Ruben Amorim has finally answered the call to use the academy more in recent weeks, but he’s doing it in a way that’s counterproductive.
Bendito Mantato joined the list of academy debutants vs Wolves after Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher debuted against Aston Villa.
Much of it has been injury-enforced, but that hasn’t stopped Ruben Amorim from using square pegs in round holes instead of playing youngsters.
Congratulations to Bendito Mantato for becoming the latest Man Utd player to make his debut
A positive on a disappointing night vs Wolves, do you think he will get another chance soon?
However, the game against Wolves proved that not only is he setting Fletcher up to fail, but he’s also not using the club’s best wonderkid at all.
Ruben Amorim is setting Jack Fletcher up to fail
Jack Fletcher made his name in the academy as a prolific attacking midfielder who has an eye for the goal by arriving late into the box.
In all his appearances so far for the first team, he has been thrown into the deep end as a defensive midfielder in high-tempo games.
Fletcher’s time as a left-back in the academy has honed his defensive skills, but he’s clearly a fish out of water in Amorim’s defensive midfield.
Fletcher struggled with the tempo against Newcastle, and even the Old Trafford faithful were frustrated with his risk-averse game against Wolves.
It’s hard to blame Fletcher because he’s a young player thrown into a dysfunctional team by a manager who can’t decide on a way to play.
What has impressed you about Jack Fletcher since he made his debut?
Where does he need to improve? How can Ruben Amorim help him?
Moreover, Amorim’s ruthless comments on the academy previously might be contributing to cultivating a culture of fear of making mistakes, leading to Fletcher being safe instead.
Fletcher is struggling, but that’s partly because Amorim is setting him up to fail.
At least that’s slightly better than the predicament of another youngster, who is not getting a look-in at all.
Amorim’s baffling treatment of Shea Lacey
If Fletcher is being set up for failure, Shea Lacey isn’t even given a chance to fail, despite having the attributes that Amorim laments the lack of in this side.
HAS Ruben Amorim proved concerns over his academy usage wrong after debuting Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey?🤔
These were his fourth and fifth academy debutants in 13 months…
Lacey’s ability to beat his man off the dribble is much like Amad’s, and he is a threat to score from anywhere in that right half-space by cutting inside on his left foot.
However, despite an encouraging cameo against Villa, Lacey is yet to play more minutes for the senior team, with Mantato coming ahead of him vs Wolves.
There’s a clear pattern emerging of Amorim being extremely risk-averse with his substitutions, not having much time for maverick players who can create magic.
He’d rather have functional players play a safe game in rigid positions, even if the position is not theirs, as is the case with Fletcher.
That fear of losing is radiating through the squad, who seemed to have the creativity sapped out of them against Wolves.
The free-spirit on the bench – Shea Lacey – wasn’t used again.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
