When you look at the Premier League table, two things about Manchester United stand out. One is the disappointing and frustratingly familiar position of sixth in the table.
The other is the low goal return, a goal difference of just +1. Coupled with a difficult defensive campaign amid injury problems, it’s clear Manchester United just do not score enough goals.
United have netted only 51 goals in 34 matches. Too often we have been left reflecting on refereeing decisions gone against us, which would not have mattered if the team were scoring enough goals not to depend on fine margins.
There are not enough strikers at the club currently, something the club must address in the summer. So is there anything Erik ten Hag could do to try and improve the team’s goalscoring woes?
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‘Play Bruno Fernandes higher up’
One idea being put forward is whether Manchester United should be playing Bruno Fernandes higher up the pitch so he can be more effective around the final third.
Former Premier League boss Tim Sherwood told the Undr The Cosh YouTube channel: “You get players now like Fernandes who I think is a top drawer player, but you wouldn’t rely on him to do the defensive work.
“I think that’s why the manager should say ‘how good is he? Is he going to make a difference to this team if I just let him conserve his energy up there?
“For me, if you have Bruno Fernandes and believe he is that good, a matchwinner, let him conserve his energy and stay up there as a 10, don’t have him pretending he wants to run back.”
Fernandes role under Erik ten Hag has often involved him dropping back into the midfield, and Manchester United have need him to, with the wingers not always dropping back.
United have been left far too open at in matches throughout the season, with Erik ten Hag unable to get the balance of the team right.
Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, has had a productive season for Manchester United, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists in total, leading the team in both departments.
Paul Scholes wants Bruno Fernandes to play higher up
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has already voiced his opinion that Bruno Fernandes needs to tke up a more attacking role.
He spoke out earlier this season about his belief Bruno Fernandes should play higher up the pitch.
The former midfielder told the Webby and O’Neill YouTube channel he would support a more attacking role for the Portugal international.
Scholes explained: “I think he needs to play his position better, or be in his position more than he is.
“The amount of times I see him getting the ball off centre-halves, getting the ball in the right-back position, we know he can do all that, he’s capable of that, but I think that affects the team going forward.
“You think of a young player we’ve signed in Hojlund, this is a kid 20-years-old we’ve signed playing up front on his own. He needs help, he needs the experience of Bruno next to him to almost play as a two sometimes.”
Bruno Fernandes comments on best position
Bruno Fernandes is not in agreement, believing he can be most effective when playing in a deeper role.
Speaking to club media last month he said: “Against Everton [last season] I played no.6 and I still think it was one of the most complete games I’ve played, at all levels.
“In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics. I have a little thought in my head that I’m going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to no.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end.
“It’s a position I like, playing deeper, facing the game more. With the ball, it makes my game a lot easier because I have a broader view of the game and it is ideal for what we’ve talked about with the last pass, which can sometimes come from deeper on the pitch.”