The fall out from Manchester United drawing 1-1 with Fulham over the weekend has been so strong, you might think Ruben Amorim’s side had actually lost.
It certainly felt that way when the final whistle blew, with any positivity inspired during Matheus Cunha’s impressive opening 15 minutes sucked out of the air around Craven Cottage by full-time.
The performance from Manchester United was timid, with the second-half particularly being disappointing as the Red Devils failed to muster any threat on goal that wasn’t set-piece related.
Ruben Amorim has been the subject of heavy criticism and rightly so as his in-game decisions absolutely cost United points on Sunday.
The undeniable weak-point is midfield, yet Amorim chooses to ignore Kobbie Mainoo, with Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes all struggling in the early weeks of the season.
Fernandes doesn’t work in his current position, and now Amorim has been told why by former United academy graduate Danny Simpson.
Casemiro consoles a dejected Bruno Fernandes
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes doesn’t have the intangibles to play defensive midfield
It was clear to see on Sunday that Fernandes wasn’t at his best, missing his penalty uncharacteristically, losing the ball sloppily and then not having the awareness to track Emile Smith-Rowe’s run into the box.
This final point is the major concern that Danny Simpson discussed during an appearance on the ‘Beyond the Back Four’ podcast when asked about the Portuguese midfielder.
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“The worrying thing I seen yesterday was Fulham’s goal. Now we know Bruno’s a number 10, and he’s asked him to play now in obviously in a deeper position in midfield, but if you see Emile Smith-Rowe role kind of runs off him from the edge of the box and like freely.
“It’s not in Bruno’s DNA to be aware of that, to pass that on. Now, a defensive midfielder would say, I’m not going to get there, and would have told Luke Shaw to get across and cover his man.
“Bruno works hard. He runs everywhere, but them little details in the Premier League, you’re going to get found out.
“I think there is a massive issue in the middle of the park with Bruno and Casimiro and in the dynamic for the team.
“When Mason Mount’s going centre-mid, and it’s Ugarte and Casemiro all before you [Mainoo] I think it is a massive worry.”
Fernandes as a deep defensive midfielder simply doesn’t work, especially when he is partnered by Casemiro who hasn’t got the legs to do the defensive work needed.
It is a problem that Amorim needs to fix.
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It doesn’t matter who United play in midfield, it could be Carlos Baleba, it could be Lucien Agoume, it won’t change unless the system is adapted.
The space left in the middle on numerous occasions against Fulham was insane and most midfielders in the world barring a prime N’Golo Kante would not be able to cover it.
However, if Amorim was able to turn the midfield into a three-man it would be so much more balanced than currently.
Mainoo alongside Casemiro and Fernandes creates a trio which should be far more solid on the ball and off it.
Mainoo adds solidity, but also provides a calmness that Fernandes and Casemiro don’t have with their consistent long balls.
So while Fernandes is struggling in defensive midfield, it is down to Amorim to find the solution.