Manchester United’s early season performance has left fans divided. Despite a praised display of ball control and attack in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal, a subsequent 1-1 draw with Fulham in week two has reignited fan dissatisfaction.
With just one point from their opening two Premier League games, concerns are mounting among fans and analysts about Man Utd’s ability to quickly regain form. Club legend Wayne Rooney has publicly demanded immediate results under manager Amorim, rejecting a slow development approach. Last season, United finished 15th in the Premier League. This season, Amorim’s record shows only 28 points from 29 matches, with a Premier League win rate of just 24.7% according to The Sun.
September presents a challenging schedule, with tough fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Brentford, making consecutive victories appear unlikely for the Red Devils.
Amorim, the Portuguese manager, had previously expressed confidence in overcoming the team’s slump and restoring strong form. However, his post-season promise of “good days returning for the Red Devils” has not yet been fulfilled, with new challenges requiring his immediate attention to deliver results for the fans.
Amorim’s attempt to implement his successful 3-4-2-1 system, previously used at Sporting Lisbon, at Man Utd has faced challenges. This marked a significant shift from the club’s traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, requiring players to rapidly adapt. While the new system showed flashes of effectiveness against Arsenal, it struggled against Fulham, highlighting the need for Amorim to refine his tactics for long-term consistency and efficiency. Fans are urging the manager to cease experimental team selections and instead deploy players in their natural, most effective roles.
Concerns also surround individual player roles. There’s a suggestion that Bruno Fernandes, a key player, should operate deeper in midfield to facilitate attacking opportunities for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Amad Diallo, naturally a winger, has been deployed as a right-back, a positional shift that some argue weakens the defense. While Diallo possesses excellent dribbling and goal-scoring instincts, Mbeumo’s presence might have prompted the coach to use him in a defensive wing-back role.
Despite spending over $280 million on attacking players this season, Man Utd’s forwards have yet to score a single goal. Their only goal came from defender Leny Yoro against Fulham. This contrasts sharply with Arsenal, where new striker Viktor Gyokeres quickly scored two goals against Leeds. Meanwhile, United’s new signing Benjamin Sesko, who seeks more playing time, was benched and only featured in the second half. Mason Mount, primarily a midfielder, has been deployed in an attacking role, which may diminish offensive effectiveness. Matheus Cunha showed initial promise but has seen his chances dwindle without sufficient service from midfield. Bryan Mbeumo, a prolific scorer at Brentford, has also struggled to find the net, lacking cohesive support from teammates.
Midfield ball control is another area of concern. Against Fulham, United lost their command and possession-based play after taking a 1-0 lead, allowing the opponent to equalize. Bruno Fernandes appeared to lose focus after missing a penalty. Casemiro’s slow dribbling frequently led to him being dispossessed, hindering his ability to create attacking opportunities. Substitutions also highlighted issues; when Manuel Ugarte replaced Casemiro, the team’s ability to feed the attack further declined. This forced Matheus Cunha to drop deep for possession, leaving Sesko isolated in the box. Weaknesses in midfield impact both offense and defense, forcing the team to become more cautious. Notably, promising young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, known for his dribbling and ability to create chances, has been benched for two consecutive games, leading many fans to call for his inclusion.
Ahead of their EFL Cup clash against Grimsby Town, fans are eager to see new signings like Benjamin Sesko start, alongside a desire for Kobbie Mainoo to feature in midfield, allowing them to demonstrate their full capabilities.
