In their most recent fixture, Manchester United met Newcastle United at St James' Stadium in a disappointing 0-1 result. The game exposed United's problems, from tactics to player performances.
The first thing to say is that this game highlighted Ten Hag's tactical confusion. Putting Luke Shaw at centre-back and Diogu Darlow at left-back is a puzzling arrangement. Although Shaw is a good defender, it is a bit difficult to let him play as a central defender. Darlow, on the other hand, didn't seem comfortable at left-back.
Looking at the forward line, the duo of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were completely unthreatening in this game. Their performance was disappointing, with a combined number of shots on goal to zero. Such statistics are a shame for Manchester United. Clearly, Ten Hag will need to make adjustments up front and find a more effective attacking combination.
In addition, Newcastle's performance in the game was also commendable. Despite the departure of their main goalkeeper Pope injured, the entire team showed tenacity and clear tactical execution. Gordon's goal was a testament to just how sharp Newcastle's attack can be. In contrast, Manchester United's defence looked loose and weak.
From United's point of view, the game was a huge wake-up call. The team's performance on the road is simply too poor. They haven't won against a top-eight team on the road since October 2021, which is a staggering statistic. As a big team, such a performance is really hard to accept.
The most striking thing in this game was Manchester United's lack of fighting spirit and tactical confusion. There was a lack of chemistry between the players, and there were often misalignments and passing errors. Defensively, in particular, United's performance has been nothing short of a nightmare. In attack, the team's lack of creativity and directness made them look unthreatening in the opposition penalty area.
Ten Hag also acknowledged the team's problems in his post-match interview. He mentioned that the team's lack of pace and intensity was the main reason for the defeat. In fact, this game is a huge challenge for Ten Hag and he needs to find a solution to his team's problems.
In the end, it was a big blow for Manchester United. Not only did they lose important three points, but they were greatly affected psychologically. The next few games will be a big test for them and they will need to recover from this defeat as soon as possible and regain their winning feelings. For Ten Hag, it has been one of the toughest times since he took charge of Manchester United and he will need to prove that he can lead this team out of this difficult situation.