Ruben Amorim’s choice to field Kobbie Mainoo as a forward against Crystal Palace on Sunday might have been an attempt to urge Manchester United’s management to secure a striker, but it went unnoticed. As deadline day approached, United was in urgent need of reinforcements in their attacking lineup but could only bring in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu. Consequently, they will have to manage until the season’s end with just two strikers who have collectively scored only once in their last 29 games. Rasmus Hojlund has not scored in his last 13 matches, while Joshua Zirkzee has netted just once in his previous 16 games. Amorim’s choice to begin with Mainoo as the central forward against Palace might indicate that he is becoming increasingly skeptical about the two strikers, who were acquired for a total of £108.5 million across two summer transfer windows. Mainoo began the match positively, hitting the post early on, but soon his performance diminished. It came as a surprise to everyone when he was named as the false nine in the starting lineup, which was announced 75 minutes before the match. Just three days prior in Bucharest, Mainoo had delivered his strongest performance of the season, standing out as one of the two No.10s. Starting as the left-sided No.10, he wasted a significant opportunity to score for United in the first half, but after the interval, he moved to the right, assisting the opening goal and then netting the second for the Reds. Mainoo’s performance against FCSB earned him considerable praise, and Amorim suggested that the No.10 position could become his preferred role. “Kobbie’s role today requires time to fully understand the players; he had significant difficulty defending as a midfielder,” the United head coach remarked. “Playing more as a No.10 allowed him to feel liberated, as he excelled in playing the ball near the box and making quick connections.” “It is important for us to take the time to collaborate with the players and identify their optimal positions.” Kobbie Mainoo performed brilliantly in the victory against FCSB. (Photo by Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images) Amorim’s choice to position Mainoo further up the field in the past two matches has resulted in Bruno Fernandes playing in a deeper role, beginning in the No.8 spot.
