Ten Hag during the derby

A significant loss calls for a significant reaction, and there aren't many things that qualify as more significant than being embarrassed in front of your neighbors.

Even if giving up six goals to Manchester City is not nearly as big of a surprise or as significant as it was more than ten years ago, Manchester United can't just sit back and accept a loss of that magnitude without putting up a fight. On Sunday, the only thing that saved Manchester United's face was the return of Antony Martial, who was hungry to get amongst the goals, and a Blues backline that had switched off. The final result, 6-3, was an extraordinarily favorable scoreline for the away team.

Erik ten Hag has had to quickly become used to the sour taste of disgrace as United manager. However, the last time his side went into halftime down 4-0 - just a few weeks ago and in much more surprising fashion at Brentford - it did have its benefits in the aftermath. The humiliation made it abundantly clear that more needed to be brought in during the transfer window, so Antony and Casemiro were brought in. It also made certain things abundantly clear to the manager, including the fact that he is unable to play his ideal style of play with the players that he has available and which players needed to make way.

The Dutchman was responsible for making the necessary adjustments. During the time that Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw were warming up, the team decided to take a pragmatic approach, which almost immediately resulted in a significant improvement. The loss was followed by a spirited victory over Liverpool, which launched a four-game winning streak, which culminated with the team becoming the first team to get three points against Arsenal this season. The victory made the team the first to accomplish this accomplishment.

The upbeat reception produced such an abundance of self-assurance that it gave the impression that United truly had a shot against City before the match even began. Of course, that did not end up being the case, but now Ten Hag has another chance to elicit a response that is as favorable.

Which begs the question: Which players will be in danger of losing their jobs this time around? The most obvious candidate is Scott McTominay, whose recent strong form came to an abrupt halt at the Etihad Stadium due to the fact that it was once again demonstrated that he does not possess the technical attributes necessary to push Manchester United to the next level. The transformation is readily apparent now that Casemiro is present and ready to play. As a result of Martial's comeback, there is now genuine rivalry for positions in the front three, which may result in criticism being directed at Jadon Sancho for yet another ineffective performance. After his awful performance, Tyrell Malacia might also be able to make room.

Bruno Fernandes is one player who has maintained his position in the team continuously since his arrival, despite the fact that the team has gone through three different managers since then. It is about time that he done so, and he ought to be one of the others to be dropped. The Portuguese player may have gotten off to a blazing fast start in Manchester, but it's been over two years since he's been at his best, and he hasn't been significantly better than the other players who have lost their starting positions during that time.

To be fair, he has been getting back into that form again this season and was especially impressive when playing against the Gunners. The fact that he can alter the course of the game in pivotal moments and produce magic out of thin air is another reason why it's been a good idea to have him in the side. However, these instances are happening less frequently, and the possibility of something good cannot make up for the consistent lack of excellence.

In the match against City, Fernandes played like the moaning version of himself. Getting a ridiculous booking for arguing with the referee when the game was already over, pointing the blame, and not taking much responsibility for your actions. It's the kind of performance that definitely calls for a point deduction.

If Ten Hag were to carry out such a plan, he would be deviating from the norm. Since Fernandes signed the contract in January 2020, he has been available for play in all 94 Premier League games but has been placed on the bench only three times. He was substituted in each of those games, and the only time he has not played in a game is when he was unable to do so because of an injury or a suspension. His level of performance during at least half of that time has not been sufficient to warrant such an ironclad guarantee of a place in the starting XI, so this guarantee should not be taken seriously. He has been invincible up until this point.

It is time for him to finally deal with the consequences of his poor performances and investigate whether or not another approach is more successful. Because Fernandes has a tendency to look for the Hollywood pass or shoot from a distance, United frequently gives up possession of the ball for an inexpensive price. They might be able to do a better job of building patterns of attacking play if they bring in a player who is more cautious when handling the ball.

It would also send a message that is even more powerful than the one that Ten Hag is sending right now by excluding Ronaldo. Nobody can be trusted. There is no one who is guaranteed a place. If your performance is not satisfactory, you will not be selected to continue playing for the side. Luke Shaw had one of his best seasons as a result of the additional competition provided by Alex Telles, while David de Gea roared back to form after Dean Henderson's return from Sheffield United.

The fact that Fernandes has never needed to worry about losing his spot on the team has caused a decline in his overall performance. It's high time that was altered.