Paul Merson has urged Erik ten Hag to change system or risk hanging Harry Maguire out to dry against Brentford this afternoon.
The England defender has endured a torrid 18 months during which his formed has dipped alarmingly.
Maguire has been handed something of a vote of confidence by his new manager, however, and retained his place in the starting XI against Brighton last week alongside summer recruit Lisandro Martinez.
The former Leicester defender, however, look out of sort and ill-equipped, like many of his teammates, to carry out Ten Hag’s instructions.
Merson fears Maguire’s lack of pace will continue to be exposed should Ten Hag persist with a four man defence and questioned why United failed to make a move for his England teammate Conor Coady who joined Everton earlier this week.
He told Sky Sports: ‘They should’ve been going for Conor Coady. They need to go to three at the back. Maguire can’t run so you need to play a five at the back.
‘Play him in a three and he’s a very good player, he comes out with the ball he can pass it.
‘When he plays in a four he can’t go and engage because if he gets in a one-on-one he’s going to struggle.
‘Put Coady in there and he’s an out and out sweeper then you don’t have to play McTominay and Fred in the team because you’ve got your insurance.’
United, meanwhile, have embarked on something of a desperate scramble to bolster their squad before the transfer window closes and are being linked with an increasingly random assortment of players.
‘It’s mind-blowing,’ added Merson. ‘It’s horrible. Nobody wants to go to Manchester United.
‘They’re main enemies are Liverpool and they’re much better than them. Then they’ve got the team next door who are their next biggest game and are the best team about.
‘Footballers aren’t silly, everyone pays money now. It’s not like Man Utd are the only big payers.
‘I like Arnautovic but they’re going for players at 7million.’
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