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Manchester United: 4 Reasons Why Louis Van Gaal Still Has A Lot of Work To Do At Old Trafford

2. A SHAKY DEFENCE

McNair Manchester United
McNair Manchester United

Over the years, we have been witness to a solid back four for United with the central defenders taking total charge in and near the box. Players like Steve Bruce, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have not only been defensively brilliant but they’ve also carried the team excellently in times of adversity. This season though, nothing of that sort has happened. Defence has been an afterthought and we could see that during the match against Leicester City where four goals were scored in a span of twenty minutes.

We have had seven people, at various times, playing as a centre back. That isn’t neat, is it? Phil Jones played two matches and did what he could do bets- get injured. Evans followed suit. Tyler Blackett impressed and got himself suspended too. Smalling has just come back and gone. Rojo had a good World Cup but he is certainly not the centre back United so needs right now. Raffael is not a centre back but he is trying to be one and is failing miserably while trying. Same goes to Shaw. McNair has been the only shining light when it comes to Central defence in Manchester United this season and the fact that a teenager is the best defender this season for a club as big as United speaks volumes of the defence, doesn’t it?

Ten goals have been scored against United. A once formidable defence has now crumbled under pressure time and again. Set pieces used to be a piece of cake for Ferdiand and Vidić. Not anymore. The fact that United are set to play against City, Chelsea and Arsenal, all of whom have tall, imposing headers of the ball just makes it more tough.