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Four things Erik ten Hag got wrong as sloppy Man Utd escape Bournemouth with a draw
Manchester United came into the contest with feint hopes of finishing in the top four, but came across a Bournemouth side who battered them 3-0 at Old Trafford
Manchester United, only just, held Bournemouth to a 2-2 draw on the south coast.
Andoni Iraola's side dominated the Red Devils in the early exchanges and, as they did at Old Trafford, took the lead early through Dominic Solanke. The ex-Chelsea forward took advantage of an unfortunate slip from Willy Kambwala to rifle a low effort into the bottom corner from 20-yards.
As Bournemouth peppered Andre Onana's goal, Bruno Fernandes slotted an equaliser against the run of play to keep United in the match. This was then cancelled out by Justin Kluivert, who found an alarming amount of space in the penalty area between Kambwala and Diogo Dalot. He had time to control a pass, get the ball out of his feet and send a low shot crashing into the net to reinstate the Cherries' lead before half-time.
With better finishing, Bournemouth would have humiliated the Red Devils for the second time this season. Yet, United found a way back in through fortuitous circumstances again. Kobbie Mainoo won a penalty when his 25-yard effort ricocheted off Ryan Christie and hit Adam Smith's arm. Unbelievably, it was enough to convince Tony Harrington and VAR it was a penalty.
Fernandes stepped up and sent Neto the wrong way to bring United back leve. Neither side really threatened to find a winner from that point on and the contest, similarly to both club's seasons, seemed to simmer away.
That was until Ryan Christie was brought down on the line of the 18-yard box by Kambwala. After a nerve-wracking VAR review, the foul was deemed to be outside the penalty area and United were off the hook again. After the Red Devils only just escaped the Vitality Stadium with a point, Daily Star Sport considers what Erik ten Hag got wrong.
Not learning from Old Trafford embarrassment
As they were at Old Trafford in December, United were far too slow out of the blocks. Not only did they let the Cherries seize control of the ball, the Red Devils gave them all the space on the south coast to work with.
Time after time, United's terrified back four were left back-peddling towards their own goal as Bournemouth's front four ran at and beyond them. Andoni Iraola's creative tactics have been fascinating to watch, but the Spaniard did not need to come up with anything too creative to get the better of the Reds.
Complete and utter confusion
If United's defence and midfield are on the same page, then they are reading two different books. Once again, the middle men wanted to maraud forward and press while the backline instinctively moved backwards to cut out space in behind.
As it has done on numerous occasions, a big gap as wide as Bournemouth beach appeared in the middle of the park for the Cherries. Whatever tactics Ten Hag is trying to impart is not being received by the full team.
Bournemouth had 12 shots on goal in the opening minutes and would have finished the game off, were it not for some excellent reaction saves from Onana. It's simply far too easy to create chances against United. Yet, the performances suggest little is being done to try and stop the onslaught on Onana's goal.
More Wan-Bissaka mis-management
It seems like a lifetime has passed since Jamie Carragher described Aaron Wan-Bissaka as the 'best one-vs-one defender in the world'. At Crystal Palace and his first season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wan-Bissaka was allowed to tuck inside, use the side-lines as a guide and dare opposition forwards to take him on.
Next to nobody was able to get past him, as he was so good at luring forwards into blind alleys before stealing the ball of them. Now, he looks confused and unconfident, as he is being encouraged to run forward and press defenders.
Pressing is not coming naturally to a defender who is at his best when he is daring players to take him on. United's insistence on trying to turn him into something he is not is resulting in some huge spaces opening up behind the Englishman. Whatever United are trying to do with the 26-year-old is just not working. They are not helping themselves or him.
Not helping themselves
Even the biggest United cynic should not fail to acknowledge their injury crisis - yet, United are only making life far harder than it already is. They are down to the bare academy bones when it comes to the spine of their team, particularly in defence.
Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are huge absentees. Yet, their way of playing is only isolating a struggling Maguire and the raw Kambwala. They're being offered no protection from their midfielders or their wide-men, who seldom track back to help in the defensive department.
Ten Hag has to make their lives easier, otherwise their hopes for the campaign will soon be ruthlessly ended.
