What should Man United fans make of the side's 10-match unbeaten run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?
The club's yoyo-season has been punctuated by big wins against the league's 'heavy hitters' - and poor performances against sides further down the table.
Manchester United's Anthony Martial celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.While the Red Devils surrendered the ball to their guests yesterday - as Pep's side enjoyed 72% of the possession - this was not a classic smash and grab counter-attack win.
What is this Man United team's 'style'?
“When you start describing style - it’s quite a nebulous term. As in there’s not a list of styles that have names, it’s not like art, where there’s ‘baroque’ and ‘brutalist’ - and ‘this that and the other.’ What you are looking for is repeating patterns of play," football writer Daniel Harris told OTB AM.
He added that, rather than depending on counter-punching, the team is moving towards a new style of play, focusing on moving the ball through the middle - with Bruno Fernandes dictating play and feeding the team's attacking threats.
A vendor sells a Bruno Fernandes scarf during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.The acquisition of the creative midfielder and the return of McTominey have also allowed Fred to play a more-attacking role.
Harris noted that, although they had less of the ball, Man United's first goal came from a period of sustained pressure, not a counter-attack - and that this is a trend in their play.
The number of scores 'on the break' has dropped as they've embarked on their unbeaten run.
Stopping Bruno
What happens when teams develop strategies to mark Fernandes out of matches?
Harris predicts that once opposition teams begin to recognise his patterns and how to limit his impact, stopping him will immediately cool Man United's attacking prospects.
He thinks that when the transfer window reopens the club needs to bring a creative partner to work with Fernandes - comparing their options to the interchangeable talents Man City have to play in advanced positions in a three-man midfield with Fernandinho at the base.
Pep has the luxury of switching the focus of his attack - rather than being dependent on one man to instigate play, like Solskjaer needs Fernandes.
With Pogba expected to leave in the summer, Jack Grealish and James Maddison have both been heavily linked with moves to Old Trafford to beef-up their midfield.
Missing links
Coming up to the one year mark in Ole's time as Man United's permanent manager, Harris believes that fans should be encouraged by the changes. He argues that as he has bought in new talents, the club's prospects have improved to the point that they could be the third-best team in the league when the 2020/21 season starts.
Harris thinks that failing a collapse in form during the final run-in, the Norweigan should be afforded the chance to continue his rebuilding project next season.
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