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Wednesday night was the first time in recent weeks that questions about: Michael CarrickThe decision is Manchester United He took over as head coach after a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.
The biggest criticism was that the decision to make a substitution was not made until the 69th minute, even though the visitors were clearly underperforming by that stage.
Of course, to Carrick’s credit, the introduction of Benjamin Cescé did bear fruit in stoppage time and the Englishman also replaced Diogo Dalot with Joshua Zirkzee at the last minute.
It was the second injury-time clearance in three games, ensuring the Slovenian is now certain to push for a starting spot after scoring six goals in his last five games.
However, the addition of the 22-year-old will force Carrick to change his attacking approach. Brian MbemoThe role is perhaps worth debating.
Why Manchester United’s Brian Mbemo experiment needs to end
Perhaps the only significant benefit of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system is the ability to operate in tandem with Mbomo and Amad on the right wing, with the pair particularly prolific in away goals at Anfield and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The situation changed with the shift to a 4-2-3-1, with Carrick deploying Amad on the right wing and Mbemo switching between the false nine position or, as was the case against West Ham, moving up the left wing.
United’s top scorer has certainly been in fine form this season, scoring against Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks, although there was a distinct lack of focus in midweek as the Cameroonian failed to really get into the game.
|
Mbemo – vs West Ham & Tottenham |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
west ham united |
Tottenham |
|
minute |
90+ |
87 |
|
touch |
51 |
53 |
|
Target |
0 |
1 |
|
Assist |
1 |
0 |
|
created huge opportunities |
0 |
0 |
|
key pass |
2 |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy |
83% |
81% |
|
Total number of duels won |
2/6 |
2/7 |
|
Dribbling |
0 |
0 |
|
Lost the ball |
12 |
No. 19 |
It wasn’t until Zirkzee came on, with the 26-year-old later moving to the right, that he really came to life, once cutting inside to shoot and cross to help Sesco equalize in the final seconds.
Mbemo, who has scored nine Premier League goals this season, perhaps shouldn’t be moved here or elsewhere, and ensuring a move back to the right wing may be the best course of action next time out against Everton.
Bruno Fernandes takes on the role of No. 10, with Sesko starting in the centre, and in the ongoing absence of Patrick Dorgu, Amad and Matheus Cunha will compete for Mbeumo’s role on the left.
However, neither man was at his best against the Hammers and neither is a natural left-winger, so different solutions may need to be found.
Manchester United’s ‘Reborn Foden’ could be useful on the wing
Looking at the bench on Tuesday night, there was a distinct lack of backup wingers, with the only real offensive replacements being Sesko and Zirkzee – two centers.
A series of wide players have been sent away in recent times, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Anthony, especially Carrick’s ability on the left wing is seriously lacking.
With Cunha usually leaning inside and Amad and Mbemo preferring a role on the right, this could be an opportunity Shay Lacy Making his case to the left.
Now, like Amad and Mbeumo, the 18-year-old has so far been an inverted right-winger, with three of his first-team cameos coming from the right wing, including the FA Cup defeat to Brighton where the teenager picked up a red card.
Nonetheless, Lacey – who has eight goals in eight U21 Premier League games this season – has excelled in the academy on the left in the past and has been dubbed “Phil Foden Regan” Journalist Jack Kenmare hailed his talent as exciting.
As seen in his last game against Burnley, in which he twice came close to scoring from distance, the Englishman likes to cut in from the right with his favored left foot, although he can also excel across the opposition, bypassing defenders regardless of his position on the pitch.
This adaptation to the left is also reflected in Previous comparisons with academy graduate Ryan Giggsthe Wales star was a more orthodox winger in his prime.
While Lacey hasn’t featured since his unfortunate dismissal against the Seagulls, aside from a place in the squad against Fulham, the trip to the London Stadium showed the team is in desperate need of more options on the flanks.
Mbemo looked uncomfortable against Nuno Espiritu Santo’s side, ensuring he is likely to push Lacey into action if Carrick ends his attacking experiment.
