IT’S not as easy as 3-4-3 for Manchester United.
But there ARE signs Ruben Amorim’s formation can work — even with nine defeats so far.
Ruben Amorim was at his wits end during United’s 1-0 defeat at Spurs on Sunday[/caption]
Against Tottenham, the shape was not the problem, it’s the players’ decision-making.
United had great chances to score and if they had, we would be talking about Ange Postecoglou’s issues.
The back three are getting it and Harry Maguire, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui’s shape was miles better on Sunday.
Patrick Dorgu was a big positive, he’s slotted in easily at left wing-back since joining from Lecce at the start of the month.
But the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes just didn’t give him the ball when he was in position to drive into the area.
The biggest issue is in central midfield where Fernandes had 105 touches but was constantly dragged to the right by James Maddison, who plays on Spurs’ inside left.
The 3-4-3 is designed to provide overloads as the wing-backs provide an extra defender/ midfielder/attacker, so the free man is on the other side for a switch and run forward — yet when United switched it, they had no belief.
Diogo Dalot does not have the legs to get up and down on the right, so United need a specialist right wing-back.
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Forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee aren’t dynamic enough to play in this formation and they missed Amad Diallo.
With the right players, the system works — as Amorim showed when his Sporting stuffed Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League in November.
But will he get the players needed before Sir Jim Ratcliffe runs out of patience?
