It is valid to suggest that a large portion of Manchester United fans have been ridiculed for their raving reports with regards to their side's performances on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. And, okay, maybe some have been getting carried away.
But this was a tour where matches have been more than 'just friendlies'. Under new management in the form of Erik ten Hag, it was certainly worth more than just the minutes that are offered to players to improve fitness.
And it just so happens three convincing wins from four matches act as an added bonus to plenty of positive early signs of a team looking in considerably better nick. While winning matches obviously still offers confidence, what matters more than the results is the manner in which the players are clearly already buying into Ten Hag's methods. On the pitch, the side already look positively different.
There is still some way still to go of course, which was well-proven against Aston Villa on Saturday, though the basis of an identity has already started to form - evident as early as the emphatic 4-0 victory against Liverpool in Bangkok two weeks ago. Each game since then showed further improvement in aspects too against opposition that provided more different tests, with the ability of the players to adapt shown while they also maintained other things introduced by Ten Hag.
Once again, Villa posed a new challenge as United closed out their tour in Perth - although they do still have two official pre-season matches this coming weekend against Atletico Madrid in Oslo and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford. Steven Gerrard started, just like Ten Hag, with essentially his full-strength starting XI.
No doubt, Ten Hag's use of such as similar starting side throughout pre-season so far indicates those that he favours. The only alterations on Saturday were the return of Luke Shaw for Tyrell Malacia and the inclusion of Donny van de Beek given that Scott McTominay was injured. It has been reported that Ten Hag will likely field his first-choice side against Atletico on Saturday, with a more fringe side poised to face Vallecano on Sunday.
Wretched conditions in Perth added to the challenge against Villa, with continuous rainfall necessitating a pre-match pitch inspection to deem the game playable. A match on the same pitch at the Optus Stadium 24 hours earlier added to the slightly substandard, non-Premier League quality playing surface.
It was arguably the sternest test of United's adaptability, with the ball often getting caught up and the surface rather slippery in parts. As Sunday League players will know, such conditions also add to the strenuous nature of the workout.
While the game commenced in a messy nature reflective of the ground beneath the players' feet, United still ensured to maintain their intensity and continue to put a press into action, testament to their newfound commitment under Ten Hag. Stray passes were understandably slightly more abundant, but the intent remained clearly present, especially through forward runs and a direct passing approach.
One positive shift in the United players' mindsets has come through almost always primarily looking to shift the ball forwards as opposed to sideways or backwards - a stark presentation of the attacking impetus that Ten Hag has already injected.
United were able to find their groove after time, showing the defined build-up passages that have become a key feature of a more assured and purposeful possessional approach. An organised pass-and-move passage gave them the lead, with more convincing interplay on display and providing an encapsulation of goals throughout the tour.
The move started with Diogo Dalot playing a line-breaking pass into a hole for Anthony Martial, who had dropped deep in order to connect the play and shift the ball onwards. Bruno Fernandes was the recipient, offloading to Marcus Rashford wide on the left flank; Rashford showed his refreshed, clear train of thought to halt the play and wait for an overlapping run. Shaw provided that run with plenty of endeavour, clipping the ball to Jadon Sancho in the box to convert for his third goal in three matches.
It was yet another goal that proved the importance of creating overloads, especially on the flanks - viewed a key area by Ten Hag in terms of breaking down defences.
The connection between Shaw and Rashford, which had been so prevalent in seasons prior to last, seemed renewed with the pair both looking infinitely sharper. That link between the full-backs and wingers has proven an integral part of the functionality of Ten Hag's system, and having such a connection on both sides sizeably enhances the balance of the team.
With Dalot and Sancho having created a seemingly reliable bond on the right flank, it would seem that Ten Hag is some way to constructing a side offering lots of threat from out wide. Sancho has thrived on the right side, which seems more natural too him, scoring goals whilst also looking more comfortable in creation.
Such revitalisation of individuals is definitely a significant something to take from the tour. Of course, Martial stands out when this point is raised given that he scored in each of the first three matches. But that isn't the only way that he made an impact, also playing his part in the creation of goals, largely through his movement allowing him to link play (often dropping into deeper areas, as in the lead-up to Sancho's goal against Villa).
The performances from Martial and United's front three as a whole displayed that there is scope to function without Cristiano Ronaldo if he does end up leaving the club. There was a greater show of dynamism within the attack, with a constant number of runs and mass of movement - credit to the desire of those spearheading the side.
The attacking desire also showed through the will to press as a unit, presenting the front foot approach that Ten Hag's ethos is significantly defined by. Again, Martial stands out in this regard due to a much improved work rate; his attitude as a whole was noticeably developed, with Martial looking more motivated than he often has done.
Ten Hag has clearly been impressed by Martial, telling the press: "I'm sure he can come back even better. I think when he has the right focus, right motivation and he works hard every day he will have production because he is a good player. It's up to him."
That certainly seemed to dispel any murmurs that Martial's future could lie away from United following an unsuccessful loan move away from the club in the latter part of last term after he flattered to deceive in the first half of the campaign at United.
United's attacking improvements were also largely down to Bruno Fernandes' more refined game. He looked far more composed on the ball, allowing his overall game to become less erratic, which meant he was in a better position to orchestrate play from his attacking midfield role.
The intent of the attack was shown for United's second goal against Villa shortly before half-time. Torrential rain poured once again as the break approached, but the willingness of the attack wasn't dampened as the value of having willing runners was emphasised. Sancho and Rashford both showed keenness superior of that shown by the opposing defence, latching onto Fred's pass, which further showed his improving technical game in a deep midfield role.
