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Manchester United's unremarkable start to the season is now threatening to turn into a full blown crisis.
After a strong first half an hour, wherein United's high pressing unsettled opponents Tottenham Hotspur, United wilted and paid for their missed chances when defensive errors cost them dearly as the lost 3-0 at Old Trafford.
It was the first time since 1992-93 that United lost two out of their first three fixtures. One crumb of comfort is that United won the League Championship that year - however they also signed Eric Cantona to provide the final piece of the puzzle.
United boss, Jose Mourinho, appears to have a much larger jigsaw to resolve with many key pieces missing. It is going to take a lot of work to resolve this puzzle.
Here are five key takeaways we learned from the defeat.
#5 The Martial/Bailly power-play backfired
Eyebrows were raised before a ball had even been kicked during last night's game when the team sheet was released with Anthony Martial and Eric Bailly omitted from the squad entirely.
Scapegoats for the shocking defeat versus Brighton, Jose Mourinho displayed his ruthlessness by not giving either man the opportunity to atone.
However, it was an impetuous move that Mourinho was left to rue. When United went behind, a proven goalscorer with the pace to get at Tottenham's shaky backline meant Martial would have been an ideal option off the bench. Likewise, Bailly is one of Mourinho's success stories at United despite the howler against Brighton. He would likely have been a much more secure option at the back as opposed to his defensive partner, Victor Lindelof whose confidence appeared shot; highlighted by a calamitous back pass to David de Gea that led to Tottenham being through on goal.
Perhaps the increasingly fickle Mourinho will involve both in this weekend's encounter with Burnley.
#4 Luke Shaw is now first choice
One of the few bright spots of United's defeat to Tottenham was the performance of left back, Luke Shaw. Shaw, who impressed against Leicester and Brighton, once again proved his worth in the starting XI with a dynamic attacking and assured defensive display.
Shaw stood out for special praise from Mourinho who immediately made a beeline for him at the end of the match, consoling him and congratulating him on his individual performance.
After a turbulent two years under Mourinho's stewardship, Shaw finally appears to have won his manager round.
#3 Big question marks remain over the centre back positions
Jose Mourinho dropped both centre backs for the Tottenham game, replacing Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof for Sir Alex Ferguson signings, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
Neither covered themselves in glory, leaving Mourinho with a major selection head-ache for his next fixture against Burnley. Mourinho will no doubt also be ruing the fact that his board refused to sanction the signings of Harry Maguire or Toby Alderweireld in the problem position.
Alderweireld instead lined up for United's opponents, displaying all the poise, guile and skill severely lacking in United's defensive numbers.
The misery was compounded when Jones hobbled off injured. Even more frustrating for Mourinho, this was after Jones had assured him he was fine, prior to Mourinho making a defensive substitute. When Jones was later forced off, the manager had wasted a substitute with United chasing the game.
With the transfer window slammed shut, Mourinho needs to find a solution to his defensive conumdrum and fast.
#2 The 4-4-3 system doesn't work, and neither does 3-4-3
Jose Mourinho switched to a three man defence to allow his team to show more attacking intent; responding to the media criticism that his United side is not expansive enough.
For the majority of the first half, the switch worked, with United looking dangerous in the attacking areas and they should really have been at least 2-0 up at the break.
However, for all the improvement United showed going forward, the three man backline brutally exposed their defensive frailties with Ander Herrera, deployed as an emergency right sided centre back, particularly culpable for the chaos in defence.
Unfortunately for Mourinho, his centre backs are not good enough to play a system to unleash his wealth of attacking talent.
Will he revert to 4-3-3 versus Burnley? He may have to.
#1 The players are not playing for Jose Mourinho
What is crystal clear to most observers is that a large amount of Manchester United's players are not giving their all for their manager.
Despite the wealth of international players in his squad, and a World Cup winner in Paul Pogba, none of his team have shown the will to grab and take a game by the scruff of it's neck. There are no Roy Keane's, refusing to be beat, in the 2018 version of United.
Unless Mourinho's big name players turn up for him and his team, then the 2018-19 season could be a very long one for United.
