Failed Ruben Amorim experiment cannot be repeated as Gary Neville proved right

Manchester United are back to the drawing board this week after the Everton defeat but one option is definitely ruled out

Before the Everton game, there was a feeling of positivity around Manchester United which we have not seen for a long time. Last Friday was evidence of this as Ruben Amorim cut a fairly relaxed figure in his press conference. Just before the first section of his media duties ended, the Portuguese head coach was asked about Luke Shaw.

Shaw has largely impressed for United this season and has slotted into the left centre-back role well in the absence of Lisandro Martinez. Amorim was asked whether the defender could play at left wing-back and his response should have immediately raised alarm bells.

He said: “He can play left wing-back but of course the load that a player does in that position is a little different if you are doing that on a daily basis. He is more prepared to do that position but of course he can play there, he is a smart player and he is fit in the moment so I think he is an option.”

Against David Moyes’ men we saw the issue with playing Shaw in that role. He does not have the engine to bomb up and down the pitch. Against 10 men, United needed to be playing at a high tempo and the onus was on the Reds to make their man advantage count.

But Shaw struggled to lift the pace of the game. When the ball came to him, the tempo dropped and the link-up play with Patrick Dorgu and latterly Diogo Dalot was desperately poor to watch.

Gary Neville arguably summed it up best on Sky Sports. He said: “Shaw is getting forward more, but he’s ambling forward, let’s be clear. He’s been bugging me for the last 20 minutes. He’s ambling. You can’t do that. He should be running forward every single time. I don’t care.

“[Leny] Yoro, I have a little bit more sympathy for but Shaw? That’s a waste of time. I don’t care. It’s not conning anybody. I’m not having it.”

Is this all Shaw’s fault? No. Amorim should have gone to a system which would allow for more attacking creativity. United were crying out for more creativity and Shaw was struggling to provide it.

It proved Shaw is not cut out to be a wing-back in Amorim’s system. He showed against Everton he does not have the physical capacity to do that role well.

Shaw has shown this season when his responsibility is to simply defend, he is a good player and can be an asset to United. But Monday proved he cannot be thrust into the wing-back role.