Man Utd's best players this season were close to West Ham move

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 4 Dec 2023 13:08 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United are enduring something of a crisis. It’s been a bit of the same old story for the club.

Players throwing their arms around in frustration on the field, Bruno Fernandes taking to the media after offering his and the squad members resolute position that such performances are unacceptable. Meanwhile, that same old question has arisen over whether Man Utd ought to sack their head coach, this time Erik ten Hag, a man who appears more weathered with each passing match. But despite the dross, there have been some faint showings of spirit from a select few, among them Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.

No, we’re not talking about a spellbinding season here - none will be nominated for any Ballon D’or anytime soon - but the old guards have shown some semblance of competency during this torrid period for Man Utd. Maguire, a candidate for Player of the Month, was Man Utd’s best performer at St James’ Park on Saturday, even if he did sign off the display with a move that saw Antony’s late-leveller chalked off.

The England internationla, who earned the highest xG that game, managed to fend off Newcastle’s unrelenting attack for almost an hour before they broke through. He’s been doing the basics and doing them well, highlighted by his most recent display. Equally, McTominay has earned some respect this campaign. Though his performances in general have been modest to bordering poor, he has scored some crucial goals for the Red Devils this season, most notably against Brentford, where he poached two in injury time to secure a late win for Man Utd.

Harry Maguire stripped of captaincy

Indeed, both players are hardly pulling up trees but their efforts must leave a bittersweet taste in Ten Hag’s mouth given his resolute belief as far back as the summer of 2022 that they were not good enough and needed to be sold. The club were very close to selling Maguire and McTominay to West Ham over the summer window. David Moyes wanted both to solidify the Hammers in the Premier League and believed they would offer invaluable experience. He’s been proved right - this season it’s been mostly Ten Hag signings that have led to the club’s poor run of form. The attitude has been talked about enough but there is something poetic about the man who Ten Hag stripped off the captaincy last year being the one who’s offered the most mettle in general.

This isn’t to suggest that the future bodes with Maguire and McTominay. But it does suggest that both do not have a lack of love for the club they currently play for. Could the same be said for some of the team members? It’s doubtful. Several in the side have treated Man Utd like a mini Saudi Pro League club in its own right, heading to Old Trafford in their veteran years where they know they will be handed a huge wage and plently of minutes in lieu of laughable displays. The takeover could not come soon enough.