For all the buzzwords around United, this is a team of moments

UNITED'S style of play was one of the main talking points leading up to their weekend trip to Fulham - and it was no clearer after it what they were actually trying to do.

- RICHARD FAY

Erik ten Hag insisted the style of play was predominately the same as last season; they wanted to press and then go direct, with an increased emphasis on quick transitions from front to back

The United manager also referenced the injury crisis as a contributing factor to why it hasn't always been clear to see, with momentum halted every time a player has been unavailable for selection.

Once again, United were without key players for their trip to Craven Cottage, but once again, it does not hold up well enough as an excuse for a manager who has spent £400 million on new players and dropped three summer signings for the match.

Sofyan Amrabat was loaned in, but Scott McTominay was the defensive midfielder. Sergio Reguilon was also signed on loan, but Diogo Dalot started on the left again.

Mason Mount was the main midfield target and purchased for a sum of £60 million, but he was once again on the bench, a square peg in a round hole already occupied by Bruno Fernandes.

The desire to play out from the back and try to control the game is also contradicted by the decision to select Jonny Evans over Raphael Varane again.