The Problem Ten Hag has with Casemiro, Mount & Bruno Fernandes… @DiffKnock (Podcast Clip)

DiffKnock nails it in this clip. United are trying so hard to constantly play on the break (transitional play), that they concede so much possession. We hardly ever dominate games with 60+ possession. By the very nature of this fact, we will concede a lot of chances. Not to mention how much needless energy we spend pressing, tracking back or frantically defending, which we could be doing quite a lot less when we actually control the ball.

Over the course of 38 games, it's almost impossible to sustain this style of play to the consistent level that will win you a league title.

Sure, you might win a cup or two, or even the Champions League by playing like this. Everything can happen in knock-out games, and the luck of the draw dictates a lot in such competitions.

But if we want to become a dominating, consistent side that can challenge for the league title every season… We need to implement a possession-based style. Less high risk, more control with calculated risks.

In my opinion, we can't play this style of football like City, Arsenal and Brighton, because several of our "best" players are high risk takers, and not particularly press resistant or adept when it comes to keeping the ball and circulating it. Players like Bruno and Rashford in particular. They really suit a counterattacking side a hell of a lot more.

I really like Ten Hag and want us to succeed with him at the helm. But when he says that he wants to keep pushing this transitional style, and players like Bruno and Rashford are his key players… It honestly worries me, a lot. I don't think we will ever win the Premier League with players like Bruno and Rashford – and no less with a transitional style of play that will happily concede possession to constantly try those impossible Bruno Hollywood passes all the time. And I especially don't think we will ever win the league with Rashford. He is quick, and has a decent finish. That's it. He is not a team player, nor is he a system player. Bruno could perhaps be coached to make better decisions. But you can't teach a player to be a lot more press resistant than what they naturally are. So this deeply worries me.

Despite what people say, our first 11 and bench are pretty decent. We can scrape by and finish within top 4/5, like we seem to be doing every other season. We can manage this just by the sheer quality of some of our players. But that's the ceiling, and I don't see how that ceiling can be broken through until we shift to a more possession based style, whilst also removing players who don't fit the bill for that playing style — no matter how "good" they are in other areas.

Just my personal opinion. Please let me know what you think, Atlantis.

This was entirely predictable. I don't understand the Mount signing . I think the Antony signing was a scam.

We desperately need a number 8, someone who is going to be the first player to receive the ball from Casemiro and link with Bruno and forwards, a playmaker type. That's what Erikson offered us before that injury he sustained by Carol, there was balance in midfield. Mason Mount is not an 8, he should be competing with Bruno for a position, not partnering him. Ryan Gravenberch would be a dream, I don't know where they are going to find the money or manage ffp, but we need to get him. Even with the midfield sorted, there's the forward line to deal with, I noticed that you singled out Antony but I think all three of them are just as bad as each other, none of them make good decisions and all three are greedy and play with their heads down. They just don't complement each other and the manager needs to be open to dropping them. Garnacho is the easiest to drop because he is young but I don't think Ten Haag will drop the other 2 at all. For a team to be competitive, nobody's place in the team should be guaranteed, regardless of price tag or wages, turning a blind eye on poor performances from certain players while giving others limited opportunities is how you split the dressing room and set your sacking in motion. This manager has so far done brilliant job, I just hope he doesn't compromise his principles to accommodate these players.

We should have signed Locatelli instead of Mount. He is an elegant and quick-thinking player, who possesses excellent vision, passing, ball control, technique, and dribbling skills, as well as a powerful and accurate shot from long range. His reading of the game, defensive work-rate, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities are also optimal for a defensive midfielder.