Ruben Amorim won Manchester United fans back on board with his tactical flexibility against Bournemouth, but his AFCON absence has created new problems, writes Dan Khan…
When I walk around Manchester I always run into United fans and always end up talking to them about how they feel about the club.
After some drab and lackluster performances against Everton and West Ham, the gentleman in my barber’s shop last week, a season ticket holder at the Stretford End, told me he just wanted to see United put in a ‘hard work’ performance. That’s it.
Overall, most fans left Old Trafford satisfied with the performance they had witnessed, despite the draw with Bournemouth improving their run of form to seven wins and two losses.
Metrics such as xG and shots on goal explain why United were hat-full in the first half, but it wasn’t the only thing that made supporters happy.
Right-back Lenny Yolo returned to the wing and was reinvigorated, showing aggression and high pressing.
Aiden Haven and Luke Shaw, a centre-back duo I never thought I’d write about, also reflected that aggression, with Mason Mount looking even more like the player United signed from Chelsea in July 2023.
This is the difference and was the intention of the Amorim team. This was the reaction from the home fans and what Amorim wanted from his players. To show that aggressiveness, they must win duels and put on a show for the fans at Old Trafford. Despite the disappointment of ultimately splitting the points, they duly obliged.
Sunday, December 21st 3:30pm
4:30pm kickoff
It’s impossible to ignore the ease with which some of Bournemouth’s goals were scored, but perhaps context is needed to explain United’s defensive woes in recent weeks.
Amorim said after the match that he doesn’t think there is a need for a big investment in defense and that they have the characteristics of players who can improve as a team and defend better.
It’s easy to forget that United were without Matthijs de Ligt, their best defender this season, as well as two other potential starters in Harry Maguire and Nousser Mazraoui.
Lisandro Martinez made another cameo off the bench, but looked understandably rusty after returning from a knee injury that had kept him sidelined since February.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Gary Neville gives his thoughts on Manchester United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth
As defensive issues become more apparent, it is also important to focus on the area that most urgently needed improvement from last season: scoring.
United were one of the bottom scorers in the division last season and of course spent hundreds of millions of pounds to address that problem by signing Brian Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesco.
However, despite that added firepower, the new front three started just three Premier League games due to untimely injuries to Cunha and Sesco.
All things considered, if you had told me at this point that United would be in sixth place, two points off the top four, and the second highest scoring team in the division, I would have thought it wasn’t all bad for a team still on the rise.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Bruno Fernandes has revealed he is hurt and saddened by the fact that Manchester United were “open” to selling him in the summer.
Amado-shaped hole in AFCON
Although I’m positive about what’s to come, I can’t help but feel frustrated with Amorim.
Not because he needs sympathy after Bournemouth’s performance or result, not because he showed he can be flexible with his tactical system when he’s often criticized, and certainly not because he once again failed to see United lead when they were the better side.
I’m frustrated with Amorim because, just when we’ve finally seen his team put in the best attacking and entertaining home performance of his reign, apart from this season’s game against Brighton, he now looks past two star attacking players, Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, who are heading off to AFCON.
Neither we nor Amorim will see a United team with that kind of pace and attacking threat again for at least a month until both players return.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Free to watch: Premier League highlights of Manchester United vs. Bournemouth
Amorim welcomes Sesco back into the match-day squad and could easily slot into Mbeumo’s position alongside Cunha, but he faces a major dilemma over how to balance the right wing, which looked effective against Bournemouth with Mbeumo and Amad’s pace and combination play.
How will he fill that hole? There are no simple answers.
If Yoro continues to play at right-back, the immediate thinking is that Diogo Dalot might be the most natural move in front of him as a makeshift winger, with Patrick Dorg on the left side of the defence, but United have often looked sluggish in attack this season when both players have started.
Perhaps a potential solution may emerge. If Bruno Fernandes is shifted up the field, Koby Mainu could get more game time, and maybe he could find himself on the right side of the narrow midfield diamond.
Mainu has yet to start a league game this season, but he did make a 30-minute cameo against Bournemouth and could replace the suspended Casemiro against Aston Villa.
The Brazilian’s absence will cause further headaches and will deprive Amorim of midfield personnel against Villa, who are in good form. Fans will also be paying attention to Amorim’s use of academy products.
The likes of Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher are likely to end up on the bench in the coming weeks, but does Amorim feel secure enough to rely on them? So far, the answer is no.
