Manchester United welcome back two key players, and face a dilemma over how to fit them both in.
Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have returned to a very different Manchester United to the one they left in mid-December.
Ruben Amorim has been fired and his 3-4-2-1 formation will be consigned to the past. And this means that the sight of Amad overlapping as a wing-back to combine with Mbeumo on the right must also face a re-think.
Amad and Mbeumo are two of Manchester United’s most exciting players, and having to play without them over the past month has been challenging. Now they are back, we want to see them scoring and creating goals again.
The dilemma is finding a way to fit them both into the same starting line-up. Both players covet the right wing position, and it would be a shame to leave one of them on the bench.
We have explored five different ways new head coach Michael Carrick could fit them both in…
Now they are both back, how can Amad and Bryan Mbeumo both fit into Michael Carrick’s starting XI?
Let us know how you would line the team up…
Amad/Mbeumo training
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Mbeumo right, Amad left (or vice versa)
Early projections suggest Michael Carrick could line Manchester United up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s system.
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And rather than decide between Amad and Mbeumo for the right wing position, Carrick could simply pick both, moving one to the left.
Amad would be the most likely candidate to play on the left, he even did so previously for Atalanta, and it has to be pointed out that he is left footed.
Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo facing off at AFCON.
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Mbeumo right, Amad central, with Bruno deep
Sticking with the same system, Amad could play inside as a number 10, with Bryan Mbeumo outside him on the right.
This would be an intriguing option as it would allow the pair plenty of opportunity to combine in dangerous areas.
The problem with this choice is that it would mean Bruno Fernandes being shunted over to the right, or playing deeper as part of a midfield two.
Amad RW, Mbeumo striker
Another option available to Michael Carrick is to simply play Amad on the wing, and move Bryan Mbeumo up into the striker role.
The negative impact of this decision is Benjamin Sesko having to drop to the bench.
The Slovenian striker is in good form right now with three goals in two games so we do not expect this to happen this coming weekend, but it might become an option at some stage.
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Recent results vs City
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4-1-4-1, both on right side of the four
Stepping away from the 4-2-3-1 formation, Michael Carrick could choose to switch systems to play a 4-1-4-1.
This formation requires a top quality defensive midfielder that United may lack, but it is one way to fit Mbeumo and Amad into the attacking positions.
The classic 4-4-2
An old favourite, could Manchester United return to the classic 4-4-2 formation?
Mbeumo could line up alongside Benjamin Sesko in attack, with Amad on the right. It’s formation that could adapt to be more defensive out of possession.
It sounds so simple – and sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
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