The conversations around Manchester United after their 1-1 draw against West Ham this week have been surprisingly negative. While much of that can be attributed to United not making it 5 wins in a row, and a certain bushy-haired United fan being forced to put away the hair clippers for at least a month, it paints the wrong picture.
Manchester United are still unbeaten in the five games since Michael Carrick took charge of the club. In those games, United have performed incredibly well, including wins against Arsenal and Manchester City. Those wins were all hard-fought, and based not just on players 'expressing themselves', but high quality tactical set-ups brought in by Carrick.
Carrick's tactics have been exemplary so far. United are free-flowing when they need to be, but also resolute in their defending: Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez are playing huge roles in advancing the play and clearing up loose balls, Bruno Fernandes is operating much more directly, the attackers are fluid in their position when necessary.
But United's game against West Ham displayed some cracks. United's problems in the West Ham game were foreshadowed somewhat in their win against Spurs, but reared their ugly heads as West Ham stifled United's attack.
West Ham managed to exploit United's biggest weakness in draw
West Ham's low block caused serious problems for Manchester United. When much of United's ball advancement comes from either Lisandro Martinez or Bruno Fernandes playing line-breaking passes, the obvious solution is to shrink the lanes they operate in, and suffocate United's attacking talent. It's a problem that has dogged United teams of the past, and it seems Carrick's side is no different.
The solution United needed was width. When a team forms a low block, they 'crunch' the pitch; wide defenders push in, clogging the central area of the pitch and giving attackers less space. But when defenders shrink the central areas, they leave wide areas more exposed.
United failed to exploit those wide areas. When they did, they had no focal point in attack to wing crosses into or draw players in with. This is partly due to team selection. United left Benjamin Sesko on the bench, and only when he entered the pitch did United have that focal point. He even notched the last minute goal that won United a point.
United's wingers are, unfortunately, not equipped to exploit that width. Bryan Mbeumo filled in at left wing, and was largely quiet. Mbeumo's game is not about occupying wide spaces, so it's hardly a surprise. When Amad had a quiet game, United had no threat from the wide positions.
Patrick Dorgu's absence from the side is partly responsible for this. His ability to play from the touchline and provide a threat is a unique trait in the side; there is no other United first-team player who can operate in that way.
United now have almost two weeks until their next game against Everton. It's likely that Everton will likely try and play the same tricks. United and Michael Carrick have plenty of time on the training ground to find a viable solution to their width problems. With the top four race hotting up, and United right in the mix, a solution cannot come soon enough.