Now that the transfer window has closed and the dust has settled following Manchester United’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal last week, we caught up with former United defender Paul Parker to assess two of the club’s summer signings.
In this article:
- Mount has shown nothing since joining United
- Are Manchester United now overloaded in midfield?
- United should have stuck with De gea
- Onana will be under pressure from de Gea’s legendary status
Mount has shown nothing since joining United
When Manchester United completed the summer signing of England international Mason Mount, much of the conversation centred around how Mount would fit into the current United set up. Lastt season saw Erik ten Hag use Christian Eriksen along Casemiro, with Bruno Fernandes as the number ten.
Mount had previously been utilised as a number ten or outside during his time at Chelsea. However, since joining United in the summer Mount has typically been used as a number 8 and United have encountered some issues in midfield early on. According to Parker, Mount has failed to impress thus far before picking an injury which is likely to rule him out until United’s first Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich.
“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t see anything about Mason Mount prior to his injury that makes me believe that he can be a key player for Man United. I have seen nothing from him, absolutely nothing.”
“I have seen a lot of yards run from him but that’s it. Can I come out and say that he isn’t going to be a great player for Man United? No, I can´t, because he hasn’t played enough games yet.”
Are Manchester United now overloaded in midfield?
United have so far struggled to really assert their dominance in the midfield area. That coupled with defensive issues off the ball saw ten Hag push hard for the acquisition of Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat who shone in the World Cup last year. Parker raises concerns about how the pieces of the midfield fit into Erik ten Hag’s puzzle.
“But I think everyone wants to know how Erik ten Hag will get the best out of him. Can you imagine a midfield with Casemiro, Amrabat and Mount? It would be interesting as well, and then you also have Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen who still both need game time and both of them could easily be in the starting lineup, even together. But where does that leave the rest of the midfielders? Man United are overloaded in that area right now.”
“I believe Amrabat will make a big difference and he will be a very positive asset to the squad.”
“But I mean the midfield has never been the biggest problem for Man United. The attacking line has been the weak area and now they have got a massive improvement with Rasmus Hojlund but the wide areas are still a weak spot.”
United should have stuck with De gea
When United completed the signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan, the idea would see Onana allow United to expand their ability to play out from the back and through the thirds. Onana displayed his ability and confidence in United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. Onana completed 40 out of 51 passes in the game. Whilst Parker highlights what Onana has brought in terms of facilitating build up, he remains defiant in his belief that United should have stuck with David de Gea, despite the fact he’s currently unemployed.
“I can’t come out and say that I dislike Andre Onana because I don´t. If we could go back in time, I would still have stuck with David De Gea. I still think he is a better goalkeeper.”
“But that doesn´t make Onana a terrible goalkeeper. He is a good goalkeeper and he has been a part of improving the build up play and I think he can be a good asset on the counter attacks as well when Man United need to send Rashford or Hojlund free with a deep pass.”
Onana will be under pressure from de Gea’s legendary status
Parker also highlights some concerns that Onana could prove to be a scapegoat for United’s issues due to the fact de Gea is a club legend and arguably one of the best keepers to have played for the club.
“But I could wish that he made more extraordinary saves. Sometimes I feel like he is a TV goalkeeper who makes easy saves look hard to make.”
“It’s only four games and he will improve but people shouldn’t be picking him as the scapegoat or anything already.”
“The tough part for him is that every time he makes a mistake, everyone will compare him to David De Gea who was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time at Man United. That’s not a nice pressure to have on your shoulders.”
