{"id":111249,"date":"2024-10-07T01:48:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T18:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111249"},"modified":"2024-10-07T01:48:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T18:48:14","slug":"aston-villa-0-manchester-united-0-evans-gamble-lucky-rashford-what-now-for-ten-hag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111249","title":{"rendered":"Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 0: Evans gamble, lucky Rashford, what now for Ten Hag?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"655\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/team\/manchester-united\/\">Manchester United<\/a> drew 0-0 with <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"672\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/team\/aston-villa\/\">Aston Villa<\/a> leaving manager Erik ten Hag heading into the international break on the back of an improved display from his reorganised team.<\/p>\n<p>The Dutchman, who had been under pressure coming into the match, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/5821921\/2024\/10\/06\/maguire-evans-manchester-united-aston-villa\/\">dropped Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez for Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire<\/a> after the pair came on against Porto in the 3-3 <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/europa-league\/\">Europa League<\/a> draw earlier in the week.<\/p>\n<p>Maguire, who scored the late equaliser in that game, went off injured at half-time, however, and was replaced by De Ligt with his team holding their own in a tight match.<\/p>\n<p>The result means United are 14th in the <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/premier-league\/\">Premier League<\/a> table, with Villa fifth.<\/p>\n<p>Here, our writers Carl Anka and Mark Critchley break down the key moments of the game.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><b>What was United\u2019s game plan?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span>It is unusual for a Premier League manager to face questions over the style of football he is trying to play after he\u2019s been in place for more than two seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the first half at Villa Park, Erik ten Hag tried to provide some answers. The United manager rolled the dice and went for a bold starting XI with Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire as his centre-back pairing. Eagle-eyed sleuths eventually figured out the line-up had a lot of similarities to the team that beat Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day last year, but once United kicked off, it became clear Ten Hag had switched things up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Diogo Dalot spent much of the first half playing high and wide at left-back. Instead of inverting into central midfield to help with build-up play, as he had done in recent weeks. This had an encouraging effect on Marcus Rashford ahead of him, with the pair attempting to break Villa\u2019s high defensive line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5822131\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"wp-caption-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-5822131 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2477\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-scaled.jpg 2477w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-290x300.jpg 290w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-991x1024.jpg 991w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-1486x1536.jpg 1486w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06101245\/GettyImages-2177080195-1982x2048.jpg 1982w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2477px) 100vw, 2477px\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-credits\">\n<div class=\"inline-credits-container\">\n      <span class=\"table-cell-span\"\/><br \/>\n      <span class=\"credits-text\">(Zohaib Alam \u2013 MUFC\/Manchester United via Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>United managed to enjoy some periods of settled possession in the first half too, looking to circulate the ball in deeper areas while looking for an optimum angle to launch a direct attack to a speedy front three. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But some poor weighting on the pass from Bruno Fernandes, coupled with some iffy hold-up play from Rasmus Hojlund, stopped things from truly clicking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Carl Anka<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><b>Evans the enforcer\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span>Ten Hag claimed his selection of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans was purely down to \u201crotation\u201d, but he has not typically been one to chop and change at the heart of his defence \u2014 especially for a game like this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>More likely that Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt were dropped after their difficult night at the Dragao and Ten Hag was simply protecting his first-choice centre-back partnership with his pre-match comments.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5822197\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"wp-caption-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-5822197 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-1536x1101.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06104819\/GettyImages-2177094036-2048x1469.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-credits\">\n<div class=\"inline-credits-container\">\n      <span class=\"table-cell-span\"\/><br \/>\n      <span class=\"credits-text\">(Photo by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>But then Maguire and Evans were arguably more suited to the conservative approach United took anyway: sat in a low block, tasked with doing the basics of defending on the edge of their own box. Both performed well, particularly Evans \u2014 awarded the man of the match \u2014 who snapped into a few tackles in the first half.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>And interestingly, when Maguire went off injured, it was De Ligt who came on. As you might expect, with one right-sided centre-back replacing another. <\/span><span>But the lesser-spotted Victor Lindelof was also preferred to replace Noussair Mazraoui at right-back, instead of Dalot switching sides and Martinez being introduced at left-back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>That was interesting given how Ten Hag put many of last season\u2019s difficulties down to Martinez\u2019s long spells out. Normally integral to how United want to play, this was a rare example of Ten Hag overlooking arguably his most trusted lieutenant in a time of need, and perhaps the clearest sign yet that the United manager knows he has to think differently to save his job.