Man Utd transfer news

Subterms

    Latest story

    238 Shares20 Views

    Scott McTominay is perfect solution to Man Utd’s midfield dilemma – he dominates rivals, works hard and scores goals

    by

    SCOTT McTominay is the perfect man to solve Manchester United’s midfield dilemma – if only they hadn’t sold him last summer.None of Ruben Amorim’s current midfielders fit his profile or provide goals (except Bruno Fernandes) and can offer something at both ends of the pitch.Scott McTominay has excelled at NapoliCredit: ReutersMcTominay left Man United for Serie A side Napoli for £30million in the summer, and the transfer split the fanbase.Some fans felt that McTominay was short of the level required at the club.Others, however, were adamant that his blend of physicality and aggression in the central areas were just what the current squad was missing.With the benefit of hindsight, the latter group of fans look to have won the argument.read more in footballNapoli has become home to McTominay, and the fans love him.Napoli sit second in Serie A, one point behind leaders Inter Milan, and the midfielder has played 23 matches so far with six goals and three assists.Contrast this with the ongoing misery at United.Amorim is missing a player in the midfield with the profile of McTominay.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThey are missing his blend of power and aggression, and someone who is equally at home in the attacking or defensive roles.Here Chris Beaumont of We Scout Strikers explains why Man United are missing the Scottish international.Ability to drive through the midfieldAs a rule, Amorim’s midfielders do not typically take the responsibility to move through the zones while in possession of the ball.Ruben Amorim blames results on the pitch for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts They are all neat and tidy technically, and Fernandes, when he gets on the ball in deeper positions, is an aggressive and progressive passer of the ball.But United are lacking a midfield player with the physical capacity to make repeated high-intensity runs through the thirds to link the defence and attack.This is one of McTominay’s biggest strengths, as he has shown so far during his time in Italy with Napoli.Indeed, there is an argument to be made that McTominay would be capable of playing either as one of the two deeper midfielders or as one of the two more advanced midfielders in Amorim’s system at Man United.Here, we see McTominay taking possession of the ball in deeper areas for Napoli. He moves into the final third before seeing the run of Romelu Lukaku ahead of him and playing through the last line.It is fair to say that McTominay is the kind of player who thrives on physical duels.He likes to take possession of the ball and drive forward into any space that the opposition are willing to give him.He is not a standout one-on-one attacker who uses deception and quick feet to outplay opposition defenders.But he does have the physical profile to be exceptionally dangerous once he begins to move with momentum.At the moment, Man Utd are missing a player who has the conditioning and capacity to be effective in both the defensive and attacking phases of the game.For as much as Amorim favours a structured midfield with two deeper players and two more advanced players, there is scope for players to be more fluid in moving towards those zones.This is where a more traditional box-to-box profile like McTominay would be helpful.McTominay takes the ball from just inside his own half and as the opposition backtrack he continues to take the space given to him before shooting from the edge of the areaEverything about the way that Man United play at the moment feels very structured.The would benefit from a player like McTominay who can inject some chaos to the game.McTominay can dominate duelsPart of what has made McTominay so effective since he moved to Napoli has been that his dominance in one-on-one duels, both defensive and attacking.He gives his team an effective platform that they can play into all over the pitch.Whether he is playing as a deeper or more advanced midfield player, his ability to receive the ball when under pressure and to shield the ball allows his team to move forward in a more secure manner.We often see McTominay in the opposition half in possession with multiple defenders around him.While he will never be the most silky smooth or technical of midfielders, he is effective at holding possession, and his physical attributes often allow him to play through pressure and get the ball to a teammate.This is another aspect of his profile that United are currently missing in midfield.McTominay takes the ball under intense pressure from opposition midfielders but because he can stay on the ball he then finds an angle to pass out from the pressure to find the free manMcTominay is so physically strong that he will often attract multiple defensive players over towards the ball as they look to regain possession.If he can then escape the press, he will create space that his teammates can look to exploit.Tactically, this means that Napoli often seem to have a spare man moving into space as they attack into the final third.This is also something that United are badly missing this season.They never seem to be able to create an overload in the attacking phase that they can exploit but having a physical player to hold the ball and bring others into the game would solve that issue.At the moment Man United would benefit from having one of their midfielders who could get on the ball and hold possession before bringing others into the game.Again, there are multiple opposition players looking to engage and close down McTominay as he is in possession of the ballGoalscoring threatMcTominay has developed into something of an underrated player in front of goal as his career has progressed.With his size and frame, he is a threat from set pieces in the area, but he is also underrated with his movement and the timing of his runs from deep.Often, he attacks space with late runs from outside the area, and he can shoot with accuracy and power when coming onto the ball in advanced areas of the pitch.While this has been a notable boost for Napoli this season, his goal contributions are one reason that the club’s fans have so quickly taken to the Scottish midfielder.This has been something that United have lacked from those who play in the deeper midfield positions.McTominay routinely makes good runs to support the attack from deeper positions. He occupies space around the edges of the area and when the ball is cut back into his path he is a dangerous finisher.It would be fair to say that McTominay is not the most natural or clean of finishers but there is no doubting the fact that he is effective in front of goal.He can finish off either foot or with his head and he is dangerous when attacking in transition.All of these are aspects of the game that United are currently severely lacking.There is a real argument that they would have been better served keeping the Scottish international in their midfield.At the moment, Man United are getting goals mainly from the likes of Amad Diallo or Bruno Fernandes, producing some magic.There is no doubt that a midfield player who is so powerful and effective in front of goal like McTominay would have brought something to Amorim’s team.McTominay makes a forward run to get beyond the striker and to get into a more central position. As he receives the pass he can drive through the last line and he goes on to finish the chanceConclusionThe decision to allow Scott McTominay to leave United in the summer is looking more and more like a poor one.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhile the deal was beneficial as McTominay was an academy product who represented pure profit his profile is one that United appears to be missing.As the season progresses, his power and ability to affect the game centrally could have brought real value to Amorim’s United squad. More

