Amad for me is first choice Mb, Cu, and Ses have not been that good.
Which of our attackers gets relegated to the bench with the move to 4ATB?
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, Imran (@Annihilate Now!) & Jamie (@Vault Dweller) are here to discuss disappointed FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton - confirming our shortest season in over 100 years. They also discuss the news that Michael Carrick is set to be United's manager until the end of the season.
Imagine Amorim throwing him back to RWB after that AFCON. Thank fecking God he's gone.
Cunha has started scoring a couple of goals to be fair
Rashford absolutely not.It'll be Amad or Sesko this season, with this being our likely attack:
Mbeumo...Bruno...Cunha
Sesko
Or
Amad...Bruno...Cunha
Mbeumo
I expect Bruno will leave next season, and I'd like to see Cunha then play through the middle with our playmaking coming from deeper.
That'll free up the right wing, but Amad isn't particularly suited there.
Mbeumo...Cunha...Amad
Sesko
Maybe a place for Rashford when Barca inevitably back out of the permanent deal?
His attitude the past couple of seasons is near unforgivable. Only way he comes back from it is if he becomes a prime Ronaldo.
If I was Fletcher/interim manager I would retain Heaven in the XI until he gives reason to be replaced.
The difficulty is that neither Mbeumo or Cunha are any good upfront.
If Amad can play off the left then we could play Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad behind Sesko with Bruno in midfield.
If Amad can play off the left then we could play Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad behind Sesko with Bruno in midfield.
100%
He did but he wasn’t keen on Lukaku due to how average his general football technique was. Unfortunately Sesko is worse than Lukaku in terms of technical ability. I feel like Ole isn’t a fan of the big brute centre forward and that’s why he converted Martial into the Cf. I think he might do that again.
I don’t think them being up front would necessarily mean ‘stick up front’. It would have to be interchangeable and fluid.
As Dembele was at PSG, Havertz at Arsenal or Foden at city before Haaland. None were actually centre forwards but the system worked cos they were intelligent footballers.
------Casemiro----Bruno---
Mbeumo-Amad-Cunha
--------------Sesko---------------
Keep Sesko up high in the 18. Instead of a front three who are interchangeable, let Mbeumo, Amad, and Cunha roam with Bruno looking to find them as our creative outlet and Casemiro staying back (as much as we can).
Play conservatively in the back rather than asking our defense to get out of shape and constantly bomb up to give the attacking unit freedom to find space.
Overspend in Jan to get a proper DM/CM and pick up Callum Wilson who seems to be a cheap, seasoned, available striker who'll help Sesko (best striker we can get given the state of the club).
Mbeumo-Amad-Cunha
--------------Sesko---------------
Keep Sesko up high in the 18. Instead of a front three who are interchangeable, let Mbeumo, Amad, and Cunha roam with Bruno looking to find them as our creative outlet and Casemiro staying back (as much as we can).
Play conservatively in the back rather than asking our defense to get out of shape and constantly bomb up to give the attacking unit freedom to find space.
Overspend in Jan to get a proper DM/CM and pick up Callum Wilson who seems to be a cheap, seasoned, available striker who'll help Sesko (best striker we can get given the state of the club).
With 4 at the back it is not out of the question that Bruno is sold before the January window closes.
It was being mooted again even before the events of the last few days and if it is the case that the club ideally wanted him gone and it was Amorim who made the pitch to keep him then it is plausible that a decent offer this month sees us accelerate his departure. If we go 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3- then you can fill the midfield spots with a combination of Case, Mount, Mainoo and Ugarte when you consider that both Amad and Cunha are equally adept playing as a 10.
It was being mooted again even before the events of the last few days and if it is the case that the club ideally wanted him gone and it was Amorim who made the pitch to keep him then it is plausible that a decent offer this month sees us accelerate his departure. If we go 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3- then you can fill the midfield spots with a combination of Case, Mount, Mainoo and Ugarte when you consider that both Amad and Cunha are equally adept playing as a 10.
Worth a go I suppose - but I'd keep Cunha away from the most advanced position, every time I have seen him there for United he has been poor.
Mbuemo/Cunha
Cunha/Mount Bruno Amad
Sesko is just too poor to play.
Cunha/Mount Bruno Amad
Sesko is just too poor to play.
I don't think it'll be a static thing but Sesko is the one who has most to prove once everyone is back and available.
I think there will be times where Cunha and Mbeumo start up front to facilitate Mount and Amad in the team, but I still expect Sesko to get a few starts. Hopefully that will give us a better balance and more options from the bench for the rest of the season.
I think there will be times where Cunha and Mbeumo start up front to facilitate Mount and Amad in the team, but I still expect Sesko to get a few starts. Hopefully that will give us a better balance and more options from the bench for the rest of the season.