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Mark Critchley<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><b>Rash Rashford<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span>United\u2019s players and staff appeared frustrated with referee Rob Jones\u2019 officiating towards the end of a first half which saw them pick up three yellow cards while, in their view, Villa got away with similar infractions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But things even themselves out throughout a season as they say \u2014 and sometimes over the course of a single game \u2014 and Rashford could count himself a little fortunate in the second half not to be sent off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5822243\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06110619\/marcus_rashford_aston_villa_0_-_0_man_utd_convex_touchmap-1.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span>In the 59th minute, he chased down Matty Cash near the touchline before making a foul to stop a counter-attack. It was a soft booking but then, three minutes later, he cynically tripped up Leon Bailey on the edge of United\u2019s penalty box.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Villa players and fans were outraged he didn\u2019t receive a second booking. It took the intervention of Bruno Fernandes talking to the referee, and Ten Hag taking Rashford away from the fourth official, to keep him on the pitch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Not that he would stay on for long. Ten Hag felt he had little option but to replace Rashford shortly after. In the context of Fernandes\u2019 back-to-back red cards over the past week, it was not the smartest bit of play and meant United were without a player who had been their most dangerous counter-attacking outlet for the last half hour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Mark Critchley<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><b>What does this result mean?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span>United\u2019s 3-3 draw with Porto saw them dubbed as \u201cgreat entertainment for the neutral\u201d. Sunday\u2019s mildly improved performance probably bored anyone who tuned in to observe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ten Hag\u2019s side have failed to score in three of their last four Premier League matches before facing Villa. Outside of a Marcus Rashford effort that was saved in the first half, and a Bruno Fernandes free kick that crashed off the woodwork in the second, they rarely threatened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5822244\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06110632\/Man-Utd_attacking_touches_Aston-Villa-2.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span>One of the issues for the team\u2019s \u201csuck \u2019em in and hit it long behind\u201d approach came in their assortment of forwards. Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund all struggled to make the ball stick in the final third \u2014 and with no hook to hold the attack on, things grew shapeless. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The introduction of Joshua Zirkzee and Antony in the 64th minute changed very little. United did, however, reduce the number of grievous mistakes that have played into recent defeats but they struggled to show enough endeavour\/skill\/conviction (delete to your tastes) to win the game convincingly. They have only mustered five league goals this season. It\u2019s nowhere near good enough for a side of their ambition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A point halts some of the bleeding, but they remain in the bottom half of the league table, with one of their lowest points totals ever after seven matches. Senior club executives from INEOS were present for the match, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/5813363\/2024\/10\/03\/erik-ten-hag-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united\/\">on Tuesday a meeting will be held between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Joel Glazer<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5822242\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/10\/06110546\/Aston-Villa_attacking_touches_Man-Utd.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span>If United are to be a success in 2024-25, all relevant parties will have to find better solutions for a myriad of long-standing issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Carl Anka<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>What did Ten Hag say?<\/h2>\n<p>On whether he spoke to the club hierarchy, the Dutchman told Sky Sports. \u201cWe always speak. We every week, speak. We are all on board together, on one page. We know where we are working to. It is a long-term project and we have to keep improving the process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the game, he added: \u201cI think it\u2019s the fourth clean sheet this season. You see we had a very good organisation and togetherness. There was good character and good spirit as a team. Determined, resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>What next for Aston Villa?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Saturday, October 19<\/strong>: <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"694\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/team\/fulham\/\">Fulham<\/a> (A), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET<\/p>\n<h2>What next for Manchester United?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Saturday, October 19<\/strong>: <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"689\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/team\/brentford\/\">Brentford<\/a> (H), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Recommended reading<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>(Top photo: Mike Egerton\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/5819060\/2024\/10\/06\/aston-villa-0-manchester-united-0-result-tan-hag-rashford\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United drew 0-0 with Aston Villa leaving manager Erik ten Hag heading into the international break on the back of an improved display from his reorganised team. The Dutchman, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=111249\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=111249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111249\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=111249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=111249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=111249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}