Keane says Manchester United ace is ‘getting away with murder’, now he is unstoppable

Ruben Amorim has built some credibility in recent weeks after overseeing a turnaround in performances and results as Manchester United manager.

However, Saturday’s draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground ended the Red Devils’ three-game winning streak in the Premier League. The performance left a lot to be desired, but it was a commendable result.

A gloomy cloud of negativity has hung over Old Trafford for far too long, but Amorim will feel the first signs of change. Not only has his team become more fluent as a unit, but it’s also clearly stronger from a mental standpoint.

The additions of impactful players like Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo have helped revamp the team’s attack, but they’ve also added a number of players who have returned to form after dark and lackluster efforts like last year.

Amorim is back as Manchester United star

Cunha and Mbeumo are difference-makers, but no one epitomizes Manchester United’s budding resurgence under Amorim more than Amad Diallo.

Amad snatched a draw in last weekend’s 2-2 clash with Forest, salvaging the result with a late volley and easing his own frustration at being beaten in the air by Morgan Gibbs-White after the break. Casemiro’s first-half goal was canceled out there.

The Ivorian is a nifty, diminutive playmaker with quick feet and an eye for goal, evidence of which can only be seen at the weekend, with his strikes firmly etched in the hearts of fans.

However, the reshaping of his role as a wing-back meant that his attacking freedom was sacrificed. Amad isn’t a natural defender, but he’s also not a loser on the ball either. He works well on that side of the line and adds strength to a defense that is still finding its final form.

But it’s getting there. Harry Maguire did not play against Tricky Trees, but he proved to be an important player this term. Similarly, Matthijs de Ligt is starting to come into his own after struggling through his first campaign in England.

Casemiro’s opening goal once again underlined his comeback. Jamie Carragher’s scathing comments have gone in vain, with the Brazilian now a central lynchpin for a team that has proved unable to find answers in the engine room.

But an even bigger shift is taking place at the Theater of Dreams. Yes, one of United’s longest-serving stars appears to have found his best form at some point.

Manchester United’s struggling star is no longer available

Manchester United have been through a lot in the last 12 years. Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement was always going to upset Old Trafford, but no one expected the club to fall from its perch the way it has.

While the trophy-winning identity has remained consistent, inconsistency has been rife, with too many frustrating players signed and unable to find the form their skill sets demand.

Perhaps the most important of these cases is that of Luke Shaw, which has made significant progress in a short period of time this year.

As well as enjoying an extended period of fitness, the England international has also been a resolute performer as a left-sided centre-back, with Roy Keane declaring that the defender had been “getting away with murder for years” after playing as if he “didn’t want to tackle anyone” earlier in the season.

Without a doubt, Shaw has struggled throughout his career in terms of fitness levels. He left Southampton to join Man United in 2014 for a fee of more than £30 million, spending more than 11 years at the club and making 297 appearances.

He has languished in the infirmary many times, unable to develop his natural athleticism, energy and technical ability to the point where he is recognized as one of the best left-backs in the world.

But there is reason to be excited about Shaw continuing to progress, having started all 10 of the team’s Premier League games so far this season. He is sharp, aware and solid in his defensive duties.

The points we got at Forest proved that. Viewed in isolation it was a frustrating performance, not fluid enough and it was disappointing to concede twice after the break despite trying hard to create an advantage at the break.

But we are not speaking in isolation here. United played with heart and understanding and Shaw was at the heart of it, building on months of hard work. The Manchester Evening News reported that if he continued his performance, he would be “back in the England squad”.

Keane will be the first to celebrate the show’s rejuvenation. He has no vendetta against the experienced ace, but rather a deep disappointment with the club’s struggles to move forward. Shaw was at the epicenter of it, getting injured or unwell too often. But no more. This is a player who has rediscovered his belief in himself and the joy of wearing the United badge.

This Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur in London will be a great chance to enter the November international break with a sense of real progress. Amorim will definitely use Shaw in his starting lineup. The calmness of the defender and ease of handling the ball are combined with new defensive rules. He is unstoppable at this point.

As Man United’s early-season form has proven, the Red Devils and Shaw have a long way to go before they can look back and appreciate the effort put in.

We need silverware and we need stability in the fight for the top spot. No one knows if United will achieve that, but so far it’s a very good result.