Tactical Analysis: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to pay a visit to Nottingham Forest tomorrow afternoon, where they’ll be hoping to continue their winning streak.

Man United have been on a hot streak as of late, picking up their third win on the trot with a 4-2 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion.

This match would seem to have a vastly different dynamic, however, with Forest struggling to find any form in this season.

Forest are sitting in 18th place in the Premier League, having managed just one win in nine matches.

Still, there are some important considerations that United should keep in mind as they seek out a valuable away win.

Defensive stability

The hosts have scored just five goals this season, meaning that they have had the worst attack in the league this season.

Still, this doesn’t mean that have the right to simply switch off at the back as they’ve done at times throughout the current campaign.

During the Brighton win, we saw how United conceded in the 92nd minute to Brighton, making for a nervy finish before Bryan Mbeumo scored United’s fourth goal of the game.

While United did well to come away with the win, they allowed Brighton to get 17 shots on goal, which enabled them to find the back of the net twice. (Sofascore)

Although United’s attack was effective enough to secure the win, the club has conceded 14 goals in nine matches, which is alarming given that other teams in similar positions on the league table have let in far fewer. Man City, who sit in fifth place, have conceded just seven goals, while Sunderland, who sit above them in fourth, have let in just seven as well.

Sure, United’s attack is expected to perform well against Forest’s leaky defence, but even the most effective forwards can have an off day.

Remaining alert, communicating effectively, and avoiding an unnecessary high line will be key for United’s defence on the day.

Rotation is key

While Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have been in fine form, it would be good for manager Ruben Amorim to rotate his squad. After all, one never knows if one of these stars could ever be unavailable due to an unforeseen circumstance. Also, with the African Cup of Nations coming up in the new year, Mbeumo will miss some matches, meaning that United will need some backup options.

The likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount were not given minutes in the Brighton match, and this needs to change.

Mount has performed admirably this season, earning himself the right to challenge for a spot as one of Amorim’s number 10s.

While Zirkzee isn’t in the same boat, some minutes could help him to improve his form and perhaps facilitate a move away from Old Trafford.

Most importantly, United will need some backup options for Mbeumo while he is away, and there’s no better time to provide some underutilised stars with minutes than against a struggling Forest side that’s ripe for the plucking.

It might also do some good to provide some key players with rest, even if it’s just for a few minutes, particularly as United gear up to travel to face third-placed Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.

If there was ever a time to rotate the squad and experiment with some substitutions, it’s now, against a struggling Forest team, where United may find it easier to come away with a win compared to most other competitors.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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