Manchester United allowed two forwards to leave in the January transfer window and didn't strengthen their attacking options. United did sign Ayden Heaven on a permanent transfer from Arsenal and they might need an intervention from God to save their miserable season.

Whatever way you look at it, United are objectively weaker in attack than they were at the start of the window. Marcus Rashford wasn't playing after a breakdown with Ruben Amorim and Antony is Antony, but the bottom line is, two forwards left the club and none were signed.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have scored 11 goals between them in all competitions this season and Amorim resorted to playing Kobbie Mainoo up front against Crystal Palace.

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Speaking before that game, Amorim explained he wanted to "try different things", and it wasn't a surprise to see the team with a striker who can score claim a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

The in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta netted a brace and he has two more goals than Hojlund and Zirkzee combined this term. Yes, really. The Crystal Palace striker who dances to 'Boom, Boom, Boom' by the Vengaboys when he scores has more goals than United's strikers, who cost in excess of £100million.

United need to create more chances for the remainder of the season, but Hojlund and Zirkzee must become more clinical because they currently look out of their depth at Old Trafford.

Over 2,500 fans responded to my survey on X about United's business in the January window and 74 per cent said they were disappointed, while 20 per cent said they were content.

The biggest gripe of supporters in this window has been United's failure to sign a striker because strengthening the attack in the winter window won't have necessarily cost millions.

United considered moves for Bayern Munich teenager Mathys Tel and Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea, but Tel moved to Tottenham on deadline day and Nkunku stayed in London.

Tel has a modest goalscoring record, he's just 19-year-old and would have been a risk, but some will argue United have taken a bigger risk by standing still in the January window.

What if Amad or Alejandro Garnacho pick up injuries? They are the team's leading goalscorers and a toothless attack would become worse if they pick up issues during the rest of the season.

Sources stressed United had no intention of recruiting any short-term or stop-gap players who could compromise the club's budget in the summer, but it's naïve to believe there wasn't a player out there who could have improved the attack and been available in an affordable deal.

United needed another Odion Ighalo-type signing. There are staff at the club who are paid well to scout such players and there was bound to be an opportunity that could have been taken.

They have stuck with Hojlund and Zirkzee instead and hopefully both players find form in the next few months, otherwise, fans might just completely give up on the Premier League season.

And in a way, that's what it feels like Ineos have done. United are 13th in the league, they have a -6 goal difference and are 12 points above the relegation zone, so the league feels like a write off, to some extent, and the Europa League is the only thing that could salvage 2024/25.

United could still win the FA Cup, but winning the Europa League would grant entry into next season's Champions League and that must be the team's biggest target for obvious reasons - they need European commercial revenue and it would be a colossal blow to miss out.

Just two faces, Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, came through the door in January, and both players were introduced on the pitch at Old Trafford before United faced Crystal Palace on Sunday.

United signed Heaven from Arsenal for an undisclosed compensation fee and he was a first-team signing, which raises the prospect of the 18-year-old making his debut in the coming weeks.

Heaven was deemed good enough to make his senior debut for Arsenal in a Carabao Cup tie in October and also attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and Ajax, which is usually a good indicator because those two clubs are two of the best in the world at developing young players.

United paid €30million (£25m) to sign Dorgu with a potential €5m (£4m) in add-ons, and the defender will be available to face Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round.

Lecce were locked in talks with United for two weeks and an agreement was finally reached for Dorgu, who signed a contract until June 2030, with the option of an additional year.

Dorgu is naturally left-sided but can also play on the right. Amorim's system heavily relies on wing-backs, but Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have predominantly operated in those positions since his appointment from Sporting Lisbon and neither have looked a natural fit.

However, just like Heaven, Dorgu (20 years old) is young and they aren't two signings that will immediately turn around the club's fortunes, so it was no wonder that fans felt United weren't reading the room when the club's X account posted a Dorgu picture at the same time of Tottenham agreeing a deal for Tel.

Strangely, Rashford's appearance in his Villa unveiling photos made some headlines, but the United academy graduate sounded like he'd been suffering from a cold in his signing interview, which might explain why he didn't look his sharpest. Regardless, how a player looks shouldn't make news.

Rashford will be hoping to rediscover his form in Birmingham and it's sad how his time at United has ended, but certain lifestyle choices are to blame and he needed a fresh start.

Antony also needed a move away from Manchester and he was named man of the match on his debut for Real Betis, so there is hope his spell in Spain can increase his market value.

United will look to sell Rashford, who Villa have an option to buy, and Antony in the summer window, which already feels like it could be one of the most important windows in the club's history.

Amorim wasn't backed in January. United kept their power dry, but they will have to get the chequebook out at the end of the season to give Amorim any chance of climbing the table.

Erik ten Hag spent over £600million during his tenure and backing the wrong horse could set United back five years. Amorim has inherited a squad that looks worth a fraction of the money that Ten Hag spent and he's got a heck of a job on his hands - but Amorim already knows that.