Manchester United is about to play Brentford, who has the player they want to sign.

Manchester United would be in great shape if they beat Brentford 2-1 at home in October. This time, maybe not with goals in the 93rd and 97th minutes.

These days, United doesn’t have Scott McTominay to use, but their illness list isn’t as long as it was during the international break.

The last time these two teams played, Brentford scored seven goals, while United have only scored seven goals in seven games. Bryan Mbeumo has scored more league goals than United, who have failed to score in four of their last five league games, giving them a goal difference of -3.

Do you hate Casemiro?

United’s first clear sign that Casemiro was losing his form was when they took him off at halftime in a game against Brentford at Old Trafford in October of last year. He had a slow start to the season, and his careless firing a few days earlier made it possible for Galatasaray to win.

After a year, Casemiro is ready to start against Brentford because he has to. United’s three league losses are partly due to not prioritizing the midfield in the summer, and Manuel Ugarte might not be able to play in the next game because he has international responsibilities with Uruguay. That is a comparison with the laissez-faire Edinson Cavani he and United could have done without.

Who is on the left back?

According to Erik ten Hag’s schedule, Tyrell Malacia is officially behind schedule for his return. However, it would not make sense to rush him back when he last played for United with David de Gea, Wout Weghorst, and Fred.

United’s injury reports aren’t always accurate, and the fact that Noussair Mazraoui was in training a week after the club said he would be out for “a few weeks” is a bad sign. He’s good enough to play. Harry Amass, who really impressed during United’s pre-season tour, is a left back, but he hasn’t had many training sessions with the first team this season.

Hojlund or Zirkzee?

Rasmus Hojlund is still not fully fit, and he started the first of Denmark’s Nations League games but not the second. In the middle, he skipped a workout.

There were also times when Joshua Zirkzee played for the Dutch but then didn’t. They both didn’t score for their countries. Zirkzee hasn’t scored since his first game for United, and Hojlund has been better as a replacement striker than as a starter since March. Ten Hag would not want this striker problem.

Will United have to face their worst enemies?

United beat Brentford at the Community Stadium in January 2022, but Thomas Frank said Brentford “destroyed” United in the first half. At the Community Stadium in March 2024, Brentford almost lost to Ten Hag’s United. Frank said that Brentford had “destroyed” United.

Frank used strong words, but he did have a point. At least United got back on track in the second half under Rangnick. After the break on Easter Saturday, they got worse. Lucky for Ten Hag, today’s game is at Old Trafford, a place Brentford has lost all three times they’ve been in the Premier League.

Magic in Mebeumo?

Clubs thought about making a move for Ivan Toney, but Bryan Mbeumo would have been a better choice. United would have made a good choice to sign Brentford’s flexible and useful winger in the summer. He has scored six goals in seven league games this season.

The Cameroon player is only 25 years old, and his deal is coming to an end in two years. He would be a good pick up next summer.