5 Flops That Are Currently Costing Manchester United The Top Four

After the recent loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, a number of questions have begun to come up about the squad Solskjaer has and whether they are up to it. Yes, they may have beaten the likes of PSG and Chelsea and pulled off an amazing draw against Liverpool, but was that just the excitement that Ole had brought when he came on?

We’ll never know the true answer to that question, but the fact is that United are currently in a crisis, though not open yet, but it’s there.

The management needs to sort out the obvious problems that they currently have, the past five games they have played have consisted of three defeats and only one win. And in that win, which was against Watford, the team really struggled to get a hold on the game.

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Solskjaer, no doubt has noticed that there are problems in the team, majorly the personnel. The system that he has used since he came to the club has been on point up until now, but some players are currently undermining the system.

Here’s a comprehensive list of players that are currently flopping at United and costing them the chance to get back into the top four.

David De Gea

There’s no doubt that David De Gea is one of the best goalkeepers in the world today, but his form this season hasn’t been up to its usual standards. When he has been on song – on rare occasions, this season, he has shown just why United have been desperate to keep him.

But currently, he’s looking more of a liability to the team with his passing looking poor, his handling not strong enough and his ever exceptional reflexes looking worn out.

Since he came back from the World Cup with the Spanish national team, where he didn’t cover himself with glory, he hasn’t been the same De Gea who has worn Manchester United player of the season on four occasions.

The manager needs to find a way to motivate the obviously talented goalkeeper or keep him on the bench for a while. It worked well with Sir Alex during De Gea’s first season.

His contract situation should also be sorted out as soon as possible to keep his head in the game. He should be made the club’s top earner since he’s obviously the only world class player Manchester United currently have in their ranks.

Ashley Young

On current form, Ashley Young should be the first player that Ole looks to drop from his favoured first eleven. In the past seven or more games, Ashley Young has been a liability to Manchester United and it is a surprise that the manager hasn’t noticed.

In fact, Young has been so poor that it will get you wondering how bad Diogo Dalot is since he’s not getting game time in place of Young. There’s no doubt that Young has been a loyal servant for the club since he was bought, but football isn’t about sentiment and United should start looking to the future.

Diogo Dalot is obviously more of a future prospect that the ageing Ashley Young. It’s about time Ole cut his losses with Young and go all out for the top four by consistently playing the young Portuguese talent, how bad can he be compared to what Young has been giving the club?

Paul Pogba

Is Pogba leaving United for Real Madrid? That is a question that has been there since Zidane went back to Real Madrid. It seems that those rumours have gotten to Pogba as he’s currently playing like a player whose head has been turned from Manchester United.

Since Ole Gunnar took over from Jose Mourinho, Paul Pogba has been one of the team’s best performers. He was controlling games, bullying opponents and even providing goals and assists. It looked like United after a long wait had finally found someone that had unlocked Pogba’s great potential.

Then something changed when the rumours of Zidane wanting him at Madrid started to float around. Pogba’s game started to go down and he’s seemingly doing nothing for the team at the moment. Ole may say that Pogba’s form doesn’t worry him, but if his team is to make the top four then that should be something that bothers him.

When on form, Paul Pogba is one of the most coveted midfielders in the world today, but that isn’t something that he’s giving United.

Nemanja Matic

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final

If there was one player that United had massive hopes for this season it had to be Nemanja Matic. He’s one of the most senior players in this relatively young United side, but he’s not living up to those expectations.

Since the beginning of the season, Matic hasn’t been the same Matic that United had last season. He looks far slower than he normally is and his passing hasn’t been great. Even his main job of protecting the back four, he’s seemingly failing at it as well.

There was a short time when Ole Gunnar was appointed when Matic’s form looked great but after a short injury, he hasn’t looked the same again. Scot McTominay did a great job when Matic was injured and Solskjaer may be tempted to drop Matic in favour of McTominay.

On the form he’s in at the moment he’s costing Manchester United a spot in the top four despite being one of the players that they would have depended on.

Anthony Martial

Another player who had an upturn in form since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is Anthony Martial. But he too suffered an injury a while back and since then, he hasn’t looked the same player that Ole could depend on.

Don’t let the goal against Watford fool you, he was poor against Watford and that goal was the only thing he had going for him in that tie. He’s been labouring to make things happen and most times he looks like he wants to do way too much with the ball at his feet.

Martial is still young and the club will not want to lose faith in him this early. But he needs to pull up his socks if he’s to maintain being in the team. Manchester United currently don’t have other great options for that left forward position, so they’re left with Martial and he should be helped to get to the potential he obviously has.

Edited by Emeka Monyei