Ultimately, Sancho provided for Rashford, who scuffed his shot but forced an own goal from Matty Cash. The goal was proof that the link between those in the attacking line is equally important as the connection between the full-backs and wingers. The entire attack was on the same wavelength throughout the tour. And, on the whole, the entire side looked considerably more coherent.
Discipline is something else that is improving in many ways, with more discipline on the pitch in a structural sense - shown by the build-up for most of the goals on tour - but also off the pitch. Based off what has been said by players, it is clear that success on the tour extends beyond being solely on the pitch.
Speaking about discipline, Fernandes told media: "We missed that for a while and discipline is important. Discipline is not only the way you play, the position that you have, what you have to do, it's also off the pitch. Don’t be late for the meetings, don't be late for the meals. That's really important because if everyone is on time and someone comes late, he should be punished."
In some ways, the quote reflects damningly on past regimes, almost suggesting that discipline has lacked. But if you are looking at the positive side of things, it really outlines the authority that Ten Hag has already brought. And given that it transpired from The Athletic that one player that Ten Hag intended to use was dropped from one tour game, it would appear that the manager has already instilled his off-field ways.
Though, overall, it would seem that the players are abiding by the rules that he has introduced with little complaint. That serves as proof that they are buying into, and have been willing to buy into, Ten Hag's management in every aspect, not just in terms of his philosophy on the pitch. And they certainly have bought into him on the pitch through means such as full-backs inverting, positional interchanges, creation of overloads, a consistently higher tempo and a greater impetus on pressing.
Sancho has been keen to outline the mentality shift that has occurred, saying on the topic of Ten Hag: "He's told all the boys that every friendly is a must-win game. I can already tell from his mindset that he wants us to do well and, when the players hear that from a manager, you all take that in and we all want to give our best, especially out on the pitch. That's been a real confidence boost."
But as well as that, the general spirit within the squad seems boosted. MUTV's 'Tour View' feature has been a nice touch that has shown this, with players in charge of a GoPro to show some of the behind-the-scenes action at the team hotel and on flights. While that sort of thing can bring out the 'Social Media FC' brigade online, it genuinely produced good insight and portrayed the upbeat mood in the camp. The mood definitely seems more relaxed, even if Ten Hag has introduced a more regimented side to things.
This all correlates with the improved cohesion on the pitch - it is vital that there is a close bond between the players. And Ten Hag has been key in promoting this through a number of ways, with players citing activities such as team meals.
It is important to add that not everything is positive though. There is still plenty of work that needs to be done. Flaws have been exposed already which, at this stage, isn't actually too big a deal as it gives Ten Hag something to tailor his work towards ahead of the season, and weaknesses can be rectified before competitive football begins.
The second half against Villa particularly displayed some shortcomings, and it was a period that certainly will not have been of Ten Hag's liking.
At the end of the day, essentially the same personnel that were resoundingly regarded as failures last season were utilised throughout the tour. That is not remotely to suggest that they didn't step up, mind - they did show that there is a distinct possibility that they can step up. But there is still a glaring lack of quality depth in certain profiles, for example with there being no definitive senior alternative in certain areas.
Taking the Villa meeting as a particular example, Alex Telles replaced Fred as the deep-lying midfielder when the raft of changes occurred in the second half; yes, McTominay was injured, but it has appeared that Ten Hag doesn't see the Scot as a deeper midfielder at present.
If Ten Hag isn't able to have players with certain traits that fit certain profiles to allow his system and methods to work at their maximum, United will be forced to use current players as makeshifts in certain roles. That would be far from ideal.
Things certainly tumbled downhill against Villa after the juncture on Saturday, even before those in the supposed first-choice outfit were withdrawn. One weakness exploited more than once during the tour was discomfort in defensive transitions due to a higher line than the side have been used to. Against Villa, Leon Bailey capitalised on this, scoring shortly after being introduced at half-time, with Victor Lindelof unable to defend his inward run from the left after having caught Shaw back-pedalling; the finish was good from outside the box, but United looked disorganised at the back.
Ten Hag lamented the fact that "focus dropped". He very much values full concentration at all times on the pitch.
The pitch, to be fair, had worsened again after the break, so the second half was always going to be slightly unrepresentative. But United were slack beyond this being an excuse at times. Maybe injury avoidance played a part, but, again, Villa were afforded inexcusable levels of momentum.
A positive to come from the half was Harry Maguire, who blocked an attempt from Bailey to double his account after rounding David de Gea. Again, Maguire was assured both defensively and in possession amidst more strange jeers and boos.
And the virtue of Maguire was further proven in his absence in the very closing stage of the match (once he had been withdrawn) as United conceded from a corner for the second successive game. It was a last-gasp equaliser, and ultimately proved the final action of the match, ending United's winning run. Calum Chambers was left unchallenged, whilst De Gea again showed a lack of authority in claiming crosses having got away with a similar moment earlier in the game.
It is clear that defending corners is an issue that requires improvement, somewhat confusingly given that there appears to have been a regression since the development in that regard last season.
However De Gea has improved in other capacities. He has massively raised his game as a ball-playing goalkeeper, which is a necessity to fit under Ten Hag. "Obviously, with different managers, you have to adapt to the way they want us to play," De Gea said on tour. "But I used to play like this in the national team for many years, so I'm comfortable. We want to build from the back, I want to be ready to give options to the players to play from the back and of course, be ready to collect the long balls."
Ten Hag has said that he sees mistakes, such as those against Villa, as paramount for eradication on top of everything, suggesting: "We have to decrease the mistakes."
But on the whole, the tour was a noteworthy success. Individuals have started to excel, with the attitude already on the upturn and Ten Hag's philosophy already evident in many ways.
Two friendlies remain, then it is properly down to business.
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