FOR all the optimistic talk about “looking better” against Arsenal, Manchester United reverted back to factory settings in their 1-1 draw with Fulham.
And the phrase “relegation dogfight” could no longer be a farfetched joke among rival fans.
AlamyRuben Amorim must make four big changes after United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham[/caption]
ReutersAmad Diallo was the only change to the starting XI at Craven Cottage[/caption]
The winless start to the season and the statistical comparisons to managers who have suffered the drop are stark reminders of United’s current plight, with club legend Wayne Rooney demanding fast results.
Boss Ruben Amorim has won just 28 points from 29 Premier League games so he needs to start getting results in the form of points on the board.
His Prem win percentage of 24.7 per cent is the same as the one held by Neil Warnock across his 112 games in the English top flight while regularly in charge of relegation-threatened sides.
And with fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea next month, with a match against Brentford in there too, there is little prospect of a winning streak to come.
After the worst season in three decades, Amorim was hoping to have United flying out the blocks after having a full pre-season with his squad for the first time.
While it’s easy to point fingers at a squad in transition and a minority ownership group still finding its feet, the spotlight has to fall on the man in the dugout.
If United are to avoid the unthinkable, here are four things Amorim must urgently sort out.
Be flexible
Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system was a masterclass at Sporting Lisbon, but it’s not working at Old Trafford.
The formation relies on specific player profiles that simply aren’t at his disposal – so he needs to adapt his approach.
Instead of trying to force a system on a squad that doesn’t fit, Amorim needs to show tactical flexibility – a basic requirement of a manager.
It’s time for him to stop fitting square pegs into round holes and start using the best he can get out of his players.
The system is asking for creative playmaker Bruno Fernandes to drop deep and become a defensive midfielder to make way for new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the two No.10 roles.
And Fernandes moulding into a No.6 is keeping England’s Euro 2024 star Kobbie Mainoo out of the team.
The system is also negatively affecting winger Amad Diallo, who wants to attack the flanks, but is being forced into passing backwards in his unnatural wing-back position.
A return to a back-four, a more traditional and familiar setup for most of the squad, could provide the defensive stability the team so desperately lacks.
Shutterstock EditorialMidfielder Kobbie Mainoo has to be brought back into the fold[/caption]
Play a striker
United need goals and Amorim refuses to play a striker.
Over £200 million has been spent this summer on a new forward line, yet United are yet to score a team goal this season.
At Craven Cottage Leny Yoro put pressure on Fulham‘s Rodrigo Muniz who turned the ball into his own net to give the visitors the lead.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wasted no time in fitting Viktor Gyokeres into his squad – and has two goals to show for it – but United’s latest £74million signing Benjamin Sesko hasn’t started a game.
Instead, it appears Amorim is opting to bench the Slovenian No. 9 to accommodate Mason Mount, while Rasmus Hojlund has been excluded from both games this season as Napoli close in on a loan move for the forward.
GettyBenjamin Sesko is yet to make a full debut[/caption]
Former Wolves man Cunha, who is best as a left sided forward or No.10, has started the first two games of the season up top, with Mount as one of the two No.10s.
The former Chelsea star had some good touches against Fulham, and the week before against Arsenal, but he doesn’t score goals and United are devoid of them.
Amorim then moved Mount to one of the two holding midfielders for his final 10 minutes after bringing on Sesko in the 50th minute against Marco Silva’s side.
Sesko, 22, should start in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby on Wednesday and against Burnley next weekend – despite Gary Neville saying he’s “not up to pace yet”.
Get a goalkeeper
Amorim needs to sign a new goalkeeper before the close of the summer window next Monday.
For a club that built its modern dynasty on the bedrock of Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, the current situation between the sticks is nothing short of a crisis.
The fact that Amorim has opted to start No.2 stopper Altay Bayindir, even after his mistake against Arsenal, speaks volumes about the lack of trust in Andre Onana, who was back on the bench against Fulham on Sunday.
A team trying to claw its way back to the top, or even into the top eight in the table, cannot compete without a commanding and reliable presence in goal.
GettyUnited look weak and unsettled on corners with Altay Bayindir in goal[/caption]
Amorim couldn’t even watch United defend corners against Fulham – looking at the ground during the routines – and Bayindir ended up flapping to the floor during almost every single one.
The defence, already struggling, looks even more nervous knowing that a moment’s hesitation from their goalkeeper could lead to a goal.
The Red Devils are on the cusps of signing Senne Lammens from Antwerp, but can the 23-year-old make the jump from performing in front of 12,000 fans in Belgium, to 70,000 at Old Trafford?
Man Utd’s transfer deals
IN
Bryan Mbeumo – from Brentford – £71m
Matheus Cunha – from Wolves – £62.5m
Diego Leon – from Cerro Porteno – £7m
Benjamin Sesko – from RB Leipzig – £74m
TOTAL – £214.5m
OUT
Victor Lindelof – released
Christian Eriksen – released
TOTAL – £0m
Midfield lacks control
United’s midfield was a mess in the second half against Fulham.
After going 1-0 up, Amorim’s side failed to create chances and lost control of the game, with Fulham’s Calvin Bassey pointing to his side’s dominance in that area of the pitch after the match.
Amorim started with 33-year-old Casemiro and skipper Fernandes as his central pairing, with the latter missing a first-half penalty as Mainoo remained an unused sub.
After ballooning his penalty over the bar, Fernandes failed to track Fulham goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe, yet stayed on for all 90 minutes.
Amorim’s subs lacked conviction, inviting pressure by bringing on Manuel Ugarte, a defensive approach that was unable to prevent the team conceding an equaliser.
Mainoo should get an opportunity in midweek, he is the player fans are calling out for. Even so, the team’s best midfield two remains unclear.
But this will be a problem that could last all season.
