Pallister baffled by Man United’s failure to sign a midfielder
Gary Pallister believes Manchester United missed a trick by failing to sign a central midfielder during the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils invested heavily in their forward line this summer, acquiring Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
However, the club’s failure to fill a glaring hole in the middle of the park has resulted in the team delivering several disjointed performances this season.
Their deficiencies in that area were ruthlessly exposed on Sunday as Manchester City’s midfielders dominated proceedings at the Etihad Stadium.
Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes spent most of the game chasing shadows, and things did not improve when Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo were introduced off the bench.
With Mason Mount absent after suffering yet another injury, manager Ruben Amorim opted to keep faith with Fernandes in a deeper role.
Ugarte got the nod to start alongside him, but the pair were made to look second-rate by City’s energetic midfield. Pallister was unimpressed by Amorim’s selection.
“He chose Ugarte over Casemiro due to a fear of being overrun in midfield,” Pallister said. “However, that immediately puts you on the back foot.
“Casemiro would give you a bit more control with the ball, but I think Amorim is not quite sure who he should put in the middle of the park.
“That’s not helping Fernandes, who is much more effective for United when he plays further up the pitch.”
United’s sizeable investment in new forwards took many people by surprise this summer, given that the club was reportedly working with a limited transfer budget.
Numerous pundits believe United should have prioritised the signing of a central midfielder rather than splashing the cash on a new forward line.
Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton were linked with moves to Old Trafford, but nothing materialised.
Pallister has seen both players in action and believes they have what it takes to be difference-makers for United in midfield.
“I’ve seen a bit of Hackney at Championship level and he has stood out,” Pallister added. “Ipswich Town made a bid for him, but he didn’t fancy that.
“I don’t know whether there were any Premier League offers for Hackney, but he is a good player. Wharton’s also shown what he can do with Palace.
“If we were looking for those types of players, you would have thought the deals would have been done earlier in the summer.
“I’m sure another midfield player would have been high on Amorim’s wish list, so we are a little bit threadbare in that area.”
Having picked up just four points from their opening four league games and suffered an early exit from the League Cup, the Red Devils desperately need to improve over the next few weeks.
Their early-season struggles were laid bare when England manager Thomas Tuchel named his squad for the latest round of World Cup qualifiers this month.
Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Barcelona, was the only United player included in the 24-man squad.
Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Mount all missed out and will find it difficult to force their way back into contention before the World Cup.
Pallister, who earned 22 England caps between 1988 and 1996, believes Tuchel’s single-minded nature could work against the club’s England hopefuls.
“I end up scratching my head with Tuchel at times,” he said. “I’m a bit confused by some of his picks and who he leaves out and who he brings in. He does things his own way.
“We’ve got big players that have come close to winning trophies with England, and Tuchel needs to show he can help them get the job done.
“The main issue is Harry Kane. He’s not getting any younger. If he doesn’t fire on all cylinders, who do you bring in up front? That’s England’s main problem at the moment.”
Fromer Manchester United icon Gary Pallister was speaking to ManUtdNews.com courtesy of BetWright. Read more of his thoughts on Man Utd, including how the club must grin and bear the state of play under Amorim.
Article written by michaeljblack .