Lots has been talked about concering the new Manchester United system / tactics in regards to what we need from our wingbacks, CB’s and even our ST, given the need in our squad for players in these positions (particularly wingback and ST) that is understandable. However, I’d like to talk about the midfield and inside forward positions that I think will be absolutely vital for Amorim’s system to work.
I’ll start with midfield and he needs energetic, defensively sound players. They don’t have to be expansive passers, with his CB’s often taking more of the deeper playmaking responsibilities. They tend to create by bursting through the lines carrying the ball up the pitch through a line of pressure rather than trying to find a defence splitting pass. Which makes sense when you consider the 3421 shape is designed to congest the midfield and make the team compact through the middle. The midfielders will not have the time and space to dictate play and find those more creative passes. They need to win the ball, make sure there isn’t a way through the centre, while on the ball they need to be technically sound, extremely press resistant, and capable of playing quick and accurate short passes. While that ability to carry the ball through the lines and then make good passes to the more creative players once we have the numbers advantage is also key.
Looking at our squad Ugarte is obviously the best fit (although he isn’t the strongest ball carrier) . He’s a beast in midfield and his passing is very underrated. He makes good choices and moves the ball quickly and efficiently.
Casemiro and Eriksen don’t have the legs or mobility to really thrive in this role, both will be moved on.
Mainoo can play the role in terms of being press resistant, and is very good at carrying the ball forward (although he is more a technical dribbler and likes to play quick give and goes rather than powerful runner who can use their physicality to burst through the middle) . However, there are questions over his lung power, stamina and strength. Is he really suited to physical demands of this role? I actually think he’s more suited to the role further forward in Amorim’s system. While he’s capable of playing as a No.6, he is definitely more suited to a No.8 or even a No.10.
Bruno and Mount could play deeper in midfield, both are energetic pressers of the ball, although you would question their physicality and both tend to rely more on their creative passing rather than their ball carrying to progress the ball. They are fine as back up for this role, or rotation options in certain matches or for periods during matches rather than being the regular starter in this role.
Finally we have Collyer who after struggling with injury and fitness since Amorim took over has started to show glimpses of potential in the last couple of games now he is fully fit and available. I think he actually profiles really well for what Amorim wants in this role and I wouldn’t be surprise to see him continue to grow into the team over the rest of the season. He has already seemingly jumped ahead of Casemiro and Eriksen in the managers thinking off the bench. Whether he has enough to nail down the starting spot alongside Ugarte remains to be seen, but at the very least he is a solid squad option in this role. He even seems a more natural fit than Mainoo in this role.
This means we really need to sign a first choice quality option for this role before the start of next season. As we are one injury/ suspension to Ugarte away from a very makeshift midfield with no one ideally suited to the role. Starting next season with Ugarte and another as first choice with Collyer and Mainoo as back up in this position along with Bruno and Mount as options in emergency or maybe the young Sekou Kone starting to get some minutes in the first team would be solid. Maybe a little reliant on young players stepping up, but we are restricted in what we can do and with young players we have (Mainoo, Collyer and Kone) I’m fairly confident that they would step up and do at least well enough. Looking back someone like Amadou Onana would have been perfect for this system.
We then need to look at the inside forward/ attacking midfield positions in this system. These positions are actually far more tricky to get right than you’d initially think. Amorim wants his team to be a possession based team that uses manipulation of space, with and without the ball, to create high quality chances. That has been the issue we are having currently with creating regular high quality chances, we have several players (Rashford, Garnacho and Antony) who are more traditional wide forwards. They aren’t centre forwards capable of playing through the middle, yet they are definitely more like a striker than a creator. They look to start wide to find space, then use their pace to cut infield and create shooting chances for themselves. This position requires players who play with their heads up, who will work with their teammates, linking with them to open up the opposition and create a high quality chance centrally. They need to be more like traditional No.10’s than they are wingers or wide forwards.