    More stories

    • 238 Shares15 Views

      in Soccer

      Ruben Amorim ready to get ‘ruthless’ with Man Utd stars ‘harming the team’ as five in danger of axe

      by

      RUBEN AMORIM is ready to get ruthless in his efforts to make struggling Manchester United a major force once again.The Portuguese boss insists he will be brutally honest with those axed.Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim is about to get ruthless at Old TraffordCredit: ReutersCasemiro is one of the high-paid stars that could be facing the chopCredit: ALAMYUnited would love to get Casemiro’s huge wages off the books, sell loaned out Marcus Rashford and Antony for the right price, while even misfiring duo Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee could go.And Amorim, 40, insists he does not flex his muscles for the sake of it — but no one will doubt his ruthless streak when they see it.Ahead of hosting Fulham in the FA Cup, he said: “I don’t like to be like that just to show strength.“If the team is trying, and I understand that they are trying but they cannot do it, I am not ruthless.Read more Man Utd news“But when I feel that it is something which is going to harm the team, then I am quite ruthless.“Everybody understands that in football sometimes you stay, sometimes you have to move on.“If I know how to explain it, I will do so because I like to be clear.“I was a player and like to use that experience — when you are honest with someone, they can take it.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“In the beginning maybe it is hard but they will understand.“I’m quite honest with my players and sometimes they know they have to move on at the end of the season.Ruben Amorim hits back at Roy Keane after Man Utd legend’s explosive Bruno Fernandes rant “We can talk about that in the end — now there are still a lot of games to play. But that is clear and not a difficult situation.”Amorim’s first 16 Premier League games have yielded just five wins – and a whopping eight defeats.He also set the record for the fewest number of matches to reach five home Prem losses in United history after just seven – half the previous record of 14 set by David Moyes.Amorim knows it has not been good enough.Misfiring Rasmus Hojlund is not safe from the Old Trafford axeCredit: ALAMYWhile Joshua Zirkzee could also be deemed surplus to requirementsCredit: ALAMYBut despite the struggling start to life at Old Trafford and poor results so far, he still has the backing of the majority of fans and former United players alike.Speaking to Rio Ferdinand with TNT Sports, Amorim said: “I feel that [people believing in me].”At the same time, I’m embarrassed by that because if you look at our performance and you see our team sometimes on the pitch, it’s really hard for me as a coach to take a lot of positives.” More

