Manchester United’s attacking woes have escalated to a dire state, evident in a lackluster 2-0 defeat against West Ham United.
The dismal statistics of 24 games, 13 losses, and 11 wins underscore the team’s offensive struggles, further exacerbated by a four-game goal drought. Rasmus Hojlund, yet to score a Premier League goal, and Antony’s persisting struggles have contributed to the team’s attacking impotence.
Despite defensive resilience earning praise in matches against Bayern and Liverpool, the West Ham encounter exposed the frailty of United’s attack.
A stark illustration of their offensive predicament is encapsulated in the fact that Jarrod Bowen alone had more goals than the entire United starting XI combined.
The defensive unit, coping admirably with injuries and introducing Willy Kambwala into action, contrasts sharply with the attacking department’s underperformance. With all attackers available except for Jadon Sancho’s self-imposed exile, injuries can no longer serve as a justification for the lackluster attacking displays.
Erik ten Hag finds himself in a challenging predicament where his attempted solutions, including the persistent presence of Scott McTominay, inadvertently create problems.
The absence of midfield-generated chance creation and ball retention leaves the forwards starved of opportunities, leading them to forget how to manufacture chances independently.
The team’s mentality emerges as a significant concern, evident in the decline of players like Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford since signing new contracts.
In this creatively deficient environment, evaluating a forward’s talent becomes challenging. The attacking crisis, compounded by a lack of ideas, places Ten Hag under increasing scrutiny. Immediate improvement is imperative, and failure to do so may prompt questions about Ten Hag’s job security.
