Quite the entertainer, United drew 4-4 in an epic against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. While it was a great watch, I doubt the United boss will be entirely pleased with what he saw from his team.
This was yet another match where points were dropped and an opportunity missed to move up the table into 4th.
1. Defense Too Inexperienced
When looking at that back line, it didn't fill me with much confidence that it would manage to keep Bournemouth out, even a Bournemouth side that hadn't scored in their previous two matches.
Still didn't think it would concede 4 although I think that that was more down to the team in general rather than just the back line.
Between Heaven, Yoro and Lammens, they had an average age of 20.6. Shaw was the senior of the defense at 30 years of age and nor is he an actual left centre-back. More than this, this back line hadn't played with each other before. You were bound to have problems when looking at that as well as the age of three of the four.
While Shaw messed up more than anyone else when it came to Bournemouth's first goal, for Heaven to not come across and close Semenyo down so as to not give him the space to run into the box and have a clear shot at goal was equally as costly. You could see the likes of Mount and Bruno venting their frustrations at the youngster upon the concession of this goal.
Lammens could've done better with the free-kick but did make up for that by making those two BIG saves at the end that not only got us the draw but also kept up that halftime record.
Throughout the game, they were always shaky as it felt like there was a nervousness about the back line to the point that whenever the Cherries attacked, something would happen.
Like I said, it wasn't entirely on the defense for the 4 conceded but they could've done more in trying to prevent them all the same.
I know that we have defensive injuries which is why Amorim had to go with the youngsters, but you can see just how much they were missing those with more experience.
You see just how valuable someone is when they are not there and that's exactly what happened with De Ligt. The Dutchman has been one of if not our best player this season and a stalwart at the back. He has that experience and has been consistently good throughout the campaign despite the results. Had he been available, I do believe there would've been more of a chance that we kept Bournemouth out and won this game.
Martinez might not be fully ready yet but I think it's about time he started. There is a difference to the team when he's on the field as he brings a calmness in possession. However, similarly to Heaven, a lack of closing down for Bournemouth's 4th goal was evident as the butcher was too slow in his reactions. This is what you're going to get though, with a player who hasn't started since February due to an ACL injury. This is why he needs to play more so that he can remove that rustiness.
Despite these errors, I don't want people to be too harsh on Heaven, Yoro and Lammens because they are young. These inconsistencies WILL happen. That's what you get with youngsters and why some (like myself) question the club when they appear to be looking at signing more players of this ilk rather than those with more experience.
The manager isn't someone who gives youngsters a chance anyway (unless absolutely necessary) so why try to sign these type of players?
2. Can't See A Game Out
The frustrating thing about United is that with the amount of goals we're scoring, it should be good enough to win most games. To score 4 at home usually signals 3 points because what are the chances that the opposition score 4 or more?
The fact that we were relived at getting a point because of those two Lammens saves tells you a lot about this team's game management.
This was something that Amorim pointed out to before the game saying that the in-game management needs to be better as well as that we are inconsistent throughout the game.
That proved to be the case again as after a superb first half, United wasted chances and allowed Bournemouth back into it with that poorly defended equalizer. They did nothing prior to that to suggest they were in the game. United then retook the lead late in the half and going into the break 2-1 up, you would've felt that this is the moment we kick on and finish them off.
The exact opposite was done as in 6 minutes after the restart, we were 3-2 down. This happened at Forest and later in the second period at Spurs where our lead was overturned in no time.
What happens during the halftime team talk to make us come out like this in the second 45 is something no one can understand because it occurs too regularly indicating that we are not really improving in this aspect.
As I said in the previous point, every time Bournemouth went forward, it looked like they could score even more so because we now had to go all out attack. Amorim himself didn't do too much to change things until he absoultely had to as Casemiro picked up a booking. With the risk of a second yellow, he was taken off and Mainoo was brought on. The midfield looked better balanced because of this and the youngster brought a control to the team that wasn't there before.
To then retake the lead again with around 15 minutes remaining, this is where you see whether they can hold out.
As we know, they didn't and we almost lost.
To not be able to see a game out shows this lack of in-game management to a point where we can never truly feel confident that we will get the 3 points with minutes remianing and a narrow lead.
Knowing this, the manager should try and do whatever he can in order to make us able to hold onto a close score line and win the game with few minutes to go.
The first half record v second half record once again proved to be an issue as we won the first period 2-1 but lost the second 3-2. Starts to games are usually strong but endings are what cause us to come undone. I know Amorim said that it was down to the first half as to why we didn't win but you look at the second half and it's why we didn't hold out.
The first half table shows us in 4th but in the second 45, drop down to 18th!
3. Attack Best Form Of Defense
I believe that this is the way for United.
In point no 2, I said that we can't see a game out. If this is the case, then maybe we should continue to play in the offensive.
United have improved going forward as we are now the joint second-highest scorers in the league with 30 goals along with Arsenal. A stark improvement to last season's 21 at this stage.
We've also seen us get better at set-pieces as with the 2 against Bournemouth, we have the most goals from set-pieces with 11. The good thing is that we aren't solely dependent on these to score even if it is one of our main source for goals.