No that's reasoning, it's still dropping Amad for Mainoo or Ugarte. Mount is another who will be impacted but I think he'll be happy enough with reduced minutes.
If we're not careful Amad will want out as he'll obviously have big clubs after him. He's a bigger profile than a sub for a top four team.
What a great problem to have.
Competition, cover for injuries/ suspensions/ loss of form and options from the bench.
This is not an issue, it’s a positive.
If Ole is coming back you probably won't see Amad again until the Summer anyway.
Sesko probably but Mbeumo won’t last long in the starting eleven based on recent form. No one has the status or on done enough to be a nailed on starter, pick whoever is in form.
Amad would be most natural unfortunately.
I'd probably keep bruno in midfield to make space for him. I guess having a substitute on the bench i actually want to use would be nice.
I'd probably keep bruno in midfield to make space for him. I guess having a substitute on the bench i actually want to use would be nice.
Sesko should be going to the bench, since he almost never scores, almost never assists and almost does nothing at all.
..........................Mbeumo...................
..Cunha..............Bruno..............Amad..
..........................Mbeumo...................
..Cunha..............Bruno..............Amad..
He doesn't necessarily need to play at center back. Fergie (and Mourinho) often played center backs at fullback - think Wes Brown or Branislav Ivanovic. Think he could rotate at left back with Dorgu. I don't think Shaw has the legs to play there anymore (or at least gets injured whenever he does)
The plot twist is that Fletcher plays Amorim's system.
Yeah, he’s obviously a top class player, if ill-fitting. At full-back his issue will also be pace, but in the middle could actually work. I won’t mind him at full back when it suits though.
Amad. Sadly your not dropping Cunha or Mbeumo or Sesko. Unless they go with Cunha as main striker imo hes better off the right and tracks back defensively, He plays imo, Mbeumo off the left same as Amad so one is not getting game time . And do you dropp Mbeumo?
Amad is having a breakout tournament that will be alerting clubs to his talent, if he comes back here and is not a starter, he will have reason to look elsewhere and not waste his time at a club that’s not acknowledging his standing. There’s a real fine line to keeping starting players happy, which is the problem when you are not playing enough games in a season to pacify the collective.
Options from the bench have to buy into that or they’ll be off at the earliest opportunity.
Another element to this is how you rate the players in the first place; for some an Amad is our first or second most talented player; he’s obviously a starter for such folk. For others, he’s a default sub whom they think needs to usurp Mbeumo to get playing time.
Once you’re back on top as a club, you can call the shots and dare players to leave as you’ve the top table of player “happy” to come to your club and fight for their place. We’re not going to be of that calibre for a while yet.
I’m mentioning Amad because he seems to be the fall guy - I think only a Mount will be OK with being a non-starter, perhaps Sesko, too as he currently has no standing, but the others, I don’t think it will be well received if they’re chosen to sit.
Amads not being dropped when he's our best attacker
On paper Mount and Amad but both of which are capable of benching Cunha and Mbeumo and or reshuffling and putting Sesko to the bench.
Mbeumo is a better RW and Bruno is a better 10.
You can probably count on two hands the number of PL matches Mbeumo has played at CF that hasn't been part of a strike partnership. He also just doesn't fit the tactical requirements of lone CF play in today's PL. If you do not have the threat of going long over the high press you are in trouble as opponents will just commit more and more to the press. To go long you need a CF that can outmuscle CBs to win headers or direct the second ball with other parts of their body. There's a reason why no club among Arsenal/City/Liverpool/Chelsea/Spurs/Villa/Newcastle regularly starts a CF as short as Mbeumo.
Amad will lose out. He's not been great in the #10 role in Amorim's system because he's usually too far from the ball. The wingback role isn't a perfect fit for him, but it suits him to pick up possession from deep. I don't think he'll perform well on the right in a 4-2-3-1 and his long term future is probably away from the club unless United appoint another back 3 coach like Glasner.
Don't understand this thinking at all. He is literally a normal right winger. 433, 4231, either way you play a right winger. He's the most natural winger in our squad.
Mbeumo is an off the ball threat as a wide forward, Cunha is a creator who likes drifting into pockets of space, amad is the only one who is a proper winger who gets wide, runs at defenders with the ball and makes things happen. He's an easy start.
He'll probably be third choice for the two wide roles and should therefore get a decent amount of game time, but I expect him to struggle and look like a peripheral figure in the games, especially if we're shifting to a low block transition style under a coach like Solskjaer. Let's see - I hope I'm wrong as I like him overall as a player.
Rashford......Seriously ? For me, I don't want him anywhere near our club after his obnoxious behaviourIt'll be Amad or Sesko this season, with this being our likely attack:
Mbeumo...Bruno...Cunha
Sesko
Or
Amad...Bruno...Cunha
Mbeumo
I expect Bruno will leave next season, and I'd like to see Cunha then play through the middle with our playmaking coming from deeper.
