No Wingbacks, No Party! Can Patrick Dorgu Provide the Answers?

Since Amorim arrived at the club, it has quickly become clear that this formation he likes to play can't function without proper wingbacks. Proper in the sense that, their attacking output has to be very high.

Watching Dalot and Mazraoui against Crystal Palace just made it obvious to whoever couldn't see it before. As a team, whenever we are the ones who need to be dominating a football match, we seem clueless. When there are no spaces left behind to run into, we don't seem to know what to do.

A big reason for that are our two wingbacks. They never want to or can't get up the pitch quickly enough once Man United have possession of the ball in the midfield. As a result, our two 10's and striker who are meant to be part of a 5, that overloads the opponents backline with the help of the two wingbacks, becomes non-existent.

It was therefore not a surprise that the club went all out in search of an athletic LWB. Patrick Dorgu fit the bill this January.

Image source - Premier League

At 6'1" and strong build, he raises the physical floor of a team that has been struggling for the longest time with physicality. Our players always seem second best in a challenge, especially in our own box.

Beyond physicality, Dorgu has fantastic ball-carrying ability. Watching Amorim's Sporting side, it was so clear how ball-carrying was critical in how his team moves up the pitch. It is one of the biggest missing pieces in this United side.

However, one cannot expect an instant impact from Dorgu. You would hope for it, but the team is so bad at the moment that you just expect Dorgu is more likely to be sucked into that pathetic void.

That said, I would love to see him start against Leicester. That is a game United are expected to dominate and win and so it will be interesting to see what he brings to the side. Surely more that Dalot, you would hope.