Erik ten Hag's side have struck just once in their two opening Premier League games and badly need to improve in attack against Nottingham Forest
Manchester United used to be known for fast starts, and not just under Sir Alex Ferguson. Even in seasons which turned out to be disappointments, the Red Devils could be relied upon to begin with a bang and score lots of goals.
They began the 2021-22 season by blitzing Leeds 5-1. The previous campaign, despite losing their opener to Crystal Palace, they beat Brighton 3-2 in their first away game. In 2019-20, they hammered Chelsea 4-0 on the opening day. In Jose Mourinho's first season, they scored five goals in their first two games. In his second, it was eight.
In both of Erik ten Hag's seasons in charge, however, they have scored just one goal in their first two matches. After the scrappiest of 1-0 wins over Wolves, United failed to score in their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham, and there is a familiar feeling to how they began the Dutchman's first season, with a home defeat to Brighton then the harrowing 4-0 loss at Brentford.
United made amends for their bad start by beating Liverpool in their third game of last season, and they at least have a kind fixture coming up next, at home to Nottingham Forest. But even though they ended up finishing third, they only scored 58 goals. That was at least 10 fewer than any other side to finish in the top six and as many as Brentford, who came ninth.
The scarcity of goals was something the Dutchman sought to address over the summer, but despite spending over £165 million ($209m) on new signings, United still look alarmingly lightweight in attack…
GettyHojlund held back by injury
United's top target for the summer was a striker, and Rasmus Hojlund was ultimately the man they chose to lead their attack for the next few years, opting to sign the 20-year-old for £72 million ($92m) from Atalanta rather than spend even more on Harry Kane.
However, United's great striking hope arrived with a back injury and is still waiting to make his debut. Hojlund is 6'2 in height and blessed with explosive pace and power, which will make him an asset once he recovers, potentially in time for the trip to Arsenal on September 3.
United spent most of last season without a proper striker due to Anthony Martial's fitness troubles, Cristiano Ronaldo's problems and eventual departure, and Wout Weghorst's lack of ability. Indeed, the Dutchman was often deployed as a No.10 rather than a No.9. So it is not wholly surprising that United should be haunted by the same problems up front as last season until Hojlund makes his long-awaited debut.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRashford less potent through the middle
Another consequence of Hojlund being injured means that Marcus Rashford has had to deputise at centre-forward. Last season was the most prolific of Rashford's career, but his best moments came when coming in off either wing, such as when he terrorised Barcelona at Camp Nou or scored after a sensational slalom run from beyond the halfway life against Burnley.
Rashford admitted to Gary Neville on over the summer that his favourite position is on the left of the attack as he can get more involved in the game. He said: "Left is easier to stay in the game, and from when I was young I've always wanted to be involved in the game. That's why I struggle playing centre-forward sometimes because of my patience. You might not touch the ball for 20 minutes, and then your first touch might be an opportunity to score. You have to be mentally switched on. Whereas on the left. it's more natural, feels more normal."
Rashford has had to led the line in the first two matches and he has not looked his usual self. He had four shots against Wolves, but three of them were blocked. He had three opportunities against Spurs, one of which was blocked, one saved by Guglielmo Vicario and the other, a free header after a rabona cross from Bruno Fernandes, sailed over the bar.
When he was substituted, he was seen sulking on the bench. The striker who scored 30 goals last season has a total of two shots on target so far this campaign, and Hojlund's return cannot come soon enough for him either.
GettyUnderperforming wingers
United have always been renowned for their exciting wing play, but their wide players have struggled to get going, while Rashford playing centrally is only part of the problem. Antony still has a lot to prove after an underwhelming debut season in which he scored only four Premier League goals and provided just two assists, as many as in the Eredivisie with Ajax. His £85m ($107m) price tag adds yet more pressure on him and he is not even coming close to justifying the fee United paid for him.
Antony has not made a strong start to this campaign, hammering the post with a good opportunity against Spurs and creating little of note against Wolves. Alejandro Garnacho, who lit up last season, has also been disappointing, and only added weight to the argument that he is far more effective as a substitute than in the starting XI.
Jadon Sancho deserves to start in place of Garnacho against Forest after being benched for the first two games, but he has looked shorn of confidence and spark in most of his appearances since his move from Borussia Dortmund, also failing to live up to his own £74m ($93m) transfer fee.
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GettySpurning big chances
While United have hardly played well in their opening two games, they have at least created chances, indicating that the reason they have scored so few goals is more down to an inability to finish off moves than craft them. Against Tottenham, they had 14 shots in the first half, more than in any away game since they took on Blackburn Rovers in October 2008, when they were defending Premier League and European champions.
Rashford and Antony spurned good opportunities in north London, but the clearest fell to Fernandes, who headed over the bar after a dream cross from Luke Shaw. After the Tottenham game, Ten Hag emphasised how important it is to score the first goal in the Premier League.
Making promising starts but failing to take their chances and then losing was a familiar theme last season, with United paying a high price for their profligacy against West Ham and Brighton, in particular. They are bound to create opportunities against Forest; they need to take them.