🔗 Share this article

Recognizing necessary alterations

The manager's favored 3-4-2-1 formation doesn't represent the fundamental issue of Manchester United's difficulties. The Manchester giants are bouncing back from prolonged organizational issues and the existing team continues its rebuilding process, showing promise in certain positions while obvious flaws continue elsewhere.

Nevertheless, structural vulnerabilities exist within the current tactical approach, most notably numerical disadvantages in the middle and flank vulnerabilities that need addressing. Other coaches have effectively handled comparable situations – the Italian manager at Stamford Bridge and the Crystal Palace manager with the Eagles prove that positional flexibility proves more important than pre-match setups.

The manager recently commented: "Our formation isn't the issue, the results are," comparable to addressing consequences rather than causes. Competitors have consistently exploited identical vulnerabilities in the Red Devils' system for almost twelve months, not resulting from squad confusion but due to the approach itself has fundamental issues.

Therefore, fans shouldn't expect an instant solution where all pieces connect, just as expensive signings cannot single-handedly fix the fundamental problems. Brentford's recent performance acts as a prime case – even after losing their manager and important squad members during the offseason, they adjusted their formation intentionally to expose the Red Devils' consistent system.

During the Dutch manager's arrived at Old Trafford, it quickly emerged that Ajax's playing style wouldn't translate to the Premier League; his failure to adapt became crucial in his ultimate failure. Now Amorim – who looks to have the complete skill set for the game's most demanding role except tactical flexibility – is repeating identical mistakes and missing a golden opportunity. After many years Old Trafford possesses leadership committed to winning trophies rather than profit generation.

Changing center-back responsibilities

Outside centre-backs play crucial roles in the current setup: they drive into midfield, execute crucial challenges, cover wide areas, switch play, build from the back and support attacks. Any football expert might wonder whether employing a duo of such versatile players in a three-man defense makes sense when a back four could solve central problems.

Currently, these defensive players remain constrained by rival forwards who, by standing nearby, hinder them from joining midfield battles as the tactics demand. This situation enables clubs with midfield overloads to play around United's midfield, creating urgent problems that need addressing.

Available options include ordering stoppers to advance regardless – though this risks space behind them – or pulling Cunha deeper to enhance ball progression, sacrificing attacking threat but benefiting from his progression. The smartest modification involves modifying the defensive approach from the existing high-risk formation to a traditional midfield four that ensures superior organization and avoids the necessity for centre-backs to push forward.

Reintegrating Kobbie Mainoo

United's current tactical plan of chaotic direct football demands that United sacrifice possession and depend on direct passes, banking on exceptional quality rather than structured attacking patterns. Although expected goals data indicate potential, eyewitness accounts demonstrate that recent scoring opportunities come mainly from fouls in the box and speculative attempts rather than consistent attacking.

Elite clubs manage proceedings through tempo manipulation. United's inability to do this cannot be entirely blamed on Amorim's approach; sources suggest he asked for new midfielders during the offseason but encountered resistance from management hierarchy. Setting aside responsibility, the current situation cannot continue.

The regular central duo of the Brazilian and Portuguese, with Manuel Ugarte providing cover, has minimized appearances for Kobbie Mainoo. While legitimate concerns exist about his physical development and progressive passing, benching this potential creates doubts about the system's effectiveness.

The current midfield options personify high-tempo football, whereas Mainoo offers pace management. At Sporting Lisbon, his side could bypass midfield due to talent disparity against Portuguese league defenses, knowing they could regain control if possession turned over. However in the Premier League, the competitive level means sloppy ball circulation gets punished immediately, while athletic superiority by itself won't secure results.

The midfielder's technical ability impresses observers, and while partnering him with the Portuguese captain raises protection issues, these issues become secondary in a possession-dominant team. Considering the team's concession rate showing they surrender more high-quality chances than any league rival, including the youngster seems worth attempting as other solutions have proven unsuccessful. Although questions persist about his exact role in this system, consistent minutes represents the ideal improvement method and would unlikely deteriorate existing circumstances.

Optimizing wide player usage

Down the right flank, the combination of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo ought to complement each other given their complementary qualities of vision, awareness and tenacity. When combined with Leny Yoro, they could form a productive relationship that enhances attacking options. Right now however, predictable positioning makes opponents' jobs simpler for prepared opponents.

The manager needs to introduce organized interchange routines that generate confusion through frequent role switching. Service into wide areas must show diversity – preventing static possession but often into space to optimize forward movement. This tactic allows central penetration, eliminating markers and creating passing lanes for shots or crosses.

In left-wing areas, the full-back frequently receives the ball in dangerous positions even without the required quality to utilize productively. Adjusting his positioning slightly deeper would leverage his tackling and progressive movement to {supply more creative players|service better attackers|provide for