The Way of Manchester United has started.
For all the disappointment of the 15th place of last season and no trophies to alleviate the blow, there have been a number of early – albeit the little victories – outside the field.
The move of Matheus Cunha van Wolves has been announced. But the attacker is not the only attacking talent that still loves the Ruben Amorim project. The decision of Bryan Mbeumo to pursue a move by Old Trafford from Brentford – despite other elite clubs in the running – is a positive sign.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has rejected the temptation of a Saudi Arabia movement driven by money that could have given United more money to rebuild the team. The project is far from back alive, but it is a start.
“Cunha and Mbeumo have Premier League experience and are the right type,” said Gary Neville. But that is not the only reason why these two are categorized as the answer to United's problems.
Putting the ball in the back of the net turned out to be a problem for United last season. They ranked sixth before the opportunities created, but ended up the second soil for converting shots into goals, while they were also fourth soil for tackling.
In general, United last season could not score in 15 Premier League matches – Southampton and Leicester relegated more. Eleven of those games were under Amorim.
They also had the second worst expected goals under performance record in the division, with the figures that say they should have scored at least nine goals than their last competitions of 44.
This is where Cunha and Mbeumo could help – if last season's versions are something to visit.
While United came for the goal, Mbeumo was the best overperformer of the competition in terms of XG. With the same process as above, the bees ahead scored seven more goals than he should have done, where Cunha is in third place in the same category.
Cunha and Mbeumo can therefore give the clinical lead that United is missing. But would they go directly into the team – and if so, where?
Will Cunha – not Bruno – be the most important gear in the Amorim team?
Amorim has repeatedly said that he will not deviate from his way of playing via the 3-4-2-1 formation. The plus point for Cunha is that Vitor Pereira used the same system at Wolves in the second half of last season.
Cunha turned out to be in the role of 'Left No 10' in the Pereira system and although the 15-goalperson of the attacker struck him consistently in the campaign, the demonstrable top equipment under Pereira became.
Cunha scored in Pereira's first two games that are in charge of that position, while he then gave five goals in seven consecutive games between the beginning of February and April.
The issue with Cunha who plays that role in United Colors? Bruno Fernandes. He is the most common appearer in that role for Amorim.
The United Captain ended the season a bit deeper and actually played as one of the two sitting midfielders, with Mason Mount taking that 'no 10' role for him. It was the same setup when United lost the Europa League final to Spurs.
But is it so simple that Fernandes will settle for the deeper role and Cunha is in front of him? First, there are doubts about the balance of the United team, but a heavier dilemma is involved.
At Sporting, the same NO 10 -roll belonged to Pedro Goncalves, also known as POE. He was not necessarily the star of the team, but very much the attacking engine.
While players such as Viktor Gyokeres took the headlines, Pote developed many of the attacking combinations – he received 30 goals and 27 assists during the last 73 league matches of Amorim's sports era.
So that that bag of attacking space often belongs to the important gear of Amorim's team. The united head coach will have to determine whether that position belongs to Fernandes or Cunha at Old Trafford.
What does Mbeumo -indemnity mean for Amad?
Just like Cunha, Mbeumo will want to change his upward process into an early form at Old Trafford.
Only Mohamed Salah won more points for his team of goals and assists than the Brentford Forward. His target contributions not only placed him the best of the competition in terms of figures, but also as one of the best in the division when determining competitions when it matters.
While Cunha keeps an eye on that 'left no. 10' roll, Mbeumo will focus on the location on the right. Going back to his sports days, the Amorim system always had a straight -footed natural winger that played in that role – with Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincao between those options in Lisbon.
At United, Mbeumo wants that position – but that also applies to Amad Diallo. The 22-year-old has spent the majority of the Amorim era on United on the injury table, but has briefly shown a glimpse as the radiant light in this dark period for the club.
His goal and assistant to win the Manchester Derby in Rivals City came from that 'Right No 10' position, just like his start in the last defeat of the Europa League, where he looked as the only player who was able to break the impasse against the Spurs defense.
So, two things can happen if Mbeumo completes his move in Old Trafford. Either the tax on Young Prodigy Amad is reduced and the two compete for the same role. Or Amad is shifted to the right wing.
In the United system of Amorim, the wing -backs seem to be the most investigated area of ​​the field, in addition to the No. 10s -but the pursuits of Cunha and Mbeumo set those holes.
The inability of United to have recognized options in those positions was symbolized by the early acquisition of Patrick Dorgu in January, who may not be the completed item, but in any case fits the profile.
In an era in which transitions from one pitch to another and open spaces in wide areas are fairly common, efficient wingbacks are vital in every system such as Amorim's.
That is not only clear in the 3-4-2-1 system of Pereira at Wolves, but also on the Cryverse Palace side of Oliver Glasner. The diligent running by Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell was an important feature in the Eagles that won the FA Cup and reached Europe, a level that United would even take now.
In the meantime, the wing-back options of United, even though they are running a lot, are not the elite runners of the competition, in which Amorim once quotes a “lack of urgency to defend or attack the box” as a contribution to defeats.
But Amad has shown that he can work in that wing -like role. Amorim's first four Premier League matches at United saw the young person start in that position – he received four assists in that run. After a period further ahead, his next start at Wing-Back ended in a late hat trick against Southampton.
And in another Throwback to Sport, Amorim even played 17-year-old Geovany Quenda in that right-wing role during his last few months in Lisbon, and emphasized how he can give a huge current responsibility to young and attack-oriented shoulders.
The arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo – one rounded and the other that is turned off – are the first steps in the blueprints of United in the attempt to bounce back. They not only promise to change the lives of those two players – but also the responsibilities of the people around them.
But does United still need a striker?
Part of the reasoning for United that went so many games without a goal was a lack of presence in the central forward position.
Rasmus Hojlund ended the season with the least shots and on the second more expected goals per 90 from a recognized attacker in the Premier League last season. He also had 14 starts that could not contain a shot, while Amorim feels backup Joshua Zirkzee is better off as a no. 10 option.
Both Cunha and Mbeumo share the same status when it comes to a center ahead. They can do it if necessary, but it is not their strong suit.
Wolves boss Pereira confessed that Cunha was not a striker last season when he was forced to play in that role in moments when Jorgen struggled Larsen with fitness.
Mbeumo – meanwhile – has previously played centrally for Brentford and Thomas Frank has emphasized the hold -up game of the Cameroon International as one of his strong suits. But his pointed outings mainly came in a 3-5-2 setup where he would work on Ivan Toney or Yoane Wissa, instead of being a center himself.
The chase of United of Liam Delap – who eventually chose Chelsea – demonstrated Amorim's wish to improve the center of the forward area. Although the club started well in the window, there is still work to do.
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