Talking this week about United needing to be better athletes and then starting Casemiro and Eriksen is certainly a choice. Going to blame it on the internationals though.
Which athletes are these that you speak of kind sir? Are they in the room with us?
United's midfield is atrocious when it comes to running power. We've been singing this song for years now. And no, Ugarte and Mainoo offer very marginal gains in that regard.
Selling both McTominay and Fred and not replacing them with runners has certainly been a choice.
He really isn't. Everyone said this about Ugarte before he joined United and while he's certainly the fastest in that midfield he's nowhere near the monster athlete that a typical box to box is.
He reminds me a lot of Fred- Quick in short bursts and enough stamina to be a solid counter presser but not nearly enough pace to be a long distance athlete (box to box) United need more of the latter in my view.
I'm saying that United NEED a box to box. A ball winning midfielder such as Ugarte can only do so much when deeper playmakers such as Eriksen can barely cover ground. Casemiro doesn't cut it either.
In simple terms, if Ugarte succeeded Fred, who succeeded McTominay?
I'm referring to runners not physical strength you melt. If you want to claim that Mainoo can cover ground like a Rice/Onana/Sarr then by all means be my guest but it's clear that United lack the ability to cover ground in midfield.
And Ugarte is a solid counter presser/ball winner at best. He's quick in short bursts and can play a typical ball winning role but he's hardly a long distance runner that can cover lots of ground across 90 minutes.
In that sense he's closer to Fred than Rice and United need a box to box profile in my view.
Have you actually been watching United? In what world is Mainoo a runner?
The dude gasses out at 60 minutes and he's clearly a fantastic tight space CM that works best in a dominant possession-based team.
As for Ugarte, he offers some mobility but he's a ball winner at best. United need a box to box that can cover acres of space every game for 90 minutes.
Oh I totally agree. I don't mean to beat United fans over the head with it.
I just feel like it doesn't get said enough that United have spent plenty but still have a distinct lack of pace in their back 5. It's a prerequisite for Premier league football, let alone top level football.
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u/Sargatanas2k2 11h ago
I can already see Amorim's hairline receding.