Wolves - MU: Easy matches, yet MU often drops points

08/12/2025 10:48:00 ChampionChatter

What causes Manchester United (MU) to frequently lose points against weaker teams like Everton or West Ham? An unstable lineup is only part of it, but the concerning issue is the lack of passion and spirit shown by Ruben Amorim’s squad in these seemingly easier games.

It’s hard to believe MU has won only 1 out of their last 5 Premier League matches. That single victory came against a Crystal Palace side in good form under Glasner. The rest include a loss to Everton despite having a numerical advantage and three draws against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, and West Ham. What do these three draws have in common? MU took the lead first but then lost the chance to secure the win.

Former MU midfielder Roy Keane expressed harsh criticism after seeing his team drop points for the third time in just over a month: “You all feel MU’s problem. When the score is only 1-0, you must show aggression and determination in your play. You cannot be complacent with that slim lead. MU again showed they were too satisfied with a fragile advantage.”

Amorim himself did not hide his anger after the draw with West Ham amid jeers from fans at Old Trafford. He couldn’t understand the players’ hesitation after taking the lead, evident in their failure to convert chances to extend the margin, poor second-ball battles, and most disappointingly, the sloppy defense that allowed Magassa to equalize for West Ham.

MU is both physically weak and lacking fire on the pitch

Many MU players show signs of declining fitness. This sounds odd since MU had the advantage of playing only one match per week early in the season, unlike Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, or Chelsea, who faced intense rotation pressures in both the Premier League and Champions League. But this has become a trap for Amorim’s team: they are unprepared as the Premier League enters its busiest schedule in the final months of the year, with injuries starting to hit Old Trafford in various ways.

MU struggles without Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire, and Matthijs de Ligt due to injuries. However, using this as an excuse for MU’s inconsistent performance against lesser opponents is unconvincing. It’s puzzling that the Portuguese coach continues to rely on the midfield duo Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, both over 30, playing every match. While Manuel Ugarte no longer meets expectations when coming on, is Amorim so strict that he shuts the door on Kobbie Mainoo’s chance to start when MU needs fresh options in midfield? Continuing to exhaust experienced midfielders like Casemiro and Fernandes could have disastrous consequences if either suffers injury.

A Wolves team still winless after 14 matches on paper should be an easy target for MU. Yet, Amorim’s side has repeatedly fallen short in these "easy" games!

Duc Hung

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