Same formation, different result: Amorim will save his job by making three simple changes to United’s system – opinion

3-4-2-1. A sequence of numbers which has come to dominate the conversation swirling around Manchester United since Ruben Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP last year to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach is inexorably linked to his trademark 3-4-2-1 system, comprised of three centre-backs, two wing-backs, a midfield pivot with a number nine flanked by two number tens. But where the set-up produced unrelenting success in Lisbon, Amorim is yet to find the right balance in Manchester after twelve months of trying. He will not stop, however, publicly stating INEOS would have to “change the man” in the dug out if they want to change the system on the pitch. As such, there is little point discussing how United’s team may look in a different formation, no matter how egregious it may look – as it undoubtedly did for 77 minutes against a 10-man Everton team at Old Trafford on Monday night. But there are three simple tactical changes Amorim can make without being forced to abandon his system – and they may just save the 40-year-old coach’s job come the end of the season. Sort out the left-hand side United’s left-hand side is in desperate need of upgrading; without this, Amorim will continue to tear his hair out watching his team attack almost exclusively down the right. The wing-back positions are absolutely essential to the successful implementation of his system. And it’s little wonder there have been struggles over the past twelve months without a proper option on the left. Patrick Dorgu has a selection of positive attributes, mainly relating to his athleticism and duel-winning abilities, and is young enough – he only turned 21 in October – to improve from his current position. But the Denmark international is not good enough going forward to help Amorim actualise his philosophy on the pitch – and this will not be a quick fix, given Dorgu’s struggles in possession. Amorim has trialled, unsuccessfully, Diogo Dalot on his unfavoured foot at left wing-back – an experiment only masochistic United fans want to see repeated. The 40-year-old coach revealed in a press-conference yesterday that United need to sign an option on the left to mirror Amad’s performance on the right to be a “better team”. But the January transfer window is still more than a month away, and finances will be limited. So what is an under-pressure coach to do? Use the most technically gifted fullback at the club in a position to maximise his gifted technique, even if it risks injury in the process. Luke Shaw has started every Premier League match this season. But Amorim has deployed him on the left in the back three, with Lisandro Martinez yet to play since injuring his ACL in February. For the most part, the English defender has played well in this position – and it suits his fragile body, given the reduced workload in comparison to playing at fullback or wing-back. But United are only playing one match a week at present, given the early exit in the Carabao Cup and the lack of European football at Old Trafford this season. And Martinez is back in first-team training, with the Argentina international pushing to make his return on the pitch this weekend against Crystal Palace. This combination – a relaxed schedule and a fantastic option at LCB – means Amorim must shift Shaw into the left wing-back role, and allow the 30-year-old to demonstrate the full array of attacking talents he has to offer. Compensations can be made, tactically and practically, to limit the number of high-intensity sprints he has to make and the amount of minutes he plays – Amorim’s use of Casemiro as a sixty-minute man is the template for this – in order to protect him. Shaw at LWB and Martinez at LCB is a tactical switch made in decision – but the effects will be felt in the opposition half, with United’s attacking threat being radically improved down the left, bringing it up to par with the right-hand side of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo. It’s a risk, given Shaw’s injury history,  but it’s one the Portuguese coach must make between now and January 1 if he is to steady a ship which feels one bad result from the verge of capsizing, precisely because its so lopsided. Don’t fix what isn’t broken As explained above, United’s main attacking threat has come from the right-hand side this season, with the potent pairing of Mbeumo and Amad combining to overwhelm opposition left-backs – just ask Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez. But Amorim has decided at times, due to absences elsewhere on the pitch or the quality of the opposition, to move Amad from the right wing-back role, and replace him with either Dalot or Noussair Mazroaui, two safer options. It may produce a more defensively robust backline – but the attacking thrust down United’s right wing is definitely neutered as a result. And when combined with the impotent left-hand side, the effect is terminal. Amorim has to treat the combination of Mbeumo as the RAM and Amad as the RWB as sacrosanct. When both are available and fit, as they have been for the vast majority of the campaign, they must play in their optimal roles, regardless of the sacrifices that entails elsewhere on the pitch. This approach may just be slightly impacted by the looming prospect of the African Cup of Nations, however. Which brings us to swich number three. Trust Kobbie, move Bruno Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s best player, regardless of where he plays – and this versatility is both a blessing and a curse. Amorim has decided to exclusively deploy the Portugal international in central midfield as he is the only option capable of coming close to meeting his coach’s demands for the position. However, this has limited his attacking output, though the acquisitions of Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo were designed to offset this. But it has also reduced Kobbie Mainoo – United’s standout academy graduate and England international – to a bit-part role, with the 20-year-old midfielder yet to start a league match this season. With the loss of Mbeumo (and Amad) next month to international commitments, Amorim will be forced to adapt to the loss of an important forward. It’s already an issue he will contend with against Palace tomorrow, given the absences of Cunha and Benjamin Sesko through injury. Fernandes has to be the man Amorim turns to fix this problem – with Mainoo coming into midfield in the 31-year-old’s place – because the alternatives, such as Mason Mount or Joshua Zirkzee, will offer nowhere near the same level of productivity as their captain. Bruno Fernandes – Career Stats TeamsAppearancesGoalsAssists Novara2342 Sampadoria3553 Udinese951113 Sporting CP1376350 Manchester United30310089 Amorim’s distrust of Mainoo in a central pivot is holding the team back, because it limits Fernandes at the same time. Fix this – and watch the system be fixed with it. Conclusion The three areas Amorim must change (or refuse to change), therefore, are the left-hand side, the right-hand side. and where he decides to play Fernandes, if the 3-4-2-1 system is to be improved. Putting this theory into practice, with a difficult trip to Selhurst Park to face Oliver Glasner’s rampant Palace side tomorrow afternoon, United would line up as followed: Lammens       Yoro            De Ligt          Martinez  Amad        Casemiro       Mainoo       Shaw        Mbeumo                  Fernandes       Zirkzee The right-hand remains its potent best; the technical ability and ball progression from the left is radically improved; and United’s most effective player is deployed as close to the opposition goal as possible, while the best young player at the club takes his place in midfield. It’s just a shame a Dutch donkey is leading the line – but there’s only so much a chef can do with the ingredients at his disposal. These three changes to Amorim’s recipe should transform his system from faltering to flawless, provided he has the conviction to follow through on them. Featured image Carl Recine 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 Darragh Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.