That'll free up the right wing, but Amad isn't particularly suited there.
Mbeumo...Cunha...Amad
Sesko
Maybe a place for Rashford when Barca inevitably back out of the permanent deal?
You are looking at this as if you have to pick a group of players, and nothing then changes.
Competition brings out the best in players. All of the players mentioned have a level of flexibility (bee Sesko - and he’s our only out and out striker).
I honestly fail to see how it’s a problem.
You think he only has a future as a wing back!
If we’re planning for a future without Bruno and we add two defensively competent CMs over the next windows in Bruno/Casemiro’s places I would be interested to see how a lopsided 4-3-3 would work with Amad as the third central midfielder starting from the right.
He would be allowed to occupy the 10 position but also work wide to combine with Mbeumo on the right like he did from the wing back position, but could also occupy the no 10 position and interchange across the front 4. That could allow us to overload the right side with the right back or have a more conservative or defensively minded right back while buying an offensively strong left back who would provide width and overlaps when Cunha drifts in from the left wing.
He would be allowed to occupy the 10 position but also work wide to combine with Mbeumo on the right like he did from the wing back position, but could also occupy the no 10 position and interchange across the front 4. That could allow us to overload the right side with the right back or have a more conservative or defensively minded right back while buying an offensively strong left back who would provide width and overlaps when Cunha drifts in from the left wing.
We do have a selection dilemma along the front three among four, five if you count Mount as a front line player.
As everyone here already knows, Sesko has not sunk his teeth into the bit yet, but he’s not been far off the target in recent matches. We can’t play all five of Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad, Sesko and Mount, but rather than torture ourselves over this question the best answer is undoubtedly playing whoever is in form. And if that means Cunha at 9 with Mbeumo left and Amad right, over vice verse, so be it.
Yeah. It's a standard selection competition and having bench options which is as important as the starters. It's not a clear 3, it'll change game to game and they'll all get chances whether it's starting or off the bench.
The only positions in our team that are "clear starters" is Bruno as a 10, Casemiro in deep midfield and Lammens in net. I'd say Shaw as well. The rest is extremely open
Has to be Sesko, he's a young striker learning his trade, at one of the most pressurised clubs in the world. Put Mbuemo up front who is intelligent running behind and experienced being in the correct places.
Amad right wing all day
Mount hasn't earned the right to start yet in my eyes, bench depth.
Amad right wing all day
Mount hasn't earned the right to start yet in my eyes, bench depth.
I'm hoping for a 4-3-3 formation where the midfield consists of Casemiro as the DM and Bruno as slightly advanced 8 and and Mainoo as a box to box midfielder. This should provide us with more control in the midfield. Against tougher opponents, Ugarte for Mainoo may be a possibility, but hopefully not.
Mazraoui as RB, De Ligt, Martinez and Shaw as LB
Fluid front trio of Amad (starts right), Cunha (starts left) and Mbuemo starts centrally. I think Amad and Mbuemo would interchange a fair bit, and with a defensively very sound Mazraoui behind Amad, Amad can stay a little higher, as well as Mazraoui being comfortable to step inside to a midfield position when necessary to dominate a side in possession. Dropping Amad would be madness. Mount is the one out for me, which is a real shame, but perhaps it is a possibility to manage his minutes even better so that he can stay injury free the rest of the season and be an outlet.
Sesko would be a great option to have off the bench as he offers something very different to the others. Zirkzee hopefully offers something at another club. With the shift in system, we don't really need him as much.
Mazraoui as RB, De Ligt, Martinez and Shaw as LB
Fluid front trio of Amad (starts right), Cunha (starts left) and Mbuemo starts centrally. I think Amad and Mbuemo would interchange a fair bit, and with a defensively very sound Mazraoui behind Amad, Amad can stay a little higher, as well as Mazraoui being comfortable to step inside to a midfield position when necessary to dominate a side in possession. Dropping Amad would be madness. Mount is the one out for me, which is a real shame, but perhaps it is a possibility to manage his minutes even better so that he can stay injury free the rest of the season and be an outlet.
Sesko would be a great option to have off the bench as he offers something very different to the others. Zirkzee hopefully offers something at another club. With the shift in system, we don't really need him as much.
Edit: wait no, Fletcher wasn't Amorim's assistant, was he? So unlikely to keep his principles. Probably still gonna do something similar in terms of formation though, when the team's at full strenght. Gets all the best attacking players on the pitch in a way that makes sense
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When everyone is available it has to be Cunha. Take you pick from Mbeumo or Amad who shifts left or have them swapping regularly, with Bruno behind Sesko.