4 things we learned: United pay for mistakes, Koeman is finally out and more

Manchester United suffered a shock defeat to Huddersfield, and Ronald Koeman is out. Here’s what we learned from the Premier League weekend.

Matchweek 9 was one of the more action-packed Premier League weekends of the season so far. Manchester United went down to lowly Huddersfield. Manchester City put some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack, Tottenham disposed of Liverpool and Arsenal humiliated Everton at Goodison Park, putting the final nail in Ronald Koeman’s coffin.  Here are four things we learned this weekend.

United pay the price for conservative tactics

As cautioned last week, there will be a time when the Manchester United faithful will come to rue their pragmatic, mid-table approach to all their games. Whether the opponent happens to be Liverpool, Benfica or Huddersfield, Jose Mourinho sets out his team to … wait. And to wait some more until the other team takes the bait and commits itself forward just enough to leave a crack in defense.

This has been Mourinho’s formula for years. And it’s been a very successful formula since most of his teams have had elite quality and discipline to set the trap for the opponents without comitting the first error. The problem is this approach is hardly fail-safe, as we saw on Saturday in Huddersfield.

All it takes is one slip-up, one mental error from a backup center-back. Once Phil Jones had to be substituted out due to injury the weakest link broke and United gave away the opening goal after an error from substitute Victor Lindelof. The tables turned in an instant and United were now in the uncomfortable position of having to chase the game and take the initiative.

Gifted as they may be as individual players, this isn’t what Mourinho’s teams do. It’s akin to asking Pep Guardiola to play route one. It can be done if it must, but chances are it won’t be a successful strategy, as it’s not part of the team’s DNA. United are now five points back and facing serious injury worries to all their center-backs.

Relying on your defensive fortitude makes sense until it doesn’t, or until the makeup of that backline changes due to injuries, poor form, etc. — things that are bound to happen during the course of a long season. The lack of a plan B in such circumstances in terms of tactical adjustment is the bigger issue and the factor that may end up costing United a fair run at the title.