Week five of the English Premier League is now behind us, and the ‘club in crisis’ tag can already be firmly affixed to Manchester United. After starting the season with three successive victories, things have quickly come undone over a brief period of eight days for Jose Mourinho and his charges.
United seemingly hit rock bottom on Sunday, losing to a Watford side that hadn’t defeated United in 30 years. Watford’s 3-1 victory, achieved through goals by Etienne Capoue, Juan Zuniga and Troy Deeney, amounted to Mourinho losing three games in a row as manager for the first time in 14 years.
Etienne Capoue's strike puts @WatfordFC up 1-0! #PLonNBC https://t.co/3ZQ8ZP59j8
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 18, 2016
"Well, I didn't know much about him before this game." Think #PL fans will remember the Watford player now. https://t.co/9VkhzkPAHB
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 18, 2016
United’s loss to Manchester City in the derby wasn’t cause for massive concern, particularly when analyzing the scintillating start the Citizens have made to their campaign. However, subsequent losses to Feyenoord in the Europa League and now Watford have revealed some worrying issues in the side.
Prior to the Watford match, Mourinho charged Paul Pogba to forget his world-record price tag and “to play his football”. Anchored alongside Marouane Fellaini in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Pogba’s qualities are massively diminished. Mourinho might as well be an office manager telling his employees to cut loose at the holiday party, and then providing them with a case of Martinelli’s non-alcoholic sparkling cider to get the job done.
It’s been a catastrophic pairing for United over the last eight days, with Pogba struggling to make any kind of impact in his defensive role.
Wayne Rooney’s performances over the period have been analyzed, dismantled and ripped to shreds in all quarters. His ineffective display against Watford resulted in Rooney spending more time dropping deep into his own half than attacking the opposition.
Where would you rather see @WayneRooney play for @ManUtd? Vote and comment below... #WATMUN
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) September 18, 2016
With Ibrahimovic, Marcus Ashford and Anthony Martial all appearing better options at forward for United and Mourinho reluctant to play him in midfield, the dropping of Rooney appears inevitable should the slide continue.
The optimism surrounding the additions of Mourinho, Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has evaporated as United now trail City in the table by six points.
United will be thankful that they return to action quickly with a match against Northampton Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. However, United will be forced to field an extremely young side in that match, compounding the possibility of another calamity, with a Premier League match against champions Leicester City coming on Saturday.
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