Manchester United played a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Ruben Amorim’s team are still without a win in the Premier League this season and problems are mounting for the Portuguese manager and his team.
With the season just two matches old, it is already looking like United are going to endure a difficult time this season with their attack, defense and midfield still not up to the usual standards.
One of the players who has missed both the games for United is midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Just like last week in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford, Mainoo was once again an unused substitute against Fulham.
Ruben Amorim reveals reason behind Kobbie Mainoo absence
Amorim confirmed that the reason why Mainoo did not come on for the Red Devils is because he is competing for a place in the team with captain Bruno Fernandes.
“He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno,” Amorim said of Mainoo, as reported by Manchester Evening News.
“And I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.
“So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”
Mainoo deserves to get playing time
Amorim’s comments show that it would be difficult for Mainoo to get a place in the starting line up if he is competing with Bruno.
The Portuguese midfielder is not only the captain of the side but also their most influential player as he showed last season with his impressive performances.
Over the last few seasons, Bruno has been the most consistent United player and dropping him from the team is completely out of question.
However, a talent like Mainoo is being wasted on the bench and considering United are not playing well at the moment. Amorim should find a way to field both Bruno and Mainoo together.
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even though Mainoo is competing with Bruno when things fail to work you need to change. If i can remember well it Mainoo who pushed the team to the final of Europe with that creativity he brought in for that second last goal before Maguire completed the come come. why play Mount for all that long when he has failed to perform. You can as well remove mount push Bruno to play Cunha bring in Mainoo for more creativity .
He is just another stubborn stupid coach. how can you just stick with one system of play. use a 433 or a 4231 to accommodate three midfielders. A good coach sholud also change a system based on the players you have.
If his not going to use then sell him coz there’s no way your going to tell us that he can’t get a place in starting team yet he proved us during Ten hags time but Amorim………..????????
You have all the quality but you don’t know how to use it, last season you told us that the players were bad so what are you going to tell us this time round coz you have your own now
At the moment it seems the coach has players that will be fielded no matter what. Bruno did not play that well and I’m struggling with the logic to not play a striker when you have spent £150 on two strikers. The false nine is not working just like in preseason just so Mount can play. Subbing Casemiro for Dalot. Amad, is another player who doesn’t seem to have a role and was quickly subbed. Urgate is a liability that Mainoo is unlikely to be. Man U are struggling to play from the back, Mainoo is one press-resistant player we are not utilizing. Frustrating
He is just another stubborn stupid coach. how can you just stick with one system of play. use a 433 or a 4231 to accommodate three midfielders. A good coach sholud also change a system based on the players you have.
If I were Mainoo I would see this as an opportunity. Bruno can’t play that position and it will become more and more obvious as time passes.
If I were Bruno,I would take the Dubai money and run… His time is also up and a payday like that isn’t going to present itself much longer. Give it until next summer?
I am still seeing too many noments of individual play. The players seemed to have more freedom in pre season but now seem restricted in their play. The team dynamics, the flow is not there. Playing the striker in behind the line is not working as he cuts an isolated figure. Mount spent the majority of the game playing defensive midfield. He is in good form, however either him, Cunha or Mbeumo should start on the bench.
Such a hurry! Mainoo is 19! He must be patient and use the time to get his game right: he needs to command play and demand the ball which means he has to make himself available to receive the ball in every situation in midfield. Watch Joao Neves for PSG, he moves with the action and makes himself available, receives the ball and passes, often simple passes, other times incisive ones. Neves controls the game flow.
Too often Mainoo drifts upfield out of the play, he is not a forward if he plays that position. He can attack when the moment is right but his first responsibility is maintaining possession and switching the play quickly but cleanly. Can he do that? United concentrate on attacking abilities and seem to forget the ability to pass and keep possession for more than 20 seconds at the moment. The instinct is to go forward, Mainoo needs to change that.
I’m unable to buy amorim’s sentiments, Maino has played with bruno and give maximum performance. When a team is fighting to score, u can throw in even 3 strikers or attckers, when defending a game, can throw more defensive bodies. Why is it difficult to use maino when things fail to work? The box is a box to box md, he brings a different dimension to the team.
Another problem i have with Amorim, he’s just a one system manager, sometimes change system as per the opponent we’re facing, otherwise we gona suffer big deal come end of the season.
I think that is the madness of the coach he is only favoring his country mates bruno is doing nothing in the club these days why is he still giving him much time in the field and he denies a young talented player like that even casmeiro is also old , let maino play Amorim should be dismissed this season he will not take our team any more because he is stupid and he has segregation in the club..
Amrin OUT!!!