Even though Cristiano Ronaldo is doing his best to cast a cloud over the campaign, Manchester United is still making headway despite the challenges they've faced so far this season.
A victory over Liverpool sparked an undefeated run that was brought to an abrupt and brutal end by Manchester City. The season began with disastrous losses to Brighton and Brentford, but the run was sparked by the victory over Liverpool. However, with the exception of a few hiccups here and there, United has, for the most part, been moving in the right direction.
The team as a whole has seen significant improvement as a result of Erik ten Hag's signings, particularly in most areas of the field. This summer, Manchester United made six new player acquisitions, and here's how those new players are faring at Old Trafford so far.
Tyrell Malacia
The unanticipated addition of a left back in the form of Tyrell Malacia was the first signing to come through the door after a slow month of June. Given that United already possessed two left-backs in the form of Luke Shaw and Alex Telles, a right-back signing was anticipated in light of Ten Hag's early assessment that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was not good enough.
However, in order to bolster the full-back options, Malacia was brought in from Feyenoord after Telles announced his intention to leave on loan. The Dutchman was brought into the starting lineup after United's defeat to Brentford and played a role in the team's turnaround. However, he was then torn to shreds by rival Manchester United in the Manchester derby. In the aftermath, Shaw was able to reclaim his position and has since returned to his previous level of play, which has resulted in Malacia receiving very little playing time. During the game against Fulham, he was forced to play right back and struggled mightily.
Christian Eriksen
After leaving Brentford in the summer and being available for free transfer, Christian Eriksen was a crucial addition for Ten Hag as he worked to gradually implement the style of football that he wants his team to play. It should come as no surprise that the Dane has started nearly all of their games because his intricate passing is something they have been lacking for years and he has started almost all of them.
Eriksen scored his first goal in the match against Fulham, but he has really excelled in setting up other players for goals, as he already has six assists to his name. To this point in the season, the 30-year-old player has been one of the most impressive performers.
Lisandro Martinez
Because of his unyielding defense, tenacious tackling, and play-with-all-your-heart mentality, Lisandro Martinez is quickly becoming a fan favorite, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering how well he plays the game. There has been a lot of attention paid to the fact that the Argentine center back is relatively short for his position, but this has had very little impact on his ability to bully forwards and win the ball in the air.
Martinez can remain proud of how he has performed so far this season and has certainly been one of the best center-backs in the Premier League. It is unfortunate that Raphael Varane has once again succumbed to injury as the pair were developing a really good partnership. However, Martinez can remain proud of how he has performed so far this season.
Casemiro
Casemiro is the new hammer in Manchester United's revamped midfield, with Eriksen serving as the chisel. After playing for Real Madrid for the previous ten years, it was only natural that it would take him some time to adjust to the style of football played in England, but these days the Brazilian is looking perfectly at ease in the middle of the field.
His crucial defensive work, positioning, and reading of the game are as sharp as they have always been, but his quality going forward has been a pleasant surprise. Casemiro is able to make penetrating forward passes, as evidenced by the fact that he provided Ronaldo with an assist against Everton, and he poses a significant threat in the air during set pieces.
Antony
Although Antony is off to a strong start, his performance will undoubtedly improve in the future. Unfortunately, he was forced to sit out the final four matches before the break due to an injury, but in the games leading up to the break, he displayed just how exciting of an attacker he can be. The Brazilian, who has three excellent finishes in his first three league games, looks likely to be a good source of goals for United, and he is a player that fans are already getting used to standing up for when he gets the ball. This indicates that the Brazilian will likely be a good source of goals for United.
Martin Dubravka
Martin Dubravka, a backup goalkeeper who normally plays for Newcastle United, was brought in on loan for the season. The victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup was his first and only game to date.
