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Accepting the need for change

The Portuguese coach's chosen wing-back setup doesn't represent the fundamental issue of the Red Devils' struggles. The Manchester giants are recovering from decades of mismanagement and the present roster remains in transition, displaying quality in particular roles while glaring deficiencies remain elsewhere.

However, tactical weaknesses exist within Amorim's preferred formation, especially midfield shortages and width problems that need addressing. Tacticians elsewhere have navigated analogous problems – the former Chelsea boss in West London and the Austrian coach at Selhurst Park prove that positional flexibility matters more than pre-match setups.

Amorim recently stated: "The tactical setup isn't at fault, our performances are," which resembles focusing on effects while ignoring underlying problems. Competitors have repeatedly targeted identical vulnerabilities in Amorim's approach for almost twelve months, not due to squad confusion but as the tactical plan itself contains inherent flaws.

Consequently, supporters cannot anticipate an instant solution where the system suddenly works, similar to costly acquisitions will not instantly resolve the underlying issues. The Bees' latest display functions as a prime case – despite losing their manager and crucial performers during the break, they modified their system intentionally to expose Amorim's unchanged tactics.

When the former Ajax coach arrived at Old Trafford, it became apparent that Dutch league achievements didn't transfer to English football; his failure to adapt was fundamental in his eventual departure. Now Amorim – who seems to possess the complete skill set for management's greatest challenge other than versatility – is mirroring identical mistakes and wasting a golden opportunity. After many years the club has owners focused on achieving success rather than financial gain.

Changing center-back responsibilities

Flank-oriented stoppers play crucial roles in United's formation: they advance with the ball, perform defensive interventions, monitor spaces, alter attacking focus, build from the back and augment forward play. Any tactical analyst could question whether deploying two of such versatile players in a defensive trio makes sense when a back four could address midfield shortages.

Currently, these defenders remain constrained by enemy strikers who, by standing nearby, hinder them from joining midfield battles as the approach necessitates. This development enables teams with numerical superiority to bypass the central areas, causing pressing concerns that demand solutions.

Available options include instructing centre-backs to advance regardless – but this might create defensive exposure – or withdrawing the attacker to facilitate possession, sacrificing attacking threat but utilizing his carrying ability. The most logical adjustment involves changing the high-press system from the existing high-risk formation to a traditional midfield four that offers improved protection and removes the requirement for stopper to join midfield.

Restoring Mainoo's role

Amorim's preferred style of impatient attacking forces the team to empty central areas and depend on direct passes, banking on exceptional quality rather than organized offensive moves. While statistical metrics indicate potential, match observations show that present attacking output stem largely from penalty awards and hopeful shots rather than sustained pressure.

Elite clubs control matches through tempo manipulation. United's inability to accomplish this cannot be entirely blamed on the manager's tactics; sources suggest he asked for central additions during the transfer period but encountered resistance from club executives. Setting aside responsibility, the current situation proves unworkable.

The regular central duo of the Brazilian and Portuguese, supported by the Uruguayan serving as alternative, has restricted chances for the academy graduate. While legitimate concerns exist about his athletic maturity and attacking contribution, marginalizing this ability creates doubts about the approach's validity.

The current midfield options represent fast-paced play, whereas the Englishman brings pace management. With his former club, his side could bypass midfield due to technical advantage against Portuguese league defenses, confident they would win the ball back if they lost it. Yet in England's top division, the overall quality means careless possession loss gets punished immediately, while athletic superiority by itself cannot guarantee success.

Mainoo's technical quality impresses observers, and even if playing him with the attacking midfielder generates vulnerability, these issues become secondary in a controlling side. Accounting for current statistics showing they allow better opportunities than all competitors, integrating Mainoo seems worth attempting as alternative approaches have shown limitations. While uncertainty remains about his specific function in Amorim's approach, consistent minutes represents the best development path and probably wouldn't damage the current situation.

Improving wing effectiveness

In right-sided positions, the pairing of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo could prove effective given their shared attributes of imagination, understanding and grit. When partnered with the right-sided centre-back, they could form a productive relationship that enhances attacking options. At present though, static movement makes opponents' jobs simpler for structured teams.

Amorim must implement organized interchange routines that keep defenders guessing through frequent role switching. Service into wide areas should vary considerably – not always to feet but often into space to enhance offensive flow. This method allows central penetration, beating defenders and opening channels for attempts on goal or deliveries.

Down the left side, the young defender regularly gets opportunities in attacking zones despite lacking the necessary ability to exploit successfully. Modifying his role somewhat further back would leverage his tackling and progressive movement to {supply more creative players|service better attackers|provide for