I've been very supportive of Rangnick on here from the start. Actually wanted him desperately as an interim once Ole went off the rails, with the hope he'd become a bonafide DoF at the end of the season. So I may have been quite biased. In fairness to him, it does seem that the players have not responded to him after the first half hour against Palace, and he's not been supported by the club (with that obvious gaping hole of a DM that was neglected yet again, most lately in January). But he's not helped himself, not least now that we're virtually out of contention for the top 4 and he's fielding a player who has publicly declared the season over for us, who also looks to be off in the summer. And no Mejbri on the bench, while Mata, Jones and Lingard are all there. And Lingard being sick on the day.
He desperately needs to promote a player or two, whether from the youths, or from the fringes, who will take his opportunity with appreciation and play for him, like Elanga. And it is also a benefit for the long-term both in terms of player development, but not least in terms of culture. He's fallen into the same trap it seems as Ole, with picking all the highest profile players despite ill-balance and lack of application. To go with his 4222 when it has already been shown that these players are not playing for him, and do not - as a collective - have the physical intensity to perform his style of play was ill-advised.
I'm not suggesting "play the youths", I am suggesting promoting our most promising prospect who is playing below his own level at U23 level, and promote one or two others for the match day squad, taking a bench seat off a player who has no future at the club.
Another thing Rangnick clearly does not possess is motivational ability. When you've been dumped out of the CL with no trophy left to play for and your highest profile player declares the season over in the press, you have to rally the players together and lay down the gauntlet. You don't have to be SAF to challenge your players and set mini ambitions within the rest of season.
As bad as Rashford has been - and he's been absolutely diabolical (also when he came on against Leicester, couldn't even be asked to mark his man for defending corners) he has to either play him ahead of two false nines who do not play as false nines, but as attacking midfielders crowding each others' space, or play Elanga through the middle. Moot point going forward perhaps, as Ronaldo will play all the games in likelihood, but he has to acknowledge that he's got a team that is not collectively capable of carrying out his instructions, some players who have checked out, so he needs to infuse the squad with new blood to raise the spirit and put his point across.
He desperately needs to promote a player or two, whether from the youths, or from the fringes, who will take his opportunity with appreciation and play for him, like Elanga. And it is also a benefit for the long-term both in terms of player development, but not least in terms of culture. He's fallen into the same trap it seems as Ole, with picking all the highest profile players despite ill-balance and lack of application. To go with his 4222 when it has already been shown that these players are not playing for him, and do not - as a collective - have the physical intensity to perform his style of play was ill-advised.
I'm not suggesting "play the youths", I am suggesting promoting our most promising prospect who is playing below his own level at U23 level, and promote one or two others for the match day squad, taking a bench seat off a player who has no future at the club.
Another thing Rangnick clearly does not possess is motivational ability. When you've been dumped out of the CL with no trophy left to play for and your highest profile player declares the season over in the press, you have to rally the players together and lay down the gauntlet. You don't have to be SAF to challenge your players and set mini ambitions within the rest of season.
As bad as Rashford has been - and he's been absolutely diabolical (also when he came on against Leicester, couldn't even be asked to mark his man for defending corners) he has to either play him ahead of two false nines who do not play as false nines, but as attacking midfielders crowding each others' space, or play Elanga through the middle. Moot point going forward perhaps, as Ronaldo will play all the games in likelihood, but he has to acknowledge that he's got a team that is not collectively capable of carrying out his instructions, some players who have checked out, so he needs to infuse the squad with new blood to raise the spirit and put his point across.
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