season.
Varane has been excellent in recent weeks and has formed a fine understanding with Lisandro Martinez. The class and composure of the four-time Champions League winner has helped to settle the summer signing from Ajax, after a Premier League baptism of fire.
Bruno Fernandes’ game has been less erratic and he has discussed the discipline that Ten Hag has brought to the team. His role in the Red Devils’ revival – which includes leading the Premier League for through balls – has not gone unnoticed and he is the prime candidate to become captain on a full-time basis, as Maguire struggles for form and favour under the new regime.
There is certainly an upturn in form from last season from the players that had the Manchester outfit continuously floundering and faltering, having to rely on the heroics of Portuguese superstar Ronaldo to bail them out on numerous occasions.
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of this turnaround has been the shift in attitude that has been evident since the defeat to Brentford.
The spirit and mentality has improved drastically as the Red Devils have rediscovered their bite and aggression, something that they’ve been in desperate need of for a very long time.
It might not be the table they want to be top of, but 20 bookings place them at the summit of the disciplinary table.
No player has committed more fouls than McTominay and no side averages more fouls per game.
There are two ways you can take it, one is that you’re gifting possession away and offering the opposition opportunities needlessly, the other way and the way that the majority of United fans will likely see it is that it’s evidence of a team that cares and is willing to fight to win the ball back, a side determined to impose their mindset and their strategy on the game, something that has been sorely lacking from the Theatre of dreams for too long now.
There have been times this season where the players have not delivered and where results have not come despite positive performances but the fanbase, the boardroom and the mood in general is in a better place for the team at least showing effort where previously it appeared to be lacking.
This is a team void of direction that has gone from complete disarray to one that has a clear pathway to success that the Dutchman is clearly laying out.
The kinks need to be ironed out, it’s not a match made in heaven just yet, but with the players’ support, a style of football that is attractive on the eye and a decent league position in spite of some erratic performances, it should only take one decent run of results to really start this train rolling and United once again challenging for silverware and Champions League places.
