“It’s enough now. We don’t need such dreadful performances anymore. You need to build your team in a way that you are dependent on such a flop” – This is according to Manchester United former manager Sir Alex Ferguson as he cautions that Erik Ten Hag needs to drop this Manchester United player with a 0% contribution rate after his dreadful performance against Crystal Palace
After a promising run of form, Manchester United dropped points again with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday night, prompting the need for Erik ten Hag to make tough selection decisions.
After a promising run of form, Manchester United dropped points again with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday night, prompting the need for Erik ten Hag to make tough selection decisions.
Before the international break, fans were disheartened by a 3-0 home defeat to rivals Liverpool. United seemed to bounce back with solid wins against Southampton in the league and Barnsley in the EFL Cup.
However, Saturday’s uninspiring performance shows there’s still a lot of work needed if they hope to break into the top four this season. Despite dominating possession and having more shots on target, one player’s performance left fans frustrated.
Ten Hag must consider a decision regarding Bruno Fernandes, as the captain struggled to make an impact at Selhurst Park.
Bruno Fernandes has struggled to find his form this season, despite signing a new long-term contract earlier in the summer. His performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday night was a continuation of his recent lackluster displays, raising questions about whether Erik ten Hag should make changes.
According to Sofascore, Fernandes lost possession 34 times in the 94 minutes he played at Selhurst Park, a stat that could have been costly for the team. To compare, Amad Diallo lost the ball 19 times, the second-highest among the starters. Fernandes had a chance to redeem himself with a late free-kick, but his delivery into the box was easily cleared by the Palace defense. His passing accuracy was only 72%, the lowest of all the starting players.
### Bruno Fernandes vs. Crystal Palace:
– **Minutes played**: 90
– **Expected goals**: 0.40
– **Accurate passes**: 60/83 (72%)
– **Key passes**: 2
– **Crosses (accurate)**: 6 (0)
– **Shots off target**: 3
– **Big chances missed**: 1
– **Possession lost**: 34
Fernandes had three shots off target, missed a big chance, and contributed two key passes, but overall, his performance was underwhelming. Surprisingly, he played the full 90 minutes, though it was clear by half-time that he was struggling. Ten Hag chose to substitute Christian Eriksen instead with 15 minutes left.
### Mount Deserves a Chance
Mason Mount, who struggled with injuries last season, may deserve an opportunity to make his mark in the starting lineup.
Erik ten Hag can no longer use injuries and limited squad availability as reasons for selecting out-of-form players. With a busy summer transfer window and key players returning to fitness, the manager now has enough options on the bench to make changes.
Mason Mount, who arrived from Chelsea last summer, has struggled with injuries and is yet to fully establish himself as a regular starter. However, it’s puzzling why he was left on the bench against Crystal Palace, especially when the initial game plan wasn’t effective.
Ten Hag has alternatives for the attacking midfield role. Mount is a viable option, or if Manuel Ugarte becomes the expected partner for Kobbie Mainoo in a deeper role, Christian Eriksen could be moved forward into his preferred position.
Dropping the captain is a bold move, but it’s one Ten Hag needs to consider. Persisting with Fernandes in poor form isn’t benefiting the team or the player.