2 weeks Ago By Vatsal Gupta
The transfer season kicking off earlier than usual at Manchester United, courtesy Matheus Cunha, has led to the current season taking a backseat. However, what happened against Wolves in Man Utd’s last Premier League fixture might just be the start of a monumental permanent change at Old Trafford.Man Utd’s 0-1 loss to Wolves will be quickly forgotten in the grand scheme of things because the Premier League campaign is a write-off for Ruben Amorim’s squad.
For one player, it could be the game where his position changes permanently despite being Amorim’s most trusted lieutenant during his tenure so far. Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesMan Utd’s newest partnershipThe story of the game against Wolves was Tyler Fredricson’s shining debut as he took to senior football like he was a seasoned professional. In addition, Harry Amass continued his ascent in professional football, taking advantage of his long overdue breakout to become the newest member of Man Utd’s first-team.
However, it was a new partnership that Amorim might have stumbled upon that could form the spine of United’s next great team. That partnership was at the much-talked-about wing-back position, as Amass was partnered with Patrick Dorgu starting on the right.Dorgu, much like Geovany Quenda in Amorim’s Sporting, played the role of an inverted wing-back tasked with creating overloads in the final third, while Amass was a traditional overlapping full-back bombing in crosses from out wide.
At 20 and 18 respectively, the duo’s engine was perfectly suited to these roles, and if it had not been for some bafflingly low-quality finishing, this partnership would have kicked off their tenure with a win. Amorim’s glowing verdict of Amass after the game further solidified this claim, but it could also spell a permanent position change for Diogo Dalot. Diogo Dalot’s Man Utd position changeIt is to Dalot’s credit that he’s been United’s most ever-present player alongside Bruno Fernandes among outfielders.
However, it is impossible to see Dalot playing as an attacking wing-back and not feel that a more dynamic and attack-minded player would do better there. If Amass and Dorgu can hold the fort at wing-back, it would free Dalot to play what could actually be his best position at Old Trafford. Dalot has history played as a centre-back in a back three when he was with FC Porto’s B team while coming through the ranks.
As a wide centre-back, Dalot can make those runs in the channels that he’s so good at, while combining his pace and defensive gifts to shut down his side with purpose. He won’t have to put crosses into the box with regularity, something he struggles with, but he will be a crucial part of the buildup, where he shines. The wide centre-back spots allow for a lot more attacking freedom which is why Luke Shaw is also so important as a left-sided centre-back.
A Dalot-Shaw wide centre-back axis with dynamic wing-backs could unlock this team’s true potential..
