Rúben Amorim’s mistake against Wolverhampton Wanderers cannot happen again if United are hopeful of European football.
Manchester United welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford for their final game of the year, but it was far from a celebratory occasion.
United stumbled out of the blocks and settled into a pedestrian pattern. They looked stale and static, lacking intensity and invention – this only encouraged Wolves, who recently gave Liverpool and Arsenal a scare.
Although Wolves are on course to break the record for the worst team in Premier League history, their performances have not always matched their results, and United found that out for themselves on Tuesday evening.
The Reds seem to outdo themselves by finding a new rock bottom. It could not get any worse than the Europa League final, could it? Up stepped Grimsby. It could not get any worse than Grimsby, could it? Up stepped Wolves. That simply is not sustainable.
United fans baffled by reverting to 3-4-2-1
United deployed a back four in their win against Newcastle and, at least in the first half, it worked to good effect. When talking about the switch, Rúben Amorim said: “I think we are going to become a better team.”
Against Wolves, though, old habits reared their ugly heads as United reverted again to a 3-4-2-1, with Patrick Dorgu moving back to the left flank, despite an incredible performance on the right.
The three-at-the-back experiment has been tried and not very well tested. The messages Amorim has been signalling of late all pointed to a permanent change to a back four. It worked against Newcastle, so why change? “If it is not broken, do not fix it” comes to mind. His chances of succeeding as Manchester United manager are limited if this continues.
With Bryan Mbeumo and Amad away at AFCON, and Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo injured, United are depleted in attack. Joshua Zirkzee, who looks as though he may be on his way out, scored United’s solitary goal, assisted well by Ayden Heaven, who was the best outfield player for the home side.
Once again, there was no risk or sacrifice. The substitutes, for the second game in a row, hindered United rather than helped, with Gary Neville saying: “That was the baddest of the bad that.”
Abysmal home form costs United
In the past, Old Trafford was a fortress – teams were beaten before they had even stepped onto the hallowed turf. Now, it is anything but that.
In recent home games, United have played Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Wolves, and have taken just three points from them all. Their home form is derailing their European push. If it continues, United will struggle to secure Europa League football, never mind Champions League qualification.
Five of the last seven games in which United have scored have ended without a win. That makes for grim reading.
Read more: Senne Lammens’ agent reveals Man Utd made transfer U-turn after ‘0/10’ display, “at the very end…”
A recurring problem that United continue to fall foul of is their inability to break teams down when faced with a low block. They look void of ideas and play with little urgency. It is an issue that has persisted under Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.
It needs fixing, and fixing quickly.
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