    • 250 Shares27 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Antony’s aura is enough’ – Fans stunned as Real Madrid’s title challenge derailed at Man Utd loanee’s Real Betis side

      by

      FANS have hailed Antony’s “aura” after Real Betis dented Real Madrid’s title hopes.The LaLiga hopefuls were beaten 2-1 at the Benito Villamarin and missed out on the chance to go top of the table.Antony played all 90 minutes against Real MadridCredit: APReal Madrid missed out on the chance to go top of LaLigaCredit: GettyIsco netted the winning goal from the spot for the hostsCredit: EPAAntony, 25, played the full 90 minutes for Betis as he continued his impressive run of form.The Manchester United winger did not score or assist but proved to be a constant thorn in the visitors’ side.Brahim Diaz did fire Carlo Ancelotti’s side into the lead in the tenth minute.However, Antony’s team-mates Johnny Cardoso and former Real star Isco turned the match on its head.READ MORE ON ANTONYCardoso scored the equaliser before Isco converted from the spot after Antonio Rudiger brought down Jesus Rodriguez in the box.But fans on social media are convinced that the result was down to the “aura” of Antony.One posted: “Antony’s aura is enough for a victory.”A second commented: “Antony’s impact is strong.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSA third wrote: “Antony aura it is.”A fourth said: “Hail Lord Antony.”Antony shows his excitement as he joins Real Betis Antony is enjoying playing for Manuel PellegriniCredit: EPAHe has already scored twice in LaLigaCredit: ReutersAnother added: “Let’s all laugh at United for loaning out Antony.”The result leaves Real tied on 54 points with leaders Barcelona but the Catalonians have a crucial game in hand.Antony joined Betis on loan until the end of the season from the Red Devils.He has already made a good impression in Spain with two goals and two assists in his first five outings in LaLiga.His appearance against Getafe was cut short after he was sent off.But the suspension was then overturned – allowing him to play against Real.Old Trafford bosses will be hoping his good form continues so he can be sold for a hefty fee in the summer.Antony has admitted that he has regained his “confidence” since moving to Spain.He has also insisted playing under Betis boss and former Man City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has helped him.He told Estadio Deportivo: “The most important thing to regain my confidence was to reconnect with myself.”I found myself here and that’s why I’m very happy at Betis. Every day I feel more secure.”Pellegrini is very important to me. Before signing with Betis, I spoke with him, and he gave me a lot of confidence.”His experience and history give me energy every day to do well.”When I made the decision to come here, it was to find myself again, as I mentioned before.”There is always pressure, but the greatest pressure I felt was when I was living in the poor neighbourhoods of Brazil, thinking about my family and everything.”The club forked out an eye-watering £85.5million on the Brazilian back in the summer of 2023.Manager Ruben Amorim has been asked about the winger’s upturn in form since leaving Manchester.The Portuguese coach has insisted the different physicality level in Spain has helped Antony to shine.He told TNT Sports: “When you play against any team in England, the physicality is there.”If you don’t have physicality, you will struggle a lot.”Antony is so much better now in Spain. It’s [because of] a lot of factors but I guarantee you it’s physicality.”The former Ajax man has also revealed that he is “happy” in Betis but has remained coy on his future.Antony has been tipped to make a permanent exit from Old Trafford in the summer, but he is remaining tight-lipped on his future.He said: “I’m very happy here, but I don’t know what will happen in the future.”I always say that I enjoy every day with the club, the city and everything that surrounds me, and I give my best for the team.”It’s still too early to talk about my future.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I know how much money they paid for me.”I worked and continue to work hard to perform at the highest level, but I don’t focus on transfer prices, neither mine nor any other player’s.”Ruben Amorim has addressed Antony’s success since leaving on loanCredit: GettyHe is not concerned with his price tagCredit: Getty More

    • 250 Shares20 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Still a baller’ – Marcus Rashford equals Man Utd feat in 420 fewer games for Aston Villa as renaissance continues

      by

      FANS say an amazing stat shows Marcus Rashford has “turned into Pirlo”.The loanee created SIX chances for Aston Villa against Cardiff – equalling his highest tally in 426 matches for parent club Manchester United.Marcus Rashford has impressed in his first few weeks at VillaCredit: GettyThe striker was virtually frozen out at Old TraffordCredit: GettyThe England forward, 27, fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim at home-town club United this season.But since his February switch, fans reckon he’s transformed from rudderless Red Devil to venomous Villain in just six games.Rashford bagged 138 goals and 63 assists in nine years at Old Trafford.And in his month with Villa he’s notched three assists from just 285 minutes of action.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIndeed he teed up the first of two goals for fellow temporary signing Marco Asensio as Cardiff were KO’d 2-0 in the FA Cup on Friday.Fans then reacted with awe after learning the Mancunian had matched his career-best achievement of supplying half a dozen scoring opportunities in one game.One observer called it a “brutal stat” and added: “Rashford’s been having a nightmare season but this really puts into perspective how badly things have gone for him at United before he joined Aston Villa.”Another pointed out: “Rashford is still a baller.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd a third made a reference to an Italian pass master that even the 60-cap ace himself might never have imagined.The fan wrote: “Bro turned Pirlo overnight creating chances here and there…”Awkward moment Aston Villa keeper refuses to move out of net and let kids take penalties at half-time of Crystal Palace clash A fourth admirer insisted: “He’s on fire.”And as Rashford stews over his long-term future, another supporter urged him: “Cook Rash Cook.”SunSport revealed last month he has not written off his dream of joining Barcelona.But the Spanish giants’ sporting director Deco dented that hope by insisting Barca were not “desperate” to sign him. More

