On September 7, The Guardian suggested that while Manchester United's new attacking quartet possesses outstanding individual abilities, they currently lack sufficient chemistry and attacking cohesion.

Below is The Guardian's analysis:

"Tunnel vision" afforded Mbeumo a few seconds of intense focus, during which he completely disregarded his red-shirted teammates, while Everton players in blue seemed to form a guard of honor for him. In team sports, this might be considered selfish, but sometimes the most satisfying outcome comes from precisely this "selfishness"—when the ball hit the back of the net, Manchester United would also be delighted by such focus and single-mindedness.

This is Manchester United's new attacking quartet. Rashford played for Barcelona last season, but since the others have played together for a year, they should have stronger chemistry. Bruno Fernandes, as the No. 10, initiates attacks, while Matheus Cunha, Mbeumo, and Rashford attempt to create a complex "recipe" to disrupt defenses through individual skill, tactical freedom, and instinctive collaboration. However, this formula is currently far from perfect.

For this system to work, everyone must understand their own responsibilities and those of their teammates. When football is played at the high speed of the Premier League, any hesitation or delay can kill an attack before it even begins. Instinct is a vital component in every attacker's arsenal, but ironically, this instinct is cultivated through playing together on the pitch over a long period—it doesn't automatically materialize because a player is expensive.

Fluidity can be a highly aggressive weapon, dazzling opponents: they constantly have to think about who they should be marking, and a moment's lapse in concentration can leave them caught off guard by a player making a sudden run. This is precisely the idea Carrick is currently implementing by using Cunha as a "false nine," allowing the Brazilian player to move freely and find positions where he believes he can cause the most damage.

At Wolves, Cunha preferred to drop deep and operate in deeper areas. He was particularly adept at carrying the ball briefly before curling shots from 20 yards into the corner of the net. That was actually his ideal way of playing at Manchester United, but now Bruno Fernandes occupies the areas Cunha was familiar with, forcing Cunha to change his style of play. Meanwhile, Manchester United consequently lack a player who can consistently threaten the last line of defense.

Mbeumo likes to cut inside from the right flank; he is not very comfortable beating full-backs on the outside, getting to the byline, and then looking for teammates. In contrast, Rashford is more capable of beating right-backs in both directions. In this match, he troubled temporary full-back Merlin Röhl: the English forward burst into action from a standstill, using his explosive power to get past his opponent. But such moments were uncommon.

Despite Manchester United having more possession and often pinning Everton back in their own half, Pickford was not seriously tested for long periods. Even though Bruno Fernandes was full of confidence in this match, he couldn't consistently provide that game-changing spark or deliver the ball to teammates in better positions, because teammates were not always where he expected them to be, and sometimes did not anticipate the runs the captain wanted them to make. Poor passing accuracy occurred too frequently, whether passes into space that no one ran onto or simply going out of bounds. Manchester United had similar issues. This was certainly not a masterclass in precision.

There were moments in the second half when everything clicked. Rashford passed the ball to the far post, Mbeumo headed it back to Bruno Fernandes, whose volley then hit the crossbar—this came in the 47th minute and offered a glimpse of the relationship building among Manchester United's attacking players. But such combinations were too rare, and the entire front line lacked sufficient impact.

Considering Mbeumo scored in the 50th minute, this goal should have provided a much-needed boost in confidence, but it didn't have the anticipated effect. They remained an attacking quartet that operated on flashes of brilliance rather than sustained pressure and control of the game. With Cunha playing as center-forward and the team lacking an attacking focal point, Everton actually had little to worry about for a long time, until Sesko came on as a substitute.

Sesko came on and became the attacking focal point the team had lacked. His goal came from a typical intelligent pass from Bruno Fernandes: the captain sent the ball to a teammate making an overlapping run, who then crossed the ball perfectly to the 6-foot-5 Sesko, who headed it in. This was a simple, almost perfect combination—straightforward by any era's standards—but still effective today.

This attack was built on everyone knowing their roles and executing them perfectly, while also knowing where others would be at that crucial moment. Bruno Fernandes could anticipate Luke Shaw bursting into the space on the wing, and Shaw didn't need to think about where Sesko would be waiting for his pass.

The positive aspect of the second half was that it showed the versatility of Manchester United's squad. They can change their playing style during a game to test whether opponents can adapt in time. When opponents are already tired from one style of play, switching from speed and movement to more physical play is not always easy to counter. The starting players brought a complex attacking approach, while Patrick Doku and Sesko brought a more direct style of play.

Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo, Rashford, and Cunha are all top players; their resumes prove this. But outstanding individual ability does not necessarily mean they can form a coordinated and unified unit. As they play together more, these four will gradually learn each other's characteristics, and playing two games a week will also help them build rhythm.

If the team's attacking cohesion does not improve, Carrick has every reason to revert to a more direct and less "fashionable" Plan B.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com