"First of all, the number of goals. Also, his key actions to come to goal, key passes as well. He is just a great player and a great personality as well."
Those were Erik ten Hag's words when asked what impresses him about Harry Kane ahead of Manchester United facing Tottenham Hotspur last week. However, more than just an account of a threatening opposition player, which is usually briefer, it felt as though Ten Hag put though into his answer.
That would make sense. United have proven in desperate need of a goalscoring No.9 this season, and there have been a number of reports linking Kane to United to the extent it is almost certain he is on their list come the summer.
United fans didn't hide their admiration on their trip to North London, either, as they chanted, "We'll see you in June," towards Kane during parts of the game. And when asked about this, Kane's response of, "I heard what they were saying, but I'm just focused on this team and trying to finish strongly," was definitely more acknowledging than dismissive.
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Silverware doesn't seem to be coming Kane's way at Tottenham, and as much as he would likely prefer more than anything to win a trophy with Spurs, it gets to a stage where, turning 30 years old later this year, Kane may have to move away.
He remains in pursuit of the Premier League goal record, in which case United seem the most viable suitor, with a reliable goalscorer a major part of what United require to bridge the gap to sides able to regularly win the big accolades.
Ten Hag would no doubt love a striker with Kane's unique value in link-up play - something that contributed to United squandering a two-goal lead against Tottenham last week - yet equally remarkable potency in front of goal. "Everyone knows," was a telling response from Ten Hag in a recent press conference relating to a deficit in the No.9 area.
It is nigh on a necessity that United sign a centre-forward able to be a focal point and, more than anything, offer reliable output. Wout Weghorst has inadequacies in his game, and while his work ethic is laudable, he would probably admit himself that he isn't quite up to the level of being United's starting striker.
And the only reason Weghorst has played such a prominent role at times is the unreliability of Anthony Martial, who has shown flashes of excellence, whether in link-up play or in front of goal, but can't stay fit for any prolonged period and is unable to establish any form of consistency. For all Ten Hag has credited Martial in recent times, there is little point in having a player so frequently unavailable.
With the forward options they have, United have really struggled to kill games across this season - including when Cristiano Ronaldo was still at the club given his drastically dwindling output and complete lack of cooperation with Ten Hag's demands.
Kane would be an immediate, Premier League-proven solution, but other options, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Benfica's Goncalo Ramos, and Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, will no doubt be considered given the problems associated with negotiating with Daniel Levy at Tottenham. Reports will likely intensify come the end of the season.
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United do need to score more in games. They are more or less secure in the top four after beating a resurgent Aston Villa, who are right in line to finish in the European places, so this issue may not be detrimental for the remainder of this campaign. But it has to be addressed come the summer, given only two teams inside the top 10 of the Premier League have scored fewer than United's 49 goals.
United have now played 55 times this term, with three or more goals scored in 14 of those games. Across 32 league matches, United have only scored three goals in five games, with four home wins and then the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City, with no more than three goals scored at all in the competition this season.
As a result of this, winning margins have often been slender, and in some cases an inability to score more has cost United in games - most recently at home to Sevilla and away to Spurs, when more goals could have been scored to prevent the opposition from salvaging a draw from two goals down.
Additionally, while it likely won't have any bearing this season, a goal difference of only 10 - bettered convincingly by five sides inside the top eight - could put United at a disadvantage in the future if it was to become a recurring issue.
The problem doesn't necessarily lie with chance creation. It helps that Bruno Fernandes is in inspired form - again among the leading creators in the league and having an outstanding season for United as their principle source of invention. You can't help but feel his assist tally should be higher, and working with a clinical No.9, that could well be boosted.
Villa were there for the taking on Sunday, playing a high-line that, much like against Everton, United successfully exploited with long balls over the top on a number of occasions. United used the space well for the most part, bar a few frustrating offsides, but a cutting edge was lacking in scoring areas.
