Something really isn’t working for Ralf Rangnick and his United side, with proof that the current situation really isn't a simple fix. It's not just one aspect of things hindering the team's progress, it's a major compilation of factors.
These current mishaps can definitely be attributed somewhat to the system deployed by the interim manager. In terms of this 4-2-2-2 setup that Rangnick favours, it’s clearly inefficient at the moment. It fails to effectively utilise and facilitate the options that the German has at his disposal. Bruno Fernandes is considerably the most prominent creator at the club, yet he is finding himself restricted - often unnaturally out on a flank - by the approach.
Furthermore, it looks so disconnected between its different components, making the side easy to defend against due to a distinct lack of cohesion. In addition, this disconnect can allow easy exploitation from a defensive standpoint. It’s all over the place at the moment, really, with the setup frankly seeming a dysfunctional, disjointed mess which is inviting pressure and thwarting any effective transitional or buildup play.
Rangnick is resistant to change his ways, but there seems a real need for him to develop some systematic flexibility and adapt his ways to suit the players at his disposal.
Part of the current issue is also the individualistic nature of a vast number of the players, leading to the apparent internal detachments within the system that would frankly occur in any setup. It has become an issue of prevalence and much discussion recently, but there is a blatant lack of chemistry.
"I didn't feel when I was on the pitch that we were all there together," Luke Shaw damningly exclaimed in a post-match interview, "You look at the players we have - we have unbelievable quality. Sometimes quality is not enough.”
The execution of the basics was all wrong, with an overwhelmingly lacklustre aura surrounding those on the pitch. This has nothing to do with the system. The players looked so subdued and devoid of confidence, leading to what developed as such a severely tentative showing. This further led to the invitation of pressure, and Wolves were simply gifted their dominance for a large portion of proceedings. United’s lack of collective quality was distinct, with errors marring them yet again, and decision making similarly woeful.
Many are portioning the blame entirely on Rangnick and suggesting that his selection is wrong, that he’s fixated on players that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also favoured. Some of the same players are giving the same below-par output on occasion, however the critiqued likes of Scott McTominay have been playing on merit - of course him and Nemanja Matic were going to be restored after their performance against Burnley. At the same time, Rangnick has to use some players regularly just to retain a balance, such are the limitations of the squad.
There has actually been lots of rotation. For instance, look at the fullback situation - minutes had previously been very limited for Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles.
Whatever the personnel, they still seem to be constantly bereft of ideas. There is a real struggle to adapt to Rangnick's ways, it seems, and some of that does actually seem to be down to a lack of willingness. The manager openaly desires persistent hard work and a press, yet those chosen regularly look flat and lack that coveted endeavour. It’s hard to catalyse any revamp when the players are displaying little motivation comply to change.
The group look quite uncoachable right now, with Rangnick genuinely seemingly struggling to gain a hold of things. Thus, progress is proving very hard to come about.
Rangnick’s unbeaten start has been dismantled in only his first major test in charge. Wins and a draw had admittedly been scraped against bottom half sides, and defeat to the first side faced inside the top half is a real marker of the team's current level. Nothing seems to be changing as we are, and there are many that desperately have to up their game. This goes beyond the coaching team now.
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