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Bailly to enter?
A United fan joked on Twitter this week that Eric Bailly would have to win the Ballon d’Or to end Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Scandinavian solidarity with Victor Lindelof, which has yet to be dropped on the United manager’s watch.
Lindelof was unconvincing once again on the Brighton midweek trip and Bailly was so authoritative that viral clips from United’s official Twitter account seemed to be pressuring Solskjaer to start Bailly today. Bailly hasn’t teamed up for the first time in 20 months, but he may have a chance to regain that status.
The big caveat is that Bailly’s reputation has been bolstered by his lack of Premier League starts and he’s often good for a clanger. Even without Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Lucas Moura or Steven Bergwign are capable of forcing a mistake.
Changes in midfield?
United did not reap the benefits of Nemanja Matic’s league recall in Brighton, where they failed to neutralize Leandro Trossard and never achieved complete dominance against Brighton’s lateral defense system.
Giovanni lo Celso’s retirement in Tottenham’s Europa League play-off against Maccabi Haifa practically confirmed his starting role at Old Trafford and the Argentine is becoming an increasingly pivotal player for José Mourinho.
Matic is the only specialized defensive midfielder United have, and given the quality of the opponent, that can ensure that he starts again.
Or is Van de Beek staying?
Sooner or later, United’s only summer signing will line up in the league. Donny van de Beek scored on his debut and without him United would not have won in Brighton: it was Van de Beek who won the corner after Marcus Rashford was sacked.
Van de Beek was tidy in the League Cup rematch on Wednesday, swerving to the left and ably assisting Juan Mata. But Bruno Fernandes is inescapable and Paul Pogba’s cameo in the Carabao Cup, which pleases the public, suggests that Van de Beek might have to wait until after the internationals for his first Premier League start.
Can Wan-Bissaka recover?
Last week was Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s worst ebb as a United player. He’s usually useful on defense and useless on offense, but at the Amex he was lousy on both ends and it is essential that he responds with a performance to quickly put down the skeptics.
Gary Neville peculiarly suggested that Wan-Bissaka shouldn’t have to focus on improving his attacking game when any self-respecting modern winger is proactive in the last third.
United invested £ 50m in Wan-Bissaka and, although its exploration was barely perceptive, it is entitled to demand a more comprehensive level of performance.
Martial to get going?
It is not just Odion Ighalo who has underlined United’s need for another striker. Anthony Martial, devoid of any credible competition for his place, has been lukewarm in his outings so far this season and is under pressure to address his form before doubts resurface.
Martial was unconvincing at Tottenham in June when Solskjaer told him to get into the box and he didn’t. He achieved a clinical hat-trick in his next start, but traditionally fights the Spurs, with just one goal in seven games.
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