What I enjoyed about this game is that every time we went forward, it looked like we could score. We had a total of 24 shots with 9 on target and we scored 4 goals. Those are healthy returns.
United were also very entertaining. Sometimes entertainingly shit but at others, entertainingly good.
It may not have been the result we wanted but considering the draws we've had in the past, I'd rather this edge-of-your-seat stuff with loads of goals than a drab 1-1. At least in this sense you get your moneys worth and if you're going to draw, it might as well be 4-4.
As we can't hold onto a lead, I don't understand why we sit off after scoring either. We've done this in quite a few games only to see those leads wiped out. All five draws this season, United went ahead only for it to be clawed back because we didn't go for the throat.
This is one of those things that I don't understand because why sit back and allow the opposition to get at us? We then give the lead away, sometimes go behind and end up wondering why.
We make things harder for ourselves by having to fight back in matches that we should be winning.
I just feel that we appear to be a team that is happier to be on the front-foot. You look at that first half and see how many chances we had. To go just 2-1 up at the break was a negative as we should've scored more.
That was the best half of football we've played this season so for us to stop playing in that manner in the second half was disappointing because we can see the quality of this team when attacking.
We pressed them high, won the ball back quickly and were on the offensive resulting in a multitude of opportunities. I liked the energy and intensity shown by the players as we didn't allow Bournemouth to breathe. Why we dropped off in the second half, I don't know.
Attack! Attack! Attack! as the crowd shouts.
4. Cunha/Mbeumo Partnership
Ahh, what a duo this is 🙌.
When they were signed, we hoped that we would see this pair hit the ground running especially as a partnership. That hasn't been the case because it has been Mbeumo who has been the better of the two. Cunha has been slow to get to form and has had injuries that has kept him out.
This game though, was the first time that we truly saw them click.
While I won't say that their connection was Yorke and Cole-esque, one cannot deny that we saw something between the two. It felt like they had an understanding of where the other would be without much thought.
That volley by Mbeumo is a great example.
This is the first time as well where they've managed to produce output in back-to-back matches with that Cunha goal. He was also my man of the match for an overall brilliant performance. The Brazilian hitting form just when we might need him most with his Cameroonian compadre going to the AFCON.
It's a pity that Mbeumo missed those chances and had an all-round poor game but that in itself is a positive because if this is the partnership we see when one of them isn't playing well, imagine how good it can be when both are performing. To have this duo flourishing along with Amad and Mbeumno, then we might have more success in the future with these three.
Of course this had to happen just before Mbeumo leaves 😅. But at least we saw it so I suppose that that is something.
5. Formation Change
There were periods in which we saw Amorim move away from his 3-4-3.
😳🤯😱!
Yeah, couldn't believe it either!
Out of possession, United held a 4-4-2 shape with Yoro moving over to the right-back spot and Dalot to a traditional left-back position. Mbeumo and Cunha were then playing as the two up top.
Even in the second half once the substitutions came on, this was the formation once more. Shaw was at LB with Dalot at RB and Yoro and Martinez in the middle. Mainoo and Bruno were the pair in midfield, Cunha went to LW with Sesko and Zirkzee being the strikers.
United did seem to be a lot more settled in this shape and looked to be somewhat better.
Is this a good thing though?
A lot of people were calling for the manager to move away from this 3-4-3 which he himself said "not even the Pope" can make him change the system back in September. This has also been his response whenever questioned about his sacred 3-4-3.
However, this system hasn't really been questioned whenever United win or went through the period of not losing. Once we do lose though, 'it's the system.'
For me, I don't like this. Even if we do look better with a four-at-the-back, I think it goes against everything Amorim is as a manager. I've been highly critical of him but one thing I've always admired is him sticking to his principles which is mainly this system. The criticism I have of it is who he plays and where he plays them. The fact that we also have five defenders most of the time but still concede a lot is another downside.
But I prefer when the manager sticks to who he is. We complained about Erik ten Hag not doing so when he was manager as he moved away from 'ten Hag ball' not long after taking over. We never really saw it implemented at United after those first two defeats to Brighton and Brentford. This was one of his major flaws.
With their being talk that Amorim could change the system especially with Amad and Mbeumo leaving or that they are trying to implement playing with four in defense during training [The Athletic] is already enough for me to say I don't agree with this. To then see this happen during a game and I feel like it's already gone.
What I mean is that if he's shifted to 4-4-2, then he goes against who he is. He's given in to the mob so to speak and is also another manager who has to adapt to his players. We know this group is not good enough and one of the positives of his 3-4-3 is that it exposed them even more for not being the quality required.
In this manner though, should the four-at-the-back work, people will want him to stick with it and point out that his 3-4-3 was the problem.
I find that this will not only undermine the manager but also the club as it will ask the question of why did we hire a 3-4-3 manager? Why did he join if ultimately, we were going to do something more familiar to the players?
It's exactly what we've done before to no avail. Previous managers had to adapt to the players rather than the other way round and we've seen how that ends.
He MUST stick to a 3-4-3 no matter what.
Amad scores opening goal in Man Utd's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)