Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has questioned the club’s midfield recruitment.
United prioritised midfield in the summer window, signing Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.
The team’s early season struggles have already led to questions over how effective the recruitment really was. Former centre-back Phil Jones admits he is unsure about the acquisition of Youri Tielemans.
Speaking to ESPN FC, Jones suggests that Tielemans does not offer the team the same balance that Casemiro did.
Jones explained: “The one thing I would say is sort of the midfield balance when they lost Casemiro.
“I like Tielemans as a player. I think technically he’s been a fantastic player, fantastic servant to Villa, and he’s come in. But has that sort of answered the problem in midfield? I would probably edge towards ‘no, it hasn’t’.
“He’s not going to get you as many goals as as what Casemiro did. I think in terms of mobility, he’s probably similar to Casemiro.”
“You’ve got Kobbie in there as well, who you wouldn’t say is the most mobile, but technically an incredible player. Santos I’ve not really seen much of him yet. So, have they got the balance right? Probably not yet.
Former United star Louis Saha has also recently lamented the loss of Casemiro in midfield. It also feels like United are lacking the Brazilian’s toughness.
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Jones says too early to panic
Phil Jones says that despite Manchester United’s poor start to the Premier League season, it is too early to panic.
“I don’t think it’s a time to panic just yet, we are only four points into the season, but the goals they are conceding and the manner of the goals are the alarming factor.”
United have only managed four points from four games. It was the same start last season, and the team managed to finish in third position.
A subsequent Carabao Cup exit has also piled on the misery at Old Trafford.
This weekend United travel to Fulham, who have had an even worse start, with only one point so far.