Despite Amorim’s flaws, one of his strengths was in improving United’s physical base and intensity. There is a question as to whether Carrick’s United, with one game a week last season, were beneficiaries of that.
This season they look unable to sustain the intensity to execute a man-to-man press with the effectiveness of, say, Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton – a physically fit squad aligned on how and when to press.
For United, more concerningly, there appears to be a disconnect – at least in how Fernandes sees the game and the messaging from the coaching staff.
This misalignment makes it hard to execute any defensive approach, with good defending built on intensity and co-ordination between players.
“Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure,” said Fernandes. “Take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”
But bravery is subjective and one might argue that Carrick defending with four forwards – ready to attack quickly – is an incredibly brave, if not naive, decision.
Going for a ‘half man-to-man’ approach – looking to lock opponents into one area of the pitch – while allowing some players to defend more zonally feels like a fair trade-off from Carrick.
But how United defend in the 4-2-4 feels outdated already, and is being exposed.
So while both Fernandes and Carrick seem to have a point, if United are to win regularly, any solution this season is likely to lie somewhere in between their views.
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