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There’s a glaring Manchester United problem that Patrick Dorgu can fix – Five things noticed vs Crystal Palace

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Five things noticed as Manchester United fell to yet another Old Trafford Premier League defeat as they lost 2-0 against Crystal Palace.

Rúben Amorim chose to start Amad as an attacking midfielder and Kobbie Mainoo as a striker as Manchester United welcomed Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on a Sunday afternoon Premier League fixture.

The tie started fast, with Alejandro Garnacho having an early effort blocked and Mainoo hitting the post. However, the visitors had their chances, too, as André Onana had to be called into action multiple times within 20 minutes.

However, once it became clear to both teams that chances were flowing, each team chose to tighten up at the back, with neither team being handed another real shot before the half-time whistle rang.

In the second 45 minutes, United looked set to become much more clinical in the final third, but it was Jean-Philippe Mateta who scored first for Palace, tapping in a rebound off the bar.

Amorim responded by throwing on Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, although this failed to have much of an impact as Mateta knocked in his second of the afternoon with five minutes to play.

Despite a last-minute fightback from United, Palace held firm and made sure they once again left Old Trafford with all three Premier League points.

#1 – A second Mainoo experiment

Against FCSB, Amorim experimented with Mainoo, starting him as a left-sided attacking midfielder. He played well, but in the second half, he switched to the right, where he grabbed a goal and assist to win the tie.

Against Palace, Amorim experimented with the young midfielder’s position again as he started as a false nine with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad on either side of him, although the attack was fluid.

United looked good in the first half as Mainoo came close via hitting the post, but the second half saw Palace control the front three much better, and Amorim ditched his idea with 20 minutes to play.

#2 – One problem that Dorgu can fix

It was clear from early on that Palace were looking to capitalise on Diogo Dalot’s position as an auxiliary left wing-back, with multiple crosses coming into his post from their left-hand side and the Portuguese international struggling to handle the aerial duels at the point.

Standing at six feet and two inches, United’s new signing Patrick Dorgu is not just good with the ball at his feet, but technical director Jason Wilcox pointed out that the player has good defensive capabilities, too.

Once Dorgu starts games as the left wing-back, Dalot can move back to the right-hand side, which solves the problem of the latter being targeted as a weak link. Beyond this, it will also allow United to have two players playing on the flanks of their respective strong feet, allowing Amorim to become more flexible with his tactics.

#3 – Heaven may be called into action

Ahead of the game, United introduced new signings Dorgu and Ayden Heaven, with the latter having joined from Arsenal earlier this week.

With United looking for an equaliser, Amorim was hit with a substantial blow as Lisandro Martínez buckled while fighting with Mateta for the ball, with the player immediately calling to be taken off with a knee issue.

Heaven is only 18 and has been bought as a first-team signing who was set to be an understudy to Martínez as the only other left-footed centre-back in the squad, although he may have to be called upon much sooner than expected if the Argentina international is ruled out for a sustained period.

#4 – Amorim’s clear message to the board

In attack, it is becoming so obvious that the club do not have any killer decision makers in the final third bar Amad – often, when United finally get the ball in the box, no one knows what to do.

Amorim’s decision to bench both Højlund and Zirkzee was a clear message to United’s board. He needs a new attacking signing before Monday evening’s deadline, and the club need to act fast.

There was optimism earlier this weekend that a deal could be secured with Bayern Munich for Mathys Tel, and the latest reports state that he wants to join, but the Bundesliga club are pushing for a mandatory buy option in the deal.

#5 – United continue two horrid streaks

United have failed to win back to back home games in the Premier League this season, and with the loss against Palace, this horrid streak continues.

Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Beyond this, the club have also still failed to score a goal from open play in the first 45 minutes of ANY game since 7 December, which is even more damning.

Amorim warned United fans earlier this year that the rest of the season is going to be turbulent and that the club and fans are going to have to suffer, and boy did he hit the nail on the head with that one.

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