Manchester United have struggled for goals this season having scored twice in three games, both being against League Two Grimsby.
With a brand new £200m front-line, many assumed that Manchester United would find goals a lot easier to come by, but despite some positive indications, the struggle has been real.
Despite the struggles, Matheus Cunha could have three goals at least and Bryan Mbeumo could have more than his one, yet so far they don’t.
Mbeumo scored his first goal against Grimsby, but it is in the Premier League that he will be judged, and improvements are needed.
In the Premier League this season, United have accumulated the sixth most expected goals and had plenty of shots, yet Altay Bayindir has created United’s only big chance this season.
There is a major reason behind this, and Amorim needs to figure out a way to solve this problem immediately and it could open up the attacking pipeline.
Ruben Amorim on Manchester United bench.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s system has left Manchester United’s attack unfunctional
While United’s poor finishing in front of goal is one cause of the lack of goals, Amorim is culpable for his side not creating more despite having opportunities to do so.
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This is the way the system works, and it ends up that United too often are giving the ball to Patrick Dorgu on the left to create a chance with a perfect cross, something that the Dane has not yet mastered and he offers no threat cutting back on his right.
This is also the case with Diogo Dalot at times on the right, with neither being the winger that United can rely on out wide to be both creative and a goal threat.
Against Grimsby, United had the chances to win the tie if the ball was falling to the right players, but instead it was Matthijs de Ligt getting on the ball in the box.
With these three players named, if United were getting Amad, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount or Bruno Fernandes in these positions instead regularly, it would be a massive benefit.
How Ruben Amorim can fix this problem
Within the system, Amorim would surely have preferred to see his big named attacking players on the ball in the key areas of the pitch, which could result in more quality chances and in turn, more goals.
As a result, Amorim needs to re-think his number 10s, as during large periods of games, both Cunha and Mbeumo can go missing as they are effectively stood in the most packed area of the pitch.
Amorim needs to figure out a way of getting these extremely talented footballers into the areas where the ball is often funnelled out to by the rest of the team, with the system intended to depend on quick balls across the box from wide.
The obvious solution for United would be a back four, with more midfield reinforcement allowing the 10s to sit wider, in areas where they can get onto the ball and make things happen, with ‘wing-backs’ simply being the overlap opposed to the primary creative outlet.
Whether Amorim will or even would consider adapting remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t then his days are numbered.