    • 263 Shares26 Views

      in Soccer

      Troy Deeney: Beware Sir Jim Ratcliffe, keep making staff redundant and you’ll lose heart and soul of Man Utd, trust me

      by

      MORALE among Manchester United’s players must be low enough as it is.But when you throw in a total of 450 staff losing their jobs – around 40 per cent of the club’s workforce – it is hardly going to help matters.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has announced another sweeping round of cuts at Old TraffordCredit: PANothing is going right on or off the pitch for Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyTroy Deeney has seen first hand what staff redundancies at a club can meanCredit: The SunFirst and foremost, it must be ­killing boss Ruben Amorim to have to keep answering questions about something which is not his fault, when he has only been at the club for two minutes.And from a PR point of view – with United in the bottom half – the optics are terrible.When was there last any positive news at Old Trafford?Probably when Amorim was appointed – although that optimism didn’t last long.Having spent most of my career at Watford, a far smaller operation with fewer employees, I was gobsmacked to hear United employed as many as 1,140 people before Sir Jim Ratcliffe got his axe out.Maybe many of the roles Ratcliffe is slashing are non-essential. Maybe there genuinely was fat to trim.And maybe the players themselves wouldn’t ever have met a lot of them.When you hear about 450 job losses – 250 in the last round of redundancies, with 200 more to follow – it can sound like just a figure.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut then I started thinking about the behind-the-scenes staff at ­Watford, people I actually know, and then it became more personal.Because some of these people are the heart and soul of a football club.Andy Goldstein insists Sir Jim Ratcliffe has got everything wrong at Man Utd after drastic cuts For instance, in the training-room canteen at Watford, there were Linette and Sharon.They served us food and drink but they did far more than that.If we’d lost a few games, they were the people who lifted us.If we needed bringing down a peg or two, they would keep us grounded.Some of these people are the heart and soul of a football club.”Oh yeah, you scored the winning goal in an FA Cup semi-final but do you think you can leave your dirty plates lying around?”Linette had been at the club for 35 or 40 years – since Graham Taylor’s first spell as manager.If you were feeling down, just try moaning at her and Sharon and you would hear something along the lines of ‘oh yeah, it must be so hard being a professional footballer, my heart bleeds for you’.There will be staff like that at United’s training ground.Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…And I hope for the sake of the players, that those sorts of people are not being made redundant.Then there was Gail, Watford’s club secretary. Or should I say the club secretary/therapist.When I needed to vent, I’d go and vent at Gail in her office and the world seemed a better place.It was the same for a lot of players.And then there was Scott — also known as ‘Eeyore’ — the miserable head groundsman, who was actually one of the funniest blokes you could ever meet. He won awards for the playing ­surface at Vicarage Road.He took such pride in his work that he resented you actually playing or training on his pitches.If he could have erected a ‘Keep Off The Grass’ sign at the training ground, he would have done.There was Richard, the long-serving media officer, who protected the club’s image with his life.And another Richard, the player liaison officer, who was a godsend.His was a role which some might reckon showed how pampered footballers can be – but I disagree.We’d have so many youngsters, aged 18 to 21, coming over from abroad, with little grasp of English, who had never lived away from home.Rich would do everything for them.Even when the club’s owners don’t actually care. All of these people were invaluable and would have excellent ­relationships with many players.He would tell them where to live, how to pay their bills, work out where their parents would stay if they came to visit.For older players, he would find schools for their kids.As captain, I’d have to tell players not to take the p*** because Richard was so dedicated he’d be sorting out their social diaries.Some of the biggest unsung heroes at any club are those who work in the community department – many of whom are volunteers.They ensure a club is in touch with its roots, playing a proper role in the local area.United’s players have endured a horror season and their mood won’t be improved by staff redundanciesCredit: GettyEven when the club’s owners don’t actually care. All of these people were invaluable and would have excellent ­relationships with many players.When Watford were relegated, quite a few people I knew were made redundant by the club and that was what killed me more than anything.As a player, you know you have a short career, and that you’ve worked hard to get to the top in a very ­competitive industry.But you also know you are very well paid, that you could go six months without money if you had to — and you were fully aware that most of these people being made redundant were facing the possibility of real hardship.I don’t believe that United can make 450 people redundant without it having any impact on the players. Cut away too much ‘fat’ and you can end up losing your heart and soul.I thought long and hard about whether I should dig into my own pocket to help them out.Now, I’m a rarity in the modern game in that I stayed at one club for ten years and really got to know many of the staff at Watford.Many players who are just passing through won’t be so bothered because they don’t have those ­personal relationships with staff.And in a workforce of over a ­thousand, there will be people who are expendable.Footballers can be a selfish breed. In some ways, it is part of the ­mindset needed to be a successful professional sportsman.But I don’t believe that United can make 450 people redundant without it having any impact on the players.Cut away too much ‘fat’ and you can end up losing your heart and soul. More

