Erik Ten Hag's Marquee Signings.

Antony

 

Manchester United completed the signing of the skilful Brazilian winger Antony from Ajax for £86m on deadline day, as he is reunited with his old boss Erik Ten Hag. At the age of 22, Antony has all the potential, to reach the very top of world football. Antony came with a big price tag adding pressure immediately to his Manchester United career, however this pressure disappeared rather quickly - as Antony scored in his first 3 Premier League games. Antony has already gained trust within the United fanbase as he’s bought in to the system implemented by Erik Ten Hag, similar to the system at Ajax when both Ten Hag and Antony were there. Antony shows passion every time he puts on that Manchester United jersey, shown by his celebrations when a teammate or he scores.

Casemiro

Wow. What a player. 30-year-old Brazilian Casemiro, signed from Real Madrid for £70m. Despite winning the Champions League, La Liga Santander, and the Spanish Super Cup last year the Brazilian star wanted a new challenge and stated ‘I want to win the premier league’, many pundits criticised the transfer calling it bad business for Manchester United as there are younger players for cheaper or around the same price that would offer the club longevity (Declan Rice) , however I think Casemiro was a great purchase, after in need of a central defensive midfielder for years, we got the best in the world. Pundits also questioned why he would leave Real Madrid -defending Champions League winners for a Europa League side, apart from wanting a new challenge and the magnitude of Manchester United – this question remains unanswered.

Maybe ex – Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Varane encouraged Casemiro? It took Casemiro a few games to settle into the club and league with mostly appearing from the bench in the league, however after a few starts in Europe he was settling in the starting XI and was out of this world against Spurs in a 2-0 win and Chelsea in a 1-1 draw where he scored the equaliser on the last minute.

 

Lisandro Martinez

Another player who has worked under Ten Hag at Ajax and has become influential in defence for Manchester United this season – Lisandro Martinez. Costing £47m, Martinez slotted straight into the team at centre back, forming a great partnership with Varane as Manchester United’s defence became reliable with great solidify and focus across the back 4. A lot of this is due to Martinez communicating and demanding more on the pitch from others – which has lacked throughout the squad for nearly a decade.

Martinez was heavily criticised when signing for Manchester United, not because he was a bad player, but because of his height. Lisandro Martinez comes in at 5ft 9in making him the smallest Premier League centre back. Jamie Carragher was a big advocate for Lisandro Martinez failing in the Premier League due to his height stating, “I'm convinced this can't work because he's the size of a 5ft 9 centre back playing in a back 4 maybe he'll go left back, maybe could play in a back three but not in the back four, he cannot play the in the Premier League”

These comments were made after United’s loss to Brighton and humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford. Since then, Martinez has played 9 Premier League games, kept 4 clean sheets and conceded only 10 goals. Outperforming last season’s starting centre back at Manchester United – Harry Maguire the club captain.

 

System

All 3 of these major signings work perfectly in the system Ten Hag wants to play, having a progressive centre back allowing full backs to join the midfield as Martinez alongside Varane can break lines and progress play up the pitch.

 Adopting Erik Ten Hag’s 2-3-5 formation in possession allowed full backs to join Casemiro in midfield whilst wide players such as Antony hold the width creating more space and encouraging 1v1 and 2v1’s in wide positions suiting a predominantly left footed player who plays on the right, allowing them to cut in and shoot, which is how all his goals have been created.

With the 2 back at the back and 3 in midfield in possession allows Casemiro time and space on the ball to dictate play as the front 5 will push back the opposition, consistently being in the centre of the pitch enables Casemiro to not only support the 2 centre backs but to win the ball back quickly at break downs and turnovers.

 

Cameron Long.