Mason Mount was ‘frustrated’ after Manchester United’s defeat (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount look ‘lost’ in Manchester United’s midfield and Sofyan Amrabat is being ‘wasted’ in defence.
That’s according to Paul Merson, who says he feels ‘sorry’ for Ramus Hojlund up front.
United’s dismal start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Despite dominating at Old Trafford, United failed to create enough chances to break down a stubborn Roy Hodgson side.
Amrabat was given his full Premier League debut and deputised at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguillon.
He gave away a cheap free-kick that led to Palace’s winning goal, and was eventually moved into midfield.
He was joined there by Mount and Fernandes, but neither could create the chance United need to draw level with the Eagles.
And Merson says the pair, along with Amrabat, looked lost at Old Trafford.
Amrabat had a tough time at left-back (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
‘I feel like when you’re watching Man Utd, it’s like watching Subbuteo. You blow the whistle to kick-off and at half-time, everyone is in exactly the same position as they were when they started the game. There’s no movement,’ said Merson.
‘When you manage big football clubs, you’re under pressure and you’re under more pressure when the neighbours win. If they [Man City] had won today, then it really cranks up… it’s a must for them to get into the top four this season.”
‘You watch Man Utd play and you just don’t see the pattern of play. It’s like if it comes off, it comes off. You watch Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City play, they have patterns of play. Someone will go in and come back out, but at Man Utd, it’s get the ball out wide and hope that Rashford does something and if he does, we might score a goal.
‘Amrabat was wasted out on the left in the end, he did come into the middle in the end but he should start off there. They need to dominate. It’s too slow at Man Utd, they let teams get into the game, let teams settle, but they’ve got to go for them in the first 20 minutes. There’s nothing like that.
‘Disappointing and they didn’t make loads of chances. They were lost for ideas for a lot of the game.
‘Hojlund is playing up front on his own and you don’t know if the wingers are going to cross it or not. It’s hard for him. He doesn’t get a lot of service. Mount, Casemiro and Fernandes don’t really know where they’re going or where they’re playing.
‘It’s a big worry for Man Utd at the moment and another defeat. They’re a million miles off.
‘I don’t see them turning it around at the moment. It might get to a situation where he might have to change the shape. He has a four at the back, he might need to go to a three just to mix it up.
‘I just find that Mount and Fernandes look a bit lost and don’t know where they’ve got to go. They’re getting dominated and passed around. They put pressure on Palace, but Johnstone didn’t have loads of saves to make.’
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