Lacking depth, little threat – Man Utd will not find replacing Casemiro easy

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick confirmed after the goalless Premier League draw at Sunderland that Casemiro will be ‘fine’ for next week’s home meeting with Nottingham Forest.

A positive for United fans as they get a chance to bid a proper farewell to the Brazilian midfielder, whose influence during his four years at Old Trafford has been immense.

To underline, they have not won any of the four league games this season when the 34-year-old has been absent from their starting line-up.

At least they got a point at Sunderland.

After winning the previous three meetings, they were very much second best to Regis le Bris’ side and it was easy to empathise with the Black Cats boss when he expressed disappointment at his team’s failure to pick up all three points.

Faced with Casemiro’s absence, and with the obvious deputy Manuel Ugarte also missing – few at United think the Uruguay midfielder is the permanent answer to filling the void anyway – Carrick had a couple of options.

He could either drop Kobbie Mainoo back into the number six role and use skipper Bruno Fernandes or Mason Mount as an eight, or he could give 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher his first senior start and leave Mainoo in the more advanced position in which he has been so effective since his recall to the starting line-up following Ruben Amorim’s departure.

The reality was there was no choice really.

It had to be Mainoo and Mount, especially as Fernandes is still chasing the assist that would allow him to match Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne on 20 as the best return ever in a single Premier League campaign.

The outcome was a United performance that didn’t produce a single shot on target until Matheus Cunha’s effort was saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs in stoppage time.

The hosts had more possession, more shots and their expected goals (xG) was higher. Le Bris said his side had ‘more control’.

Carrick made five changes at the Stadium of Light, so United’s overall performance cannot be put down to the absence of just one man. There is a general acceptance their squad lacks depth in terms of quality and team selections like this prove it.

But it is well known strengthening in midfield is a priority this summer.

Nottingham Forest’s England international Elliot Anderson is top of their wishlist, but Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Mateus Fernandes at West Ham and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott are all admired – and ones with obvious Premier League experience.

Yet, as Le Bris explained when asked to compare Casemiro with his own club’s 33-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka, players of that experience bring much more than what is obvious on the pitch.

“It is hard to quantify but they are so important,” said the Frenchman.

“On one side they have experience so they can manage the momentum and flow of the game even if it’s really emotional.

“But they are also great players. The level is important because of the way they manage the ball under pressure and the way they defend with their team-mates.

“Casemiro on one side and Granit on the other are not the most physical players in the league, in duels and so on, but they manage team-mates and the flow of the squad, and for that they are so important.”

The insight is valuable because it explains what United might need this summer and why just recruiting a talented younger player might not provide all the answers.

It also outlines why it might take two players, or even three if Ugarte leaves, to offer the versatility in selection United evidently do not have at present.

Carrick bristled when the term ‘on the beach’ was used in relation to a team that is virtually guaranteed to finish third regardless of what happens in their final three matches. After Forest they end a 40-game campaign at European hopefuls Brighton.

“I almost get offended when people are accusing that because of the way the players have prepared for the game and the way they left the changing room,” he said. “If we weren’t in a good headspace and motivated, I think we lose the game today.”

Neither was Carrick too keen to draw wider conclusions from a single game in terms of who is capable of helping United in the challenges they will face – at home and abroad next season – and those who are not.

“Don’t think the whole assessment of the direction of where we need to go will be judged on one or two games,” he added.

However, in two games’ time, United’s shortest season in living memory in terms of matches will come to an end and judgement will come shortly after that.

“I will certainly not over-analyse it in terms of moving forward next season, judging the squad and judging everything on one game,” said Carrick. “It’s not what we do as a club anyway.

“We know the quality of the players, the strengths and things that we need to improve on. One game today doesn’t change our minds on any of that.

“Over time you get a clear picture of what it looks like, some positives, some negatives. I need a bit more laid-in foundations to make decisions, than just one or two games.”