    • 250 Shares24 Views

      in Soccer

      Five things we learned from Man Utd’s win over Ipswich including where Hojlund’s going wrong and new role for Fernandes

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED achieved a narrow 3-2 win over Ipswich on Wednesday.Three set pieces delivered by Bruno Fernandes proved to be the difference against Kieran McKenna’s relegation battlers.Ruben Amorim was left with more questions than answers about Man Utd after their 3-2 win over IpswichCredit: GettyThere are a number of profile issues within the squadCredit: PAAnd there are also attacking dilemmas for the 40-year-old to faceCredit: PABut Ruben Amorim was still left with a number of problems to solve.The most glaring of all is the shocking defensive frailty on show by both the back line and the goalkeeper.Meanwhile, they remain agonisingly toothless in open play with Rasmus Hojlund continuing to struggle, even before Utd went down to ten men after Patrick Dorgu’s sending off.Below we analyse five key points from the win over Ipswich.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDefensive profiles are not right for a back threeMan Utd playing almost exclusively in a back three should come as no surprise to anyone inside or outside of the club following Amorim’s appointment.He has used that system throughout his coaching career and very rarely used a back four. The issue is the profiles of the central defenders Amorim has at his disposal do not lend themselves to playing in the system. Arguably Leny Yoro, a young player who is still developing, has the athletic ability to play as one of the wide central defenders, although it still requires a very specific skillset.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThose players have to be mobile and athletic enough to defend when isolated and in space in the wide areas. Against Ipswich Yoro played on the left and looked relatively comfortable. Ruben Amorim hits back at Roy Keane after Man Utd legend’s explosive Bruno Fernandes rant Elsewhere, Matthijs de Ligt played on the right to accommodate Harry Maguire playing as the central player in the back three.De Ligt is a very good defensive player but his profile is as a right-sided central defender in a back four or as the central defender in a back three. Here De Ligt and Maguire were caught high and out of position as the opposition counter attack with neither able to recover properlyHe lacks the mobility, speed and athleticism to be able to defend effectively when he is pulled out into wide areas. As Amorim is trying to get both Maguire and De Ligt into the starting line-up it means one of the two has to play in a role they are not comfortable with.Bruno Fernandes has to play deeperWhen Amorim was initially appointed one of the most pressing questions that needed to be answered from a tactical point of view was surrounding the specific role Fernandes would play for him. Fernandes, United’s captain, was already very familiar with the system Amorim favoured as he is a Sporting Lisbon fan who had watched them frequently following his departure.Bruno Fernandes played in a deeper position against Ipswich which worked a treatCredit: GettyIn the early stages we have seen Fernandes used, for the most part, as one of the two advanced midfielders behind the striker.There is a very real argument, however, that his best role in this system would be as one of the two deeper midfielders.And against Ipswich this is where he was used and to great effect. While he is not a particularly defensive midfielder, he is one of the most aggressive and effective passers in the Premier League and his ability to quickly get on the ball and play forward passes into the opposition half and the final third can create real value for Man Utd. Against Ipswich we saw him regularly dropping into his own defensive third to get on to the ball before then playing forward passes to hurt the opposition.Here Fernandes drops deep to receive the ball and from these positions can play long switches or forwardBall progression from deeper areas has been one of the biggest issues for United under Amorim and in moving Fernandes into deeper areas where he can impact this we have seen the coach move to solve the issue. This probably should be the Portuguese midfielder’s role going forward, but as discussed on Tactics Exposed, his “Steven Gerrard syndrome” needs to be put in check for the team to do better.Unlocking Joshua ZirkzeeSigning Joshua Zirkzee in the summer was an interesting move for Man Utd.While he had just enjoyed a strong season in front of goal for Bologna, Zirkzee was never really seen as an out and out striker. Joshua Zirkzee has found a new lease of life as one of the No10s in Amorim’s 3-4-3Credit: GettyHe has never really convinced when played by Amorim or his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, as the lone striker. But in recent weeks, partly down to injury and profile needs, we have seen Zirkzee used as one of the two most advanced midfielders behind the striker which has unlocked his potential more.By playing deeper Zirkzee is able to use his size and technical ability to really impact the game. He shows very strong positional sense in moving along the final third and finding pockets of space that he can occupy in order to receive the ball from team-mates.He has the ability to receive and hold off defenders while combining and bringing team-mates into the game.Here we see how Zirkzee is able to take up space behind the Ipswich midfield to provide a forward passing optionWhile some other players who have played as one of the two behind the strikers, like Amad Diallo or Alejandro Garnacho are more traditionally wingers we see Zirkzee taking up more natural positions centrally as he is used to that kind of role. There is every chance that the Dutch international will have a key role for United from now to the end of the season.Solving a problem like Rasmus HojlundPerhaps that is too harsh on Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker has impressed at times since joining from Atalanta, but he has yet to really go on a consistent run of games where he really grabs a game and makes a decisive difference in the final third. Rasmus Hojlund is proving a real problem for Man UtdCredit: AFPOne of the most regular knocks on Hojlund is that for a striker with his physical gifts he does not take enough shots at goal. While the numbers don’t lie in this regard, it is part of a more substantial problem and one seen again in the match against Ipswich.Hojlund has a habit of not staying high enough and not giving his team a platform to play into as the lone striker. He has the pace and power to be dangerous when playing on the last shoulder but he wants to come off the front line into deeper positions in order to look for the ball. Here United have actually worked their way into a strong position in the final third but Hojlund has come too deep meaning they lack a central presenceWhile this is fine at points it means United are lacking a presence on the last line and it happens too often.Hojlund needs to display better attacking instincts and more effective positioning as a striker if he is to prove that he really is the answer to United’s goalscoring problem.United need to continue leveraging set piecesSet pieces were the key for United in this match with all three of their goals, one own goal and two from central defenders, coming as a result of set pieces. Given that the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in particular are so effective when it comes to making the most of set pieces this is an area of the game that United need to continue to build on. This is especially important for a team like United who are struggling to get regular goals from their central strikers.Against Ipswich the delivery from these situations from Fernandes (that man again) was key and although their routines were not overly creative they were effective. United have found success with set pieces recentlyIf United are going to move back up the Premier League table and end this season with a trophy it feels important that they are able to make the most out of these opportunities to create chances.Strong set piece preparation and good execution is one area in which United can quickly make marginal gains in terms of the chances they are able to create.ConclusionIt is difficult to be too critical of United in a game they won but there are still clear signs both that they do not have the correct profiles in their squad to play the way that Amorim wants.READ MORE SUN STORIESTime and strong recruitment will be needed but there were still some interesting points in the match against Ipswich.Will lessons be learned for Sunday’s clash with Fulham, though?Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings… More