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End product was finally delivered just north of five minutes prior to half-time, when a sharper-looking Casemiro (compared to a few slack displays upon returning from suspension) intervened with a powerful header inside his own half. Rashford, who was United's striker again, was hanging on the last Villa man, and such was the force behind Casemiro's header, he was unleashed in behind.
Rashford had seen two opportunities go begging already, and his finish on this occasion was also somewhat timid from an obscure angle. But Emiliano Martinez was only able to parry the effort, and Fernandes arrived with intent to convert the rebound.
Ten Hag named Fernandes on the right side of midfield, adding Marcel Sabitzer to the axis of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in a possible bid to increase midfield security against a side that had impressed in those areas. This was vindicated to a decent enough extent, with Villa limited to very few inroads and probably the less deserving of a result.
United really should have finished the game off in the second half with spaces and routes in behind remaining. However, quality started to lack as the game progressed and a consolidating goal continued to elude Ten Hag's side. The final ball - even once from Eriksen in a three-on-one situation - wavered at times in addition to the finishing.
Something that has been problematic for United has been the rut they get in when they continually fail to establish any clinical edge. This often results in desperation, which further fuels errors and promotes looseness.
It is also borne out in changes of approach, such as going direct and long too often, which happened to no avail as Spurs salvaged a point from two-down last week, with United struggling to sustain possession and allowing their opposition an inroad back into the encounter.
Killing games earlier would also reduce both physical and mental strain and fatigue, with rests then able to be afforded rather than extra work having to be put in, and energy expended, to hold on in games, or to chase a further goal.
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As it was, United were forced to defend with significant resolve to ensure they took the full share of points against Villa on Sunday - something unsustainable, even if it is encouraging that the defence, no matter the personnel, are able to hold string sides at bay.
For the third match in succession, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw held their own amid the absence of alternative centre-back options, albeit Harry Maguire did come on as a third centre-back and aided United holding on in the closing stages. Still, it was the Lindelof-Shaw partnership that majorly resisted the threat of Ollie Watkins and co.
They were put under pressure at times, but laudably stood firm to prevent Villa from scoring - the first time they have failed since Unai Emery took over. The pair have quickly struck a dynamic, complementing each other with newfound levels of aggression and creditable proactivity - suitable for a high line. Lindelof displayed the extent of his awareness, which is a which quality, by heading an opposing attempt off the goal-line.
To United's credit, they do often defend well after going ahead, and in general too, aside from a selection of utter implosions, which has skewed their Premier League goal difference somewhat. They actually lead the way in the league with 15 clean sheets, amounting to a total of 26 across all competitions.
Most of this good defending does come on home turf, fitting with the general trend of United being much better at Old Trafford, where they are 26 games unbeaten and have picked up 39 of 45 available points since their opening league game of the season - a contrast to only 24 points being accumulated away from home.
Of their 26 clean sheets this term, United have kept 14 at home - 10 of their 15 in the league. They have conceded only 19 times at Old Trafford in all competitions, including a league-low eight from all teams' home record, which is a stark contrast to 38 conceded on the road, including 31 in the league alone, in considerably fewer games,
The generally strong defensive record is credit to the influence of Lisandro Martinez and his partnership with Raphael Varane, but also the stepping up of other individuals, such as Lindelof and Shaw at present, when the main pair are absent. David de Gea has limitations but has still made important saves, while Ten Hag has drastically improved the defensive set-up and general discipline. The protection offered by Casemiro has also helped.
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It does signify progress that United are regularly putting themselves in a position where they have to hold onto a lead from within the first half, given the pattern earlier in the season often related to failing to score early in games and having to chase matches later on. Trailing off in games does again seem to indicate tiredness may be a factor.
It is at least a good reflection on United's capabilities that the overriding feeling after beating Villa was that they should have won more comfortably; this was a side that had won eight games across a 10-match unbeaten run prior to travelling to Old Trafford.
The reality is that it doesn't really matter how you win in football, but for United they may be winning games similarly tight slightly too often. But it does at least show defensive improvements, and they may just be a clinical No.9, and improvements on the road, away from making another big stride.
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