OPINION Despite his slow start to the season, Casemiro, 31, still has a lot to offer Manchester United. Fans and commentators should refrain from criticizing him.

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Given the way Casemiro has been criticized this week, one could anticipate that he will face Nottingham Forest today using a zimmer frame.

Since his team’s loss to Tottenham last Saturday, the Manchester United midfielder has essentially been written off as old and finished by a number of critics, including Jamie Carragher of Sky Sports. Without a question, the Brazilian’s season has gotten off to a shaky start with two underwhelming matches against Spurs and Wolves.

However, when did 31 overnight become too old to be a footballer? Sports science has advanced to the point where athletes can compete at a high level well into their 30s. And when did passing judgment after just two performances become the norm?

Five-time Champions League champion Casemiro was the center of one of Real Madrid’s greatest midfields of all time, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric on either side of him. Of course, as he ages, his powers will decline, but all of this week’s obituaries for him seem a little too soon.

He will still be a top defensive midfielder even if his performance level declines from that of his prime.

A few months ago, this guy was rightfully praised for helping United win a title and return to the Champions League. He’s a problem for United now, right?

Real Madrid’s Casemiro has won the Champions League five times. (Photo by Getty Images)That sounds a little silly. Of sure, Erik ten Hag should be worried if we are still talking about him performing poorly in 10 to 15 games.However, this athlete demonstrated last season with his on-field actions and demeanor just how much of a leader he is. He was brought to Old Trafford for a pricey £60 million (increasing to £70 million), but by leading United to the top four last season, he has helped at least partially recoup some of that money.The Brazilian has been the midfielder this United team has been begging for, but he is now playing with a new teammate in Mason Mount in the middle of the park.

Erik ten Hag’s side have struggled at the start of the new season (Image: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

That’s going to take time to gel and you would wonder if Ten Hag was planning to play Kobbie Mainoo alongside him this season given how much the 18-year-old played in pre-season until he got injured.

Casemiro has to show his class but he shouldn’t be needing his pipe and slippers any time soon.

Richard Arnold’s PR diaster

The week ended with a PR disaster for Richard Arnold (Image: AFP via Getty Images).)Over the past week, Richard Arnold provided a crash lesson in terrible PR. After the Mason Greenwood case debacle, the CEO of Manchester United is now, understandably, in danger of losing his job.To his credit, the CPS had withdrawn its case against the soon-to-be-departing United striker, so it wasn’t an easy chore to manage. However, the club’s ‘holding’ statement in response to the Athletic’s reporting was a complete jumble.Why their ‘internal inquiry’ took so long is a question that needs to be raised. Yes, it was a delicate and important situation that needed to be addressed carefully. However, in February, accusations against Greenwood were withdrawn.It should have been quick and straightforward, but instead it dragged on for months. From a sporting standpoint, Erik Ten Hag should be asking questions as well because he is down a player after being kept in limbo on the situation.

Pep Guardiola on spending

Pep Guardiola has joked he’d be “killed” if he spent as much as Chelsea (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City would be ‘killed’ if they splashed the cash like Chelsea have in the last 12 months. Poor Pep has hardly been going with the begging bowl looking for players though has he?

City have signed defender Josko Gvardiol for £77m, they are set to spend £55m on winger Jeremy Doku and now Wolves have rejected a £47m bid for midfielder Matheus Nunes.

This is after a move in the region of £70m for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta was abandoned because of his bother with the betting rules. City’s defence will be the players they have shipped out some talent for huge fees, too.

Jeremy Doku was most recently hired by Manchester City (Image: Getty Images).However, it’s still a bit rich for a manager to object to another club’s spending when he or she has access to seemingly endless riches from Abu Dhabi. Additionally, he criticized Saudi Arabia’s spending.If you live in a glass house, don’t truly cast any stones.ONSIDE: Fans are once again supporting their clubs. The Manchester United fans who protested Mason Greenwood’s homecoming are deserving of applause.OFFSIDE: If only there were a procedure in place to do this during the game, eh? The PGMOL correctly overturned Alexis Mac Allister’s red card last week.