Manchester United

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A Manchester United-related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Simon asked: Given the lack of identity and, more importantly, the inability to score goals, do you think Erik ten Hag will survive the international break or have we seen him manage Manchester United for the last time?

Phil answered: This is the big question. I honestly think if he had lost one of the games at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday or at Aston Villa on Sunday then he would have been in huge trouble.

Two draws may just save him, although that remains to be seen. If he survives, I do feel it is only putting off the inevitable, though - unless there is a swift and dramatic improvement after the international break.

On your point of lack of identity, I totally agree and this is one of the big problems.

We have seen two managers in Arne Slot at Liverpool and Enzo Maresca at Chelsea barely have their feet under the table and yet you can see their identity.

Slot has taken the best of what Jurgen Klopp left him and added a more measured, controlled style, while Maresca’s passing style is self-evident.

What is Ten Hag's preferred style? What is his obvious strategy? I genuinely don't know and this is his third season at Old Trafford.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

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Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel believes Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans remain the team's best centre-back pairing.

"He started Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans and I've said this for a long, long time - they are the best two centre-backs that we've got," former goalkeeper Schmeichel told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Breakfast Club.

"For some reason, Maguire has upset the world. I don't get that.

"The only reason I believe Evans isn't playing every game is that he picks up injuries. There is no issue in terms of his consistency. He was absolutely outstanding."

Erik ten Hag made four changes to United's starting XI for the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa and Schmeichel added that the constant rotation "doesn't make a lot of sense".

"Last season there were so many injuries, so it was difficult for him to play a consistent 11. But now he's got all players fit and he still makes those changes."

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Former England full-back Stephen Warnock says Manchester United defender Jonny Evans used "every ounce of his experience" when marking striker Ollie Watkins in the goalless draw with Aston Villa.

"Before the game, it was a surprise that he was coming in," Warnock said on Match of the Day 2. "He has used every ounce of his experience here. He will have watched Ollie Watkins play in midweek against Bayern Munich and realised that he wants to feel players and get tight to them.

"So Evans just dropped off and he didn't let Watkins feel him. Evans never ever let Watkins get beyond him or alongside him.

"His challenges were always well timed. He was always on the front foot and ready to step into a position. He is then ready for the next passage of play. He wants to force the ball to go wide because he knows that can be defended well.

"His position was high in possession but as soon as the possession got turned over, he had a quick look over his shoulder and he knew exactly where Watkins was, so he could just drop back again.

"He wanted to get beyond his man to make sure that he was in a situation where Watkins couldn't run or dart in behind him.

"An outstanding performance from someone who isn't getting much game time at the moment."

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 on BBC iPlayer

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Manchester United fan Kim Burdett believes the two recent draws against Porto and Aston Villa have made little to no difference to the atmosphere surrounding the club.

"I feel like we're no further on," Burdett told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "I don't feel as though two draws have made any difference either way.

"The draw against Porto was a bit like a defeat but the injury-time equaliser lifted us up again. It's a very confusing time being a United fan."

Sunday's 0-0 draw at Villa marked the third game in a row that United have fired a blank in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag's side have only found the net five times across seven games - three of which came against struggling Southampton.

Burdett added that the lack of goals has now become "very concerning".

"What we did probably need [in the summer] was a more experienced, guaranteed-20-goal-a-season striker to come in, which is probably what we all expected," she said.

"Zirkzee started well and scored in the first league game of the season at Old Trafford, but since then hasn't really impressed and doesn't seem to be what we need up front.

"The lack of goals is very, very concerning. We had this problem last season - and, if anything, it seems to have got worse this season."

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Are Aston Villa showing Manchester United how it is done by having a manager that is actively working to improve his side in all competitions?

Unai Emery's tenure at Villa Park has seen them go from a bottom-half Premier League side to making club history in the Champions League this season, yet United under Erik ten Hag "look to be going backwards rather than forwards".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, former England goalkeeper David James said: "If I was a United fan then I think one of my biggest frustrations would be listening to the same lines from the manager after every game. It is always, 'we should be better, we are getting better, we will be better and it is all about trophies'.