    • 200 Shares42 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd seek new algorithm to predict injuries with just seven players remaining fit all season

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED want to create an algorithm to help predict injuries for new signings.That is because only SEVEN players from the start of the season have stayed out of the medical room all season.Lisandro Martinez tore his ACL against Crystal Palace last monthCredit: AlamyHe will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgeryCredit: AlamyNoussair Mazraoui had a scare against EvertonCredit: RexMason Mount’s Man Utd career has been marred by injuriesCredit: RexUnited are reportedly on the hunt for an innovative “injury-predicting” algorithm to tackle the club’s woes.The Red Devils have reached out to the University of Manchester to tap into their pool of bright young minds.According to the Manchester Evening News, this initiative is part of United’s grand scheme to overhaul their data analytics strategy.In 2012, United claimed their new medical centre at Carrington had the facilities to predict injuries.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSSir Alex Ferguson billed the centre as “a big signing for us and probably the most important step forward we have taken in a long, long time”.United recorded 66 separate cases of injury or illness last season.While 12 players were unavailable for the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham a fortnight ago. Ruben Amorim was forced to included eight untried teenagers to his matchday squad in North London.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSNine senior squad members were sidelined for the draw with Everton last week and the win against Ipswich Town on Wednesday.Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Casemiro have avoided injury this season.How Bruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ spoils Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd systemBruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho make up the seven stars who have been available for every game.But Mazraoui did miss two games in October through a heart scare, but hasn’t been injured per say.New signing Patrick Dorgu has avoided any injuries in his four games since joining on January.The left-back will, however, serve a one-match ban after being sent off for a horror tackle on Ipswich star Omari Hutchinson on Wednesday.United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed that data analysis “doesn’t really exist. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here”.There is no specific return date for Mason Mount, who joined for a fee rising to £60million from Chelsea in July 2023.The former Chelsea captain has played in 33 games out of a possible 93.Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…A United source said the club has used extensive data science to manage players’ workloads to try and reduce and avoid injuries.Luke Shaw, who has not started a match for United in over a year, has featured just three times from the bench this season.The first significant injury of Shaw’s career was the fractured tibia and fibula he suffered in his second season at the club. While the 29-year-old has enjoyed sustained periods of fitness since then, his career has been dogged by persistent injury issues.READ MORE SUN STORIESAccording to Transfermarkt, Shaw has suffered 29 injuries during his time at United and spent a remarkable 1,630 days out injured. Lisandro Martinez (anterior cruciate ligament) and Amad Diallo (ankle) have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. More