Daily Star Sunday
Manchester United came into the contest with feint hopes of finishing in the top four, but came across a Bournemouth side who battered them 3-0 at Old Trafford
Manchester United, only just, held Bournemouth to a 2-2 draw on the south coast.
Andoni Iraola's side dominated the Red Devils in the early exchanges and, as they did at Old Trafford, took the lead early through Dominic Solanke. The ex-Chelsea forward took advantage of an unfortunate slip from Willy Kambwala to rifle a low effort into the bottom corner from 20-yards.
As Bournemouth peppered Andre Onana's goal, Bruno Fernandes slotted an equaliser against the run of play to keep United in the match. This was then cancelled out by Justin Kluivert, who found an alarming amount of space in the penalty area between Kambwala and Diogo Dalot. He had time to control a pass, get the ball out of his feet and send a low shot crashing into the net to reinstate the Cherries' lead before half-time.
With better finishing, Bournemouth would have humiliated the Red Devils for the second time this season. Yet, United found a way back in through fortuitous circumstances again. Kobbie Mainoo won a penalty when his 25-yard effort ricocheted off Ryan Christie and hit Adam Smith's arm. Unbelievably, it was enough to convince Tony Harrington and VAR it was a penalty.
Fernandes stepped up and sent Neto the wrong way to bring United back leve. Neither side really threatened to find a winner from that point on and the contest, similarly to both club's seasons, seemed to simmer away.
That was until Ryan Christie was brought down on the line of the 18-yard box by Kambwala. After a nerve-wracking VAR review, the foul was deemed to be outside the penalty area and United were off the hook again. After the Red Devils only just escaped the Vitality Stadium with a point, Daily Star Sport considers what Erik ten Hag got wrong.
Not learning from Old Trafford embarrassment
As they were at Old Trafford in December, United were far too slow out of the blocks. Not only did they let the Cherries seize control of the ball, the Red Devils gave them all the space on the south coast to work with.
Time after time, United's terrified back four were left back-peddling towards their own goal as Bournemouth's front four ran at and beyond them. Andoni Iraola's creative tactics have been fascinating to watch, but the Spaniard did not need to come up with anything too creative to get the better of the Reds.
Complete and utter confusion
If United's defence and midfield are on the same page, then they are reading two different books. Once again, the middle men wanted to maraud forward and press while the backline instinctively moved backwards to cut out space in behind.
As it has done on numerous occasions, a big gap as wide as Bournemouth beach appeared in the middle of the park for the Cherries. Whatever tactics Ten Hag is trying to impart is not being received by the full team.
Bournemouth had 12 shots on goal in the opening minutes and would have finished the game off, were it not for some excellent reaction saves from Onana. It's simply far too easy to create chances against United. Yet, the performances suggest little is being done to try and stop the onslaught on Onana's goal.
More Wan-Bissaka mis-management
It seems like a lifetime has passed since Jamie Carragher described Aaron Wan-Bissaka as the 'best one-vs-one defender in the world'. At Crystal Palace and his first season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wan-Bissaka was allowed to tuck inside, use the side-lines as a guide and dare opposition forwards to take him on.
Next to nobody was able to get past him, as he was so good at luring forwards into blind alleys before stealing the ball of them. Now, he looks confused and unconfident, as he is being encouraged to run forward and press defenders.
Pressing is not coming naturally to a defender who is at his best when he is daring players to take him on. United's insistence on trying to turn him into something he is not is resulting in some huge spaces opening up behind the Englishman. Whatever United are trying to do with the 26-year-old is just not working. They are not helping themselves or him.
Not helping themselves
Even the biggest United cynic should not fail to acknowledge their injury crisis - yet, United are only making life far harder than it already is. They are down to the bare academy bones when it comes to the spine of their team, particularly in defence.
Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are huge absentees. Yet, their way of playing is only isolating a struggling Maguire and the raw Kambwala. They're being offered no protection from their midfielders or their wide-men, who seldom track back to help in the defensive department.
Ten Hag has to make their lives easier, otherwise their hopes for the campaign will soon be ruthlessly ended.
Daily Star Sunday