"They should be challenging for the Premier League and not just doing well in cup competitions. It is not good enough."

Ex-Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker added: "Aston Villa are a great marker to show how much Manchester United have fallen. They are competing in the Champions League, had a historic win against Bayern Munich just a few days ago, and were not even going full throttle against United. Yet United struggled to create opportunities and beat them.

"Villa have spent money but a lot of the players have just improved under Unai Emery. When you compare it to what United have spent, it looks like they are going backwards rather than forwards.

"The success at Villa is an example of what happens when you have a manager with a style and structure in place, with football people around him who support him to make the right decisions."

Listen to the full discussion on the Football Daily podcast

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Manchester United

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Ron: Both teams were tired. United defence played above their usual ineptitude. The quality of play was poor throughout, but Barkley was composed and Evans was worth MOTM. Rashford should have been sent off. That's two poor Premier League performances on the bounce. Is being in Europe too much for the squad? So happy to have Emery as manager. He'll sort matters.

John: Being disappointed with a 0-0 draw against United, a bogey team for us, shows what Emery and the players have achieved.

Chrissy: Three points lost. Disjointed performance all round. Missing some sparkle in midfield. Others not stepping up when given the chance. Hurry up Kamara and hopefully Konsa injury not too bad. Emery will sort it out, I’m sure.

Jonny: We gave the ball away way too easily in their final third. Rogers' worst game so far unfortunately, as he can be so good. Big comedown after beating Bayern Munich. Too many injuries already, but it's nice to see Cash back.

United fans

Henry; I’m sorry but a draw is not enough. We need to be turning performances into points. We’re going in the right direction, we just need a consistent winning streak now, which starts against Brentford. Onana and Evans were outstanding. Great defensive display. Forget the fact that we're 14th and carry on.

Margaret: The excuse is always that Ten Hag needs more time, but I am sure his time is about up. That excuse is wearing a bit thin. Very disappointed again.

Kev: A 36 -year-old Evans is our best performer and ETH is still wasting minutes on Rashford and Fernandes, who are just not at it at all. He is rotating to the point players have no chance of creating a partnership, let alone a team. But we didn't lose so what do I know?

Ian: Ten Hag went with his most experienced defence and trusted in them to hold out. Still no goal threat - we do not look like scoring. He has no charisma and his teams play like his personality - very dull and uninspiring.

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Manchester United's goalless draw at Aston Villa on Sunday "was a difficult game for both teams" after playing in Europe in midweek.

"Both teams were over-tactical in their approach but I was a bit more disappointed in Villa," Reo-Coker told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Both were scared to press and both sides sat deep.

"The basic minimum of passing, from two sides of that quality, was not there and I was just hoping for a Jhon Duran moment of quality off the bench. But that never happened.

"Both sides will be disappointed, but Villa will just be happy they didn't lose. It's another point and they are still up there high in the Premier League.

"United can take a lot of confidence from the draw but there are still a lot of unanswered questions around the players and Erik ten Hag."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 3-2 Fulham

• Everton 0-0 Newcastle United

• Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United

• Brighton 3-2 Tottenham

Former Barcelona manager Xavi ​​is seen as the ideal choice to lead a reconstruction project at Manchester United, should Erik ten Hag leave. (El Nacional - in Spanish), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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We don’t know what Sir Jim Ratcliffe thought of Manchester United's draw at Aston Villa.

There was no outward sign of emotion - good or bad - from the United co-owner. He just spun round and headed for the sanctuary of the directors area at Villa Park.

But Ratcliffe will have an opinion. Just as he will over United currently being 14th in the Premier League.

If Ten Hag remains in post, he moves onto matches against Brentford, West Ham, Chelsea and Leicester. Then he will be assessed again.

That is where United are right now, moving from game to game and deciding whether it is good enough.

It feels very unsatisfactory and after the series of results United have had, they are only one defeat from a major crisis.

