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Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount look \u2018lost\u2019 in Manchester United\u2019s midfield and Sofyan Amrabat is being \u2018wasted\u2019 in defence.<\/p>\n
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to Paul Merson, who says he feels \u2018sorry\u2019 for Ramus Hojlund up front.<\/p>\n
United\u2019s dismal start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. <\/p>\n
Despite dominating at Old Trafford, United failed to create enough chances to break down a stubborn Roy Hodgson side.<\/p>\n
Amrabat was given his full Premier League debut and deputised at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguillon.<\/p>\n
He gave away a cheap free-kick that led to Palace\u2019s winning goal, and was eventually moved into midfield.<\/p>\n
He was joined there by Mount and Fernandes, but neither could create the chance United need to draw level with the Eagles.<\/p>\n
And Merson says the pair, along with Amrabat, looked lost at Old Trafford. <\/p>\n
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\u2018I feel like when you\u2019re watching Man Utd, it\u2019s like watching Subbuteo. You blow the whistle to kick-off and at half-time, everyone is in exactly the same position as they were when they started the game. There\u2019s no movement,\u2019 said Merson.<\/p>\n
\u2018When you manage big football clubs, you\u2019re under pressure and you\u2019re under more pressure when the neighbours win. If they [Man City] had won today, then it really cranks up\u2026 it\u2019s a must for them to get into the top four this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018You watch Man Utd play and you just don\u2019t see the pattern of play. It\u2019s like if it comes off, it comes off. You watch Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City play, they have patterns of play. Someone will go in and come back out, but at Man Utd, it\u2019s get the ball out wide and hope that Rashford does something and if he does, we might score a goal.<\/p>\n
\u2018Amrabat was wasted out on the left in the end, he did come into the middle in the end but he should start off there. They need to dominate. It\u2019s too slow at Man Utd, they let teams get into the game, let teams settle, but they\u2019ve got to go for them in the first 20 minutes. There\u2019s nothing like that.<\/p>\n
\u2018Disappointing and they didn\u2019t make loads of chances. They were lost for ideas for a lot of the game.<\/p>\n
\u2018Hojlund is playing up front on his own and you don\u2019t know if the wingers are going to cross it or not. It\u2019s hard for him. He doesn\u2019t get a lot of service. Mount, Casemiro and Fernandes don\u2019t really know where they\u2019re going or where they\u2019re playing.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s a big worry for Man Utd at the moment and another defeat. They\u2019re a million miles off.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t see them turning it around at the moment. It might get to a situation where he might have to change the shape. He has a four at the back, he might need to go to a three just to mix it up.<\/p>\n
\u2018I just find that Mount and Fernandes look a bit lost and don\u2019t know where they\u2019ve got to go. They\u2019re getting dominated and passed around. They put pressure on Palace, but Johnstone didn\u2019t have loads of saves to make.\u2019<\/p>\n