    • 163 Shares45 Views

      in Soccer

      How Bruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ is spoiling Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd system

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED are looking to find a silver lining in their woeful season by winning the FA Cup but will need to beat Fulham in the fifth round on Sunday to move a step closer to that goal.The Red Devils beat Ipswich 3-2 earlier this week despite being down to ten men, but are still flattering to deceive in many ways.On today’s Tactics Exposed we break down why Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 is not workingCredit: GettyBruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ is both a blessing and a curse for UnitedCredit: ReutersRasmus Hojlund will need a big turnaround to prove he is the solution at Man UtdCredit: EPAA young, talented Portuguese manager could prove a huge thorn in the side of Man Utd when Marco Silva’s Fulham visit Old Trafford.The Cottagers have gone under the radar for how good a season they are having, sitting in the top half of the table.Meanwhile, Man Utd’s various shortcomings have been well-documented with Ruben Amorim’s system still failing to get the best out of this squad.So how might the ex-Sporting boss look to tackle the next match against Fulham? Our latest episode of Tactics Exposed, in association with Betfair, will hopefully have the answers to all your questions.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhy is 3-4-3 not working?Amorim’s 3-4-3 system worked wonders at Sporting Lisbon, winning two Portuguese titles and many other accolades. So why is it yet to translate over to England?We took a range of questions from fans about Man Utd’s tactics ahead of their clash with FulhamThe simple answer to start with is that many of these players have never played the system before.Manuel Ugarte, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt to a lesser extent are the only players familiar with the system, and the lack of specialists in various positions including central midfield and wing-backs are a huge issue.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSSo why does Amorim insist on playing 3-4-3? Well the idea is quite simple: Because the wing-backs provide overloads in all positions on the pitch.When defending, you have a back five, when in possession, you have a four-man midfield instead of two, and when attacking, you have a front five.Roy Keane slams Man Utd in angriest ever rant and has bust-up with Wright over BrunoBefore signing Patrick Dorgu, United lacked a specialist wing-back. Amad Diallo was tried out there before he was moved into the front three, Alejandro Garnacho did not work there, while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are not quick enough to excel.At Sporting the system worked so well because there was a lot of trust given to players.We should note this was often against sides who many would consider inferior opposition, which is not a luxury as readily extended into the Premier League.Ultimately, as Amorim has warned, it will take time.Players have been left isolated by moving out of their positionsAnother reason this system is failing is that players are moving out of position, leaving them overloaded instead of the opposition.For example, if a long ball is played into the right channel for Rasmus Hojlund to run on to – which prompts a wing-back, one of the tens and a midfielder to step up – when possession is conceded back to the opposition they end up being overloaded and exposed on the other side of the pitch.This happened five or six times against Ipswich, where Ugarte moved out to right wing-back to get the ball, but the wing-back was out wide, so he did not get the ball.Fulham will doubtless look to block the passing lane off which will then leave them outnumbered in trying to find passing solutions.This all comes from the simple fact United players are not being utilised properly when building up.Is Bruno Fernandes overrated?We looked at whether Fernandes is doing too much at Man UtdOur latest episode of Tactics Exposed, in association with Betfair, has given us the chance to directly answer some of your questions.And one of the most heavily debated stars in the Premier League is Bruno Fernandes, as seen with Roy Keane’s explosive argument with Ian Wright earlier this week. The raw numbers tell a story of Fernandes being the star man of Man Utd’s team, with six goals and seven assists in the Premier League and 23 goal contributions across 39 games in all competitions this season.However, as is always the case in football, you have to look a bit deeper to find the real answer, which can often have more than one truth.In one sense, the stats are completely right and you can’t fault his effort.But in his duty as club captain, Fernandes is actually taking on too much responsibility and is therefore disrupting Amorim’s system which is actually quite rigid with defined roles for a number of players.Fernandes has recently been the left-sided midfielder in the central pivot after moving back from one of the two attacking midfield roles. But that has created its own new problem.In the system, the central centre-back, two central midfielders and striker should generally remain in a set position.But Fernandes is suffering from something I will dub “Steven Gerrard syndrome”, where he is trying to do everything and putting the team off balance.While it means he gets on the ball a lot and has a heat map across the entire pitch, Fernandes’ effort ends up creating an overload which favours the opposition.Against Ipswich he would often move into the back three, therefore creating a four, which paired with Ugarte drifting out wide it ends up allowing the opposition to have many extra numbers in attacking areas.So how do you fix this issue? As we mentioned earlier, it comes down to trust.Most teams defend in a 4-4-2 shape, and if Fernandes remains disciplined by staying in his area, it can open passing lanes and create the overloads the Amorim system is designed to create.Of course there is the argument Fernandes is only doing too much because those around him are not pulling their weight. Again, this may be true, with many United players seemingly playing in a cowardly manner and lacking courage.Fernandes needs to learn to trust his team-mates more by handing them more responsibility, but at the same time they need to step up their game to get near the 30-year-old’s level.Rasmus Hojlund is not the answer, is he? More

