Top of the big-six table
Ten Hag's United have become a team for the big occasion (at home, anyway)
FIVE ASIDES Premier League: United 2, Spurs 0
United are now top of the table – the big-six table, that is. They’ve played four, won three, to make nine points from four games (as against 10 from six against lesser opponents). The other top dogs haven’t played as much against each other, but United are even top if you go by points per game, with 2.25. Arsenal are on 2, City 1.5, Chelsea and Liverpool 1 apiece, Spurs a well-deserved 0.33. United have become a big-match team, as long as they’re at home. Some of their famous victories over the past few years have relied on luck, but this one didn’t. It was both gritty and pretty. They got stuck in and won most of their duels, but also passed the ball rapidly, elegantly and purposefully. They didn’t just have a great evening: they had an identity.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to have a shocker without even playing. By flouncing out for the second time this season, he undermined his own position and bolstered Erik Ten Hag’s. He made it easy for Ten Hag to be diplomatic after the game and tough the next morning, when he handed his elderly superstar a suspension and a fine. Ronaldo’s statement on Instagram showed some contrition without actually saying sorry, a case of pride coming after a fall. Without him, United played better – more urgently, more resolutely, more cohesively. The sharpest improvement came from Bruno Fernandes, who, freed from the pressure to pass to his misfiring compatriot, scored a beautiful goal and returned to his peak of two years ago. If Fernandes could just accept that captains can’t be petulant, he might be the complete player.
The moment of the match came when the crowd sang “Fred, Fred will tear you apart”. It was funny, affectionate, knowing and very Mancunian. Fred had to admit afterwards that he was not familiar with the work of Joy Division, but his broad smile showed that he got the message. If his goal was jammy, coming via a deflection, his overall performance was excellent. He was unrecognisable from the rusty figure who had the crowd groaning three days earlier. You could see why Tite plays him next to Casemiro for Brazil: Fred brings the energy, Casemiro the control. The two of them were too much for Spurs’ midfield trio. Antonio Conte ended up with the worst of both worlds – picking a defensive team and still being blown open. And then having no plan B, as he froze and left his changes till the last ten minutes.
The defence played a big part. The full-backs, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw, passed to each other about six times as they surged forward on the underlap. Yet an attacking back four still did their job defensively, securing their third clean sheet in a row. Lisandro Martinez made six tackles and attached himself to Harry Kane like an electronic tag. Shaw put in nine blocks. Rafael Varane cruised around like a boss, not doing much himself (no tackles, one block) but delegating well and looking in command. With him and Martinez behind Casemiro, United have their strongest backbone since the days of Ferdinand, Vidic and Carrick.
United do still need to get better. They have to show that they can beat the top teams away from home: Stamford Bridge, at teatime tomorrow, would be a good place to start. After that they have to make a habit of battering the smaller fish. Jadon Sancho and Antony have to get better at going round their full-backs on the outside rather than cutting in and playing the ball back. The midfield is either light on tenacity, if Christian Eriksen plays, or light on creativity if he doesn’t. (Against Spurs, Fernandes fixed that by doing the job of two men: he supplied 10 shot-creating actions, the most by anyone in a Premier League match this season.) Rashford, although he put in a fine shift at centre-forward, is only scoring when racing in from the left. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Get Charlie McNeill on the bench! And buy Ivan Toney in January, when Ronaldo, surely, will drive his Bugatti out of Carrington for the last time.
Tim de Lisle writes about sport for The Guardian and music for The Mail on Sunday. If you’re on Twitter, do follow him and United Writing.