Manchester United return to action in the Premier League this afternoon as they prepare to welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford for their eighth match of the season.
The Red Devils have only won one of their first seven games in the top-flight under head coach Michael Carrick, and come into this clash off the back of a dismal European showing.
Lake Como was the scene of the latest United disaster as Como swept them aside comfortably with a 4-1 win in the Champions League earlier this week.
Carrick has some big decisions to make after that loss to the Serie A side, and one of them is whether or not to drop Bruno Fernandes from the starting line-up.
Why Bruno Fernandes should be dropped by Man Utd
After the defeat to Como, the United skipper spoke to the press and criticised the decision by the staff to not go man-to-man in their press, which left them exposed to overloads.
United were said to be disappointed with his public criticism of coaching choices, but he is not going to be stripped of the captaincy or internally disciplined.
Carrick could discipline him, though, by dropping the reigning Premier League Player of the Year from the starting line-up for this afternoon’s game against Bournemouth.
Bruno Fernandes’ last 6 Man Utd starts | ||
|---|---|---|
Opposition | Possession lost | Goals + assists |
Como | 15x | 0 + 0 |
Leeds | 20x | 0 + 0 |
Atletico Madrid | 11x | 0 + 0 |
Spurs | 16x | 0 + 0 |
Fulham | 21x | 0 + 0 |
Man City | 11x | 0 + 0 |
In his last six starts in all competitions for the Red Devils, Fernandes lost possession a staggering 94 times without contributing with a goal or an assist for the team.
Dropping the Portugal international from the side could give him a chance to reset and recharge to rediscover his best form, whilst also providing another player with an opportunity to shine.
Carrick must unleash Man Utd’s new Nani
Taking the skipper out of the side could open the door for the former Middlesbrough head coach to unleash Manchester United’s new version of Nani on the wing.
The Portuguese forward won four Premier League titles during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at Old Trafford and was an exciting, yet inconsistent, wide player.
He scored 41 goals and provided 66 assists in 230 appearances in all competitions for United, and never hit double figures for goals in a Premier League season.
Now, Amad Diallo is following in his footsteps as a sometimes infuriating, sometimes brilliant, winger who can get supporters out of their seats as much as he can get them throwing their arms up in frustration.
The Ivorian attacker started on the bench against Como in the Champions League, as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo played out wide, and was substituted on at half-time.
In his second-half cameo, Amad showed exactly why he deserves to be starting matches because he was direct, exciting, and effective on the flank.
Vs Como | Amad Diallo |
|---|---|
Minutes | 45 |
Shots on target | 2 |
Key passes | 2 |
Big chances created | 1 |
Assists | 1 |
Successful dribbles | 5 |
Duels won | 8/14 |
He completed five dribbles, registered two shots on target, and created two chances for his teammates in 45 minutes, after Cunha managed zero shots on target, zero key passes, and zero dribbles in the first half.
It was Amad’s brilliant inswinging cross from the right that found Joshua Zirkzee to score United’s late consolation goal on the night, capping off an impressive cameo off the bench.
The left-footed star may not be the most consistent attacker, as he had failed to score or assist any goals in his three previous outings this season, but his showing off the bench in Italy was evidence of the kind of quality that he can provide.
Like Nani, Amad is exciting, direct, and a joy to watch at his best, but he does not always reach that level. Carrick must, now, drop Fernandes and unleash the winger in the hope that he can be at his best this afternoon.
That change will then allow Mbeumo to exclusively play through the middle as the centre-forward, which could give United more of an outball with his pace in behind the defence.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
