3 key passes, 100% long balls, 3/4 dribbling: this young gun was the clear standout performer in United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham

Manchester United slumped to a frustrating draw with West Ham United on Thursday evening. Coming off a convincing 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace, Man United were the clear favourites, yet they were unable to secure three points at their fortress of Old Trafford. Despite dominating the flow of play against the Premier League strugglers, United fumbled their lead thanks to their complacency. After scoring the opener, United took their foot off the gas, almost giving up on attacking altogether as the match wore on. As a result, one moment of defensive vulnerability was all it took for West Ham to grab a point. Still, there was one bright spot in what was a largely disappointing showing from United. The standout performer If there was one player who truly shone in a United jersey under the Old Trafford floodlights this evening, it was Amad Diallo. Near the half-hour mark, Amad dribbled into the box and laid the ball off to Joshua Zirkzee for a clear goalscorer opportunity, only for Zirkzee’s attempt to be cleared off the line. He also drilled a pair of threatening crosses into the box, showing his desire to put his teammates on the scoresheet. Still, this wasn’t the only way he impressed. The core of United’s attack StatisticValue PlayerAmad Diallo Goals0 Assists0 Expected assists (xA)0.64 Big chances created1 Key passes3 Crosses (accurate)7 (2) Accurate passes45/51 (88%) Passes in opposition half (acc.)31/35 (89%) Passes in own half (acc.)14/16 (88%) Long balls (accurate)1/1 (100%) Total shots0 Shots on target0 Shots blocked0 Touches74 Unsuccessful touches1 Dribbles (successful)4 (3) Was fouled2 Possession lost14 Tackles (won)0 (0) Interceptions0 Clearances2 Blocked shots0 Recoveries4 Ground duels (won)9 (5) Aerial duels (won)1 (0) Fouls2 Dribbled past0 Amad was a driving force behind the United attack. He exhibited great quality on the ball, completing three of four dribbles and winning five of his nine ground duels. The Ivorian’s passing was exceptional, with 45 of 51 passes finding their target (88% accuracy). He completed his only long ball of the evening, while two of his seven crosses met their mark. Most impressively, he performed three key passes, consistently proving to be a determined playmaker within West Ham’s final third. Although there weren’t a lot of positive points to take away from United’s performance, Amad proved that he has the talent to be a crucial component in United’s attack as the season wears on. Ruben Amorim would do well to make the most of the 23 year old’s talent as United chases success this season. (Stats via Sofascore) Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.