SIR ALEX Ferguson used to quip that Manchester United did not make it easy for themselves.
If all of those late finales were more by accident than by design, Ruben Amorim seems to relish deliberately making life as difficult as possible for his side.
Had Newcastle equalised late on at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, Amorim’s approval ratings would have plummeted again on the basis of his head-scratching substitutions.
In the dying embers, Amorim swapped two experienced defenders (Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw) for two defenders (Tyler Fredricson and Tyrell Malacia) who seemed destined to never play for United again.
United held on and earned a spirited win underpinned by colossal performances by Martinez and Ayden Heaven. Yet Amorim’s in-game management bordered on the eccentric.
It extends to his sudden switch to a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation. Amorim culled every left winger he inherited at United.
Nobody misses Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford required a change of scenery and Alejandro Garnacho is harshly reviled by United fans.
But United no longer have a specialist for a role that used to be teeming with options. So Matheus Cunha popped up on the left against Newcastle.
Cunha has played there countless times and has got his tail up. He has that blend of silk and steel that kept Wolves from the clutches of the Championship and he was influential again against Newcastle.
Patrick Dorgu, relocated to the right wing, scored the goal of his career and produced his finest performance for United.
It would be premature for a depleted United side to get away with such selections, substitutions and strategy long-term.
United could be without eight players against Wolves on Tuesday night, all of them key: Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Byran Mbeumo and Amad.
That is a goalkeeper and a pair of wingers shy of a crowdpleasing United XI.
So when United opt for their five-defenders-vs-five-attackers pre-match warm-up drill again, Wolves manager Rob Edwards should still prepare for a back four from Amorim.
After United lost 3-1 at Brentford in September – their third defeat in their opening six Premier League games – some fans wistfully wondered what a 4-2-3-1 United would look like.
With everyone available, Amorim has compatible personnel. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw at full back, a defensive duo of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, with Cunha, Fernandes and Mbeumo behind Benjamin Sesko up front.
The biggest winners would be Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo. At the fifth time of asking this season, Ugarte started in a United win against Newcastle.
It felt telling that he stayed on for the full duration while Casemiro, much to his surprise, was hooked on the hour.
Casemiro is usually substituted but he has usually played an hour or been booked and walking a tightrope.
Ugarte, at £50.75million, was a serious investment by United 16 months ago but it has felt like the club have given up on him since they enquired about Carlos Baleba in the summer.
The 24-year-old’s jinx-like status has harmed his stock but Ugarte belatedly impressed against Newcastle and appears to be much more comfortable in a midfield axis backed by a back four.
One of Ugarte’s issues is that he struggles with the balance of pressing and withdrawing. A 4-2-3-1 places him in a naturally deeper role and instills discipline in him.
Mainoo might have partnered Ugarte had he been fit against Newcastle but his calf injury has denied him a first Premier League start since May 11.
It did not reflect well on Mainoo that he lacked the backbone to knock on Amorim’s door and apologise for his halfwitted half-brother’s ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt stunt at Old Trafford two weeks ago.
It would be another bad look if Mainoo agitates for a winter transfer window move when Amorim is starting to show signs of flexibility with United’s formation.
Mainoo is a polite and likeable lad who has kept his counsel all season and knuckling down ought to be his New Year’s resolution.
Amorim has even acknowledged that Mainoo’s playing time would increase with a change of formation.
A downside of ditching 3-4-2-1 is United have shown undeniable promise in the set-up. They were the Premier League’s second-highest scorers before Boxing Day.
Mbeumo would be deprived of his partner-in-crime, Amad. Crowbarring both of them into a 4-2-3-1 is improbable, if not impossible.
Mount has been one of United’s most consistent performers this term. United perform better without a conventional No.9, too.
The ‘wingers’ have also started to spread their wings. Dalot has regained form, scoring one goal and creating two more since his recall at Crystal Palace a month ago.
Dorgu was the matchwinner against Newcastle and five days before that performed encouragingly at Aston Villa, where he assisted Cunha.
Dalot and Shaw are arguably better off rebranded as a right wing back and left centre back. With 19 years of experience between them at United, restoring them to right back and left back would feel regressive.
The biggest issue with the Brentford debacle three months ago is United trailed from the eighth minute, Amorim made four substitutions and the formation never changed.
Maybe Amorim is finally starting to make it easier for himself.