Draws at Porto and Aston Villa on their own are decent but there is no real confidence United have the players to turn minor improvement into something more meaningful.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to Sky Sports: "I think it's 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.

"We almost didn't concede a chance, when you defend like this and get some luck, in the end they had a big chance but it was almost the only chance I think.

"We created some chances, also not so many chances. We hit the crossbar and also Rashford had chances. But the two teams were really balanced.

"In Porto our build-up was brilliant, so good in the first 25 minutes, we out-played Porto. Also Palace, in possession we were so good, we have had games this season where we are good. But today we didn't create too many chances, but also we played a great team.

"We create loads of chances in our seven games but we have to step up. We have to take into consideration Hojlund is returning, he's still coming up to full fitness. But others are stepping up. I was impressed from Rashford, also Garnacho is so good, and Antony at the end."

Was Rashford one foul away from a red card?: "Yes that was one of the reasons to take him off. If it was another foul probably he would be sent off. We can't take another risk."

On Maguire injury: "He didn't feel well after half-time so I had to take him off.

"We know in this moment we have a lack of goals, in that perspective it's not a good start, we have to step up. That's an area we have to improve. But we have four clean sheets. That's good because we have to defend proper."

Has he spoken to the club's hierarchy?: "We always speak, every week we speak. We are all on board together, on one page, we know what we are working through it's a long-term process.

"We have come through two very tough away games. This is a team, we showed the belief and faith we have."

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Manchester United have failed to score in their last three games in the Premier League - a run of 308 minutes without a goal.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Villa's performance, external

What did you make of United’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are three matches in the Premier League on Sunday and we will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Man Utd - 14:00 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - 14:00

• Brighton v Tottenham - 16:30 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

The worry for Aston Villa is injuries - Amadou Onana limped off against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and Leon Bailey had to be subbed after coming on.

I was at Villa Park for BBC Radio 5 Live and saw Bailey warming up on his own with a fitness coach before the game, so I suspect that was injury-related too, and I am also concerned about Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who was brilliant against Bayern, because it looked like he had a hamstring issue.

If Manchester United get an absolute battering here, forget Erik ten Hag because it will be more like Erik ten minutes.

I am not expecting that to happen, though. United are desperate for a result and I have a feeling they might get something.

I just wonder if after all the emotion of Wednesday night, Villa will feel drained and find it hard to raise themselves again.

The atmosphere will definitely not be the same as it was, at 2pm on a Sunday, and that will help United - as well as any Villa absentees, because they are stretched.

Will and Jonny's prediction: 2-1

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

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The noise around Manchester United is deafening at the moment. With the speculation over Erik ten Hag's future and the patchy form on the pitch, there is little room to go deeper.

But you know your club best and earlier this week, we asked you to tell us one thing that is going under the radar at Old Trafford - and you delivered.

Here are some of your comments:

Steffan: Hardly anyone is talking about the lack of obvious alternatives available should Manchester United opt to sack Ten Hag. If you can think of any, how sure can you really be that they can definitely just step in and handle the pressure and scrutiny that managing this huge club entails?

Ravi: I don't understand why Rasmus Hojlund isn't getting a run in the team. He's a good, up-and-coming striker who has already got a year's experience in the league. There is no point putting him on in the 80th minute if our main issue is converting chances into goals. He needs to be starting.

David: Ten Hag has not yet been able to put a full team out on the field. The new £50m defender Leny Yoro is recovering from a broken foot and has not appeared yet, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have been out for the whole season. Mason Mount has hardly been available - neither has Rasmus Hojlund - and Manuel Ugarte has started once. Ten Hag must be given the chance to play a few games with a full team.

Rajen: No-one is talking about how poor Diogo Dalot's performance has been. The guy does not know how and when to overload the midfield. He was also pathetic versus Tottenham.

Iain: Much was talked in the close season about strengthening the defence, replacing an aging midfield and the lack of a striker. Yet no-one seems to be concerned about the goalkeeping position. Andre Onana seems, to me, to be a vastly overrated loose cannon and is showing little sign of improvement.