When the moveable object meets the resistable force, something has to give. That could be Manchester United’s thought, but also Tottenham’s. A meeting of early-season underachievers may be a reminder of a dreadful Europa League final – not just in the football, but in the reality it was contested by two teams who finished 15th and 17th in their domestic division – and of opportunities missed, of the ones who got away.
United hoped Mateus Fernandes would be in their midfield now; instead Spurs took them out of the equation to sign the Portuguese from West Ham by bidding £85m.
But rewind to February and Thomas Frank’s penultimate game was a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. It was part of Michael Carrick’s superb start and, when the Dane was sacked four days later, there was no former Spurs player ready to take over on an interim basis; United had got there first with Carrick, who spent spells in each of their midfields, when Ruben Amorim left. Spurs stumbled via Igor Tudor to Roberto de Zerbi instead.
If their winless beginning to the Premier League campaign has been more hubristic, United’s initial difficulties could be as worrying. They have five points from a fixture list that could have promised at least 10; only September’s Manchester derby had appeared difficult in their first block of games. The next group feels far tougher.
Tottenham prop up the Premier League but their expenditure and talent positions them to do far better, which could render them dangerous opponents. United have a trio of daunting away trips thereafter, in Atletico Madrid, Leeds and Como. Their other Champions League clash before the November international break is against Roma, currently the Serie A pacesetters. Their Premier League opponents include Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Aston Villa, whose season may have been kickstarted by Spurs, at Old Trafford.
The risk for Carrick is that it gets worse before it gets better; that the upward trajectory that followed his return in January is followed by a downward turn he is unable to arrest. Carrick has rejected some of the pessimistic interpretations. There are things that could lend themselves to optimism.
One lies in some of the statistics. United have had the most shots in the division so far, even if that could be explained in part by facing promoted Hull and Ipswich, 10-man Manchester City and winless Fulham. An average of 22.6 a game is partly explained by the fact they have had by far the most efforts from long range. It nevertheless should have produced more than eight goals. A more clinical touch could alter results and perceptions.
United also rank fourth for possession and second for pass completion. They have allowed in the second fewest shots and one of those, Erling Haaland’s winner in the derby, prompted an apology from Pro Ref. Understat’s expected points model has United in sixth, rather better than the 12th position they actually occupy. Look at the numbers and they profile as a leading team, even if they do not necessarily pass the eye test as one.
There is an obvious scope for improvement. If Spurs have derived little benefit so far from their summer signings, United are yet to field their costliest. Carlos Baleba was fit enough to take a place on the bench for the draw at Fulham. The £70m Cameroonian could inject the dynamism that has been lacking in their midfield. United can hope, too, that they see more from Youri Tielemans, who has produced some moments to illustrate his quality, and Andrey Santos, who has not. They might adjust better to life without Casemiro.
In various ways, they can envisage scenarios where players deliver more. Marcus Rashford’s return to Old Trafford has offered some encouragement, but it has not been reflected in goals. Benjamin Sesko’s injuries are a reason he has not started a league game yet. Bruno Fernandes was outstanding against Ipswich, but not in the other league matches; history suggests he will still prove a guarantee of productivity. A defence with no clean sheets against anyone other than Sabah ought to keep some. Some of the players who have made underwhelming starts to the season will logically produce more.
The same may be said of the manager himself. Thus far, however, Carrick has failed to find a formula and has felt too slow to make substitutions. A complication now is that several of his squad – including Sesko, Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu – either missed or withdrew from international duty with injury problems.
The danger is United stagger into a potentially defining period, instead of powering into it.
Because this always threatened to be the difficult bit, when a team who prospered with few midweek games in the second half of last season suddenly encountered a crowded fixture list. Instead, they have already delivered three wretched performances, including the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton as well as the losses to Hull and Manchester City.
Their troubles against the two Cities have contributed to what is, statistically, United’s joint worst start to a Premier League season. But now they face the team who have made the worst start to this campaign. Something has to give.
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