While off the ball they need to operate more like a No.8, they need to be intelligent players who are willing and capable pressers of the ball, both leading and dictating the high press. This is the secret weapon in Amorim’s team. It means that the most intelligent and creative players in your team are often the player who wins the ball and therefore has possession at the point where the opposition are caught out of shape and are therefore most vulnerable. If they aren’t the player who wins the ball in the press then they are in very close proximity to receive a quick short pass to become the player on the ball. This enables incredibly quick and dangerous transitions high up the pitch close to the oppositions goal.
Their movement and appreciation of space is really important, they need to be able to find pockets of space to receive the ball, be able to manipulate the movement with the ball to open up teams, as well as how, when and where to press the ball that both leads to winning it back, while not leaving yourself wide open in the event you don’t win the ball.
Oddly however I actually think we have a strong selection in this part of the pitch. Amad has absolutely thrived under Amorim and he looks absolutely tailor made to become a superstar in this role under the Portuguese coach. While Bruno has started to get back to something close to his best form playing in one of these roles since Amorim took charge.
Mount in theory (if he ever gets fit) should also flourish in this role, its exactly the role he produced his best football for Chelsea playing in. If he can stay fit he could actually become one of our key players.
Zirkzee in theory is also a player who could offer something in this role, and its here where Amorim has chosen to play him more often than not. He’s more of a false 9 than a true centre forward, looking to drop deeper and link play more like a No.10. Whether he can fully adapt to this role and the pace of the EPL remains to be seen, but at the very least he is an option for the role.
Garnacho has played here under Amorim and he has both struggled and shown glimpses of improvement. If he can learn to play with his head up and develop him game he could be an option here. Yet he has a lot to develop to really thrive in this role. He’ll need to improve his understanding of space, his off the ball work ethic, his press resistance, and his ability to link with his teammates rather than try and take on the opposition on his own. It’s why I’m happy to accept whatever the club decide with him. If they keep him its because they have seen enough from him to be convinced he can adapt, if they sell him then clearly they don’t think he has what it takes to succeed in this role.
Finally I think this is the role that best suits Mainoo and his skillset. While capable of playing deeper as a No.6, he is naturally a creative No.8. Almost a perfect cross between a 8 and a 10. Which incidentally is exactly what this role is/ requires. He’s almost tailormade for this role, especially alongside a more winger like Amad providing a nice balance with one being naturally more of a dribbler/ runner and aggressive front foot player, and the other being a calmer, more natural defender or coverer of space who looks to link and play quick one twos to create space.
Long term I can see Mainoo and Amad being the starting options in this position, while Bruno offers a quality option for the next 2-3 years either as first choice of rotation. You then have Mount and possibly Zirkzee as squad options. Although both could probably be improved upon if we can move them on to free up space and money. Zirkzee as it’s unclear whether he can/ will fully adapt to the role/ EPL and Mount due to fitness issues. Garnacho I feel at this point is more likely to go than stay.
Maybe we could do with another young option, especially if Garnacho leaves and Mount’s injury issues contiune. That could be a young signing with huge potential, or it could be a youngster from our academy. There are several who I think could fit the bill, it just depends on whether they are ready or not.
In an ideal world the club is convinced Garnacho will adapt and they keep him, while Mount gets over his injury issues to become regularly available giving us Amad, Mainoo, Bruno, Mount and Garnacho all available for these two positions. However, the flip side is that Mount and Garnacho might not be options while Bruno is only a short term solution leading to us needing another player here.
Because we can’t rely on Mount’s fitness I think we probably need to bring in a young player with high potential in this position if we sell Garnacho, someone like Sverre Nypan could be a high potential option who would be available for a reasonable fee. We could in theory sell Garnacho for a 45-60m fee, all profit by the way, and replace him with an equally as talented, high potential young player in Nypan who is actually better suited to the role and still bank 30-40m profit that could be reinvested in improving another position of need such as LWB, ST or CM.
Written by Shappy January 18 2025 18:22:03