    • 238 Shares25 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘I am heartbroken’ – Man Utd’s pre-eminent writer reveals he’s victim of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cuts in emotional post

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED’S most esteemed writer has been let go by the club amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s second round of brutal cuts.Ratcliffe, 72, completed a minority takeover in 2023 and has since gained control over sporting operations at United, which in turn led to some severe downsizing.Manchester United’s ‘pre-eminent writer’ has been let go amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s second round of cutsCredit: AlamyLast summer saw 250 staff members made redundant in a heavy first wave to save costs under Sir Jim.But the list of casualties is set to increase by between 150 and 200 job cuts amid the club’s transformation plan, which includes axing free lunches.That also led to the dismissal of some of the Red Devils’ most esteemed figures, such as legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson whose ambassador role was ended.And now best-selling author Wayne Barton has become “one of the statistics” of Ratcliffe’s latest cuts.Read More on Man UtdBarton worked as an editorial consultant for the club since January 2023 and has been very close with the club for many years.His incredible work, which has seen him publishing 20 books, led to immense praise from key figures, such as Tony Whelan and Martin Edwards who dubbed him the club’s “pre-eminent writer”.The writer was left “heartbroken ” as he announced the news on social media where he sang the praises of other members of staff who were made redundant and expressed his desire to return one day.Barton tweeted: “So just over two years in my dream job came to an end today as I became one of the statistics you’ve been reading about in the press associated with United.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”For those two years I loved every day of being able to work at Old Trafford, I loved the immense privilege despite it being such a difficult time in our history, hoping that I could help from within to contribute something positive.”I’m beyond proud of my work outside of United, the kind reviews of my books and perception of me as a writer. Ruben Amorim makes blunt admission as Man Utd face cash crisis “Obviously, I am heartbroken that my contribution is no longer of value to the club I love.”I understand that difficult decisions have to be made. I have seen very talented people leave their roles, and I have seen legendary figures who are drenched in the history of our club been told they too are now part of the past; a past which is, for me, the richest history in football, a past which these people remain a significant part of the tapestry and educational process for the future. “They are indispensable; the cost of losing them far greater than financial.’I am heartbroken’He continued: “It’s the biggest club in the country, possibly the world, and every loss I’ve seen and experienced has been significant to the operations. Every loss has been felt.”These are real people, real lives, being affected – not because of the quality of their performance or contribution. They work incredibly hard and feel, like I have done, a sense of gratitude and privilege and a dream coming true. “There are people having to deliver terrible news which wasn’t their decision to make. A football club is not a normal business. It is a community asset, serving different needs. It is it’s history.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Anyway. So today I leave the club I love, hoping that one day, they will need me again, and that I’ll be back, my tiny little cog in the big machine, my sense of grandoise not lost on me with the self-importance of this post.”I’m by no means an important loss, but it’s an important loss to me.” More