Man Utd are struggling under Ruben Amorim and his 3-4-2-1 formation still isn’t convincing at Old Trafford
For the second time this season, Manchester United got a goal from a wing-back on Thursday night. The manner in which the ball fell to Diogo Dalot was fortunate, but Dalot’s finish was not and neither was his positioning.
This was what Amorim so desperately wanted from the wide players in his team. With the ball on the right, left wing-back Dalot moved into a central area inside the penalty box. When Casemiro’s deflected shot fell to him, he was ten yards out and had time to take a touch and finish.
The problem for United and Amorim is that it isn’t happening enough. The wing-backs in this system are supposed to provide an attacking threat, but they aren’t doing it on a regular basis. Amad was lively at times against West Ham, but generally, the quality isn’t there out wide.
Dalot continues to give his all and can deliver at times, but the transition to wing-back doesn’t come easily and he would probably look a lot more comfortable as a natural full-back with a winger in front of him. Patrick Dorgu is a more attacking wing-back, but he has yet to show he is good enough for this level.
Amorim spoke last week about the anxiety he senses when Dorgu has the ball and the 21-year-old isn’t a sufficient attacking threat down the left. The quality is lacking.
During the answer about the anxiety you can feel when Dorgu has the ball, Amorim also expanded on his wing-backs, admitting they weren’t good enough at the moment but insisting they were showing more in training.
“What I feel when I see them training, they are doing so much better than in games,” he said.
“I think they (wing-backs) are far from the best, and they know it. So, like a lot of players in our team, like myself. So I just, I just look at them, and I think they have so much more to give. So let’s see, let’s see this week if we improve that.”
He was also asked last month if wing-back was an area he wanted to strengthen, but again said time was needed to “improve the characteristics of the team.”
The problem is that Amorim has had a year to turn the wings into a positive area for United and he hasn’t done it. It is also surprising that the £25million deal to sign Dorgu in January is the only attempt to strengthen the position in the transfer market, with the £215m summer spending spree focusing on a striker and two No. 10s.
Things might be about to get worse as well. Amad will head to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this month, as will Noussair Mazraoui, who is only a very occasional fill-in at wing-back these days. Amad’s absence will be felt keenly. He is easily the most attacking wing-back in this squad and the one who looks most likely to provide the incision from out wide.
Unless Amorim decides to move Luke Shaw back out wide, then Dalot and Dorgu will be the only available wing-backs while Amad is away with the Ivory Coast. It’s hard not to think that will reduce United’s wide threat and put more of an onus on goals and creativity on Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
If this system is to ever click into gear and work on a regular basis, then either the wing-backs have to improve or better players have to be signed for the role.
