MUFC recorded their biggest home league win since the 5-1 hiding of Leeds back in August 2021 as they beat Everton 4-0 on Sunday. Erik ten Hag had also not won a league game by 4 or more goals. Ruben Amorim did it in his second game.
However, the new manager still feels that there is a lot of work to do moving forward even though he has brought a lot of smiles and happiness back to Old Trafford, at least for the moment.
There were some areas to be slightly concerned about but there were some things to be very positive with including some player performances.
1. Oppositions target out left
I've noticed a familiar pattern in our games since Amorim took over and indeed, even before he arrived but opponents do seem to target our left flank believing that it is the weaker of the two sides.
In this new 3-4-2-1 system, it is Diogo Dalot who is doing the job as the left wing-back most of the time. That is not something he's been asked to do before and while he isn't unaccustomed to playing down that flank (which is not his preferred wing), this wing-back role is new to him.
I also think that teams look at the butcher Lisandro Martinez as a potential weak point given his smaller size compared to most centre-backs. However, we know that what Martinez lacks in height he more than makes up for it with other aspects of his game like passing, aggression and ability to read the game.
Even still, I do believe oppositions look to target him more than any of our other defenders in that back three.
Our other number 10 down the left also seems a little more unsettled as Amorim changes that side of his two CAMs more than the other which is usually occupied by captain Fernandes.
With the way Amad and Mazraoui are playing and having a midfielder like Bruno ahead of them, the right flank looks to be on lockdown and we don't see as many opposition attacks down that side compared to the left.
2. We still give teams a chance
Despite the score line suggesting that this was a hammering by United over Everton, it was anything but.
Manager Ruben Amorim said post-match that this performance was "far from perfect." He even went so far as to say that Thursday's win over Bodo/Glimt was better and that "we deserved more" from that 3-2 victory whereas "today [Sunday] was 4-0, Everton deserved more."
He's right.
United did look a lot more solid and in control against the Norwegians even though we conceded 2 goals and kept a clean sheet against the Toffees.
That calmness in our game just wasn't as evident on Sunday as it was on Thursday. I also felt that we didn't keep the energy up from the first minute to the last in yesterday's win.
We did make a good start to the game again but we never really went on to stamp our authority. We didn't get that early goal like we did in Amorim's first two matches and we know that with United, that start is always important.
This allowed Everton to get more comfortable and confident themselves and there was a period where they controlled the game. Sean Dyche's side dominated the possession for a portion of the first 45 and it looked like United couldn't get out of their own half.
This Everton dominance was highlighted with that Beto chance where he went around Onana but thankfully, he put his effort wide. However, no one could've been upset had the away side taken the lead at that moment.
United's tendency to allow oppositions to feel this comfortable isn't a good thing and has several times, caused us so many problems to a point where we couldn't recover.
This was another game where we needed a moment to get a foothold in the match. After that opening Rashford goal, that is when we started to see a better United.
But as we're still relying on moments, it will be a problem in the future. That is something we need to remove from our game.
3. Bruno and Rashford
They played a lot better than they have done for most of the season. This was one of their better performances particularly for Rashford as he has been quieter than Bruno across the campaign.
In spite of this, Amorim said that of Rashford's performance "he can do so much better." The MUFC boss isn't letting the brace get to him nor his player with such comments.
But what I feel that we still have the habit of doing is that whenever this pair is on the field, Bruno seems to want to look for the run in behind of Rashford, who always wants to make that run in behind.
Bruno then tries to look for the Hollywood ball which usually ends up in us giving away possession cheaply. This possession giveaway results in us losing some of that control. This is an old habit of this pair's that needs to be rid of by Amorim should he want to gain that control he desires.
But as in true Bruno and Rashford fashion, they did create that moment that we needed with that new corner routine, something that Amorim was happy with knowing that Everton are a much bigger side than us. United had to come up with something different in order to make the most of those set pieces.
It was a well worked corner tbf.
But even still, this urge to look for Rashford in behind from Bruno is not something that is in accord with Amorim ball.
4. Competition for places
These last two games has shown us that we are now getting to a point where the manager may struggle to pick his strongest lineups.
With the performances of several players across the wins over Bodo/Glimt and Everton, it will be difficult for Amorim to select an XI for Arsenal.
Zirkzee had a good all round game as that false 9 and managed to pick up 2 goals in Sunday's win. Hojlund had a good all round game as striker and picked up 2 goals last Thursday. Who does the manager pick up top?
Rashford had a good game as a number 10/striker and scored 2 goals against Everton. Mount had an impressive performance v Bodo/Glimt and was pivotal to our high press. Bruno was somewhat back to his best yesterday and he is the number 10 who also picked up 2 assists making it 5 goal involvements in his last four league games.
Amorim cannot pick all three.
We also have Garnacho who can play there or out wide and we know what a difference he makes to the side.
It's really good to be having this issue compared to the usual 'who is the least shit' when it comes to picking a team.
Just a word on Zirkzee, I loved how much appreciation there was for him from his teammates. The way they all celebrated with him showed that they knew how much he needed those goals. I believe that there is a good player there and that it's about time and unlocking his potential as that false 9.
He also clearly is a confidence player who needs moments like these to get him going. And again, that was a very good performance from him. One to build upon.
5. Amad
Nuff said.
Seriously, I don't think there's more to say than that.
While United had a few top performers (for once), Amad managed to standout among standouts. He was an overwhelming man of the match after another near perfect display against Everton.
He got 2 more assists and has seen his form sore after the sacking of Erik ten Hag. And btw, what was he thinking by not using Amad?! He desrved to be sacked for that.
Amad before ten Hag's sacking:
Goals - 1
Assists - 1
Amad after ten Hag's sacking:
Goals - 2
Assists - 4
It was Amad's overall performance that got everyone off their seats and excited. His work rate was just as good as his involvements going forward. In fact, without that pressure from the 22-year-old, United don't score 2 goals and the game would've perhaps looked a little more realistic than the 4-0 suggested.
However, we aren't complaining but it's this sheer hard work and persistence that we as fans like to see from the players. I think that this is the thing when it comes to some in our squad.
I don't believe we have too many crap players as they have to have something about them to play for United, right? But far too many of them don't display the right attitude which is why we see such underwhelming and poor performances from a lot of the players.
Amad is an example of what type of attitude a United player should have. He is absolutely superb at the moment and he's been so good in that right wing-back position. His defensive work has also been top notch. We can't ask for more than what he's producing right now.
Background Image: Marcus Rashford scores a brace against Everton | Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images via Royal Blue Mersey