1 week Ago By Charlie Gordon
Ruben Amorim is sticking to the system that worked so well for him at Sporting. And as the weeks tick by, there are growing signs that it could also lead to success at Manchester United , providing the right gaps are plugged and areas strengthened. While the club believe they have the right manager and system to put United back on the right path, a handful of stars may not come along for the ride.
Amorim's 3-4-3 system suits some players more than others. Amad Diallo came alive on the right side of a front-three after the Portuguese's appointment, and Matthijs de Ligt has looked solid as a rock in the middle of a defensive trio. But for every player liberated by Amorim's new tactical approach, there will also be those who suddenly struggle to fit in.
Luke Shaw finds himself in that unfortunate category. The England international has bigger issues to worry about, given he has not started a single United game in an injury-riddled season. But even when he is fit enough to return, Amorim's determination to make the 3-4-3 work should give him extra cause for concern.
Shaw has spent the bulk of his career as a traditional left-back - an unused position in the shape Amorim likes to play. He could still play as a left-sided centre-back, but Lisandro Martinez is expected to lock that position down when fit. The left wing-back spot is also up for grabs, but new signing Patrick Dorgu is expected to be the long-term solution.
And after so many injury problems, does Shaw really have the legs to bomb up and down the touchline with the relentlessness Amorim needs? Joshua Zirkzee finds himself in a similar predicament. After a tough start to life in red, the Dutchman has picked up his performances massively in recent weeks and put on a number of sharp displays on the left. But he was signed to compete with Rasmus Hojlund as a central striker.
That is where Zirkzee has played for the vast majority of his young career and it's where Bologna got a tune out of him last season. Amorim has made it clear that he does not see him as a straightforward No. 9, which begs the question, are United prepared to declare a 6ft 4in centre-forward playing out of his preferred position as their long-term solution on the left? Attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes is not a natural fit either, but the United skipper has somehow found a way to keep coming up with the goods.
Shaw and Zirkzee will be under pressure to do the same, because if it becomes evident that Amorim is trying to force square pegs into round holes, part-owners INEOS will surely be tempted to cash in and free up some spending room..
