Good summary. I feel that for amorims supposed system there aren't as many first team signings needed as people think. We need depth for sure and we have to get the new signings right. A striker is a non negotiable. I think we also need a fast ball playing lcb. I like Martinez but he's out until near xmas and his injury record is poor
16
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 38
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 7
- Yellow cards
- 2
Good summary. I feel that for amorims supposed system there aren't as many first team signings needed as people think. We need depth for sure and we have to get the new signings right. A striker is a non negotiable. I think we also need a fast ball playing lcb. I like Martinez but he's out until near xmas and his injury record is poor
Whilst other players in the squad struggle to find a place in the system it is a HUGE plus that Amad can play well in 2 roles.
I think where he plays depends on who else can play in the role instead of him. If United have 2 inform no.10's then Amad can play RWB and vice versa.
I think where he plays depends on who else can play in the role instead of him. If United have 2 inform no.10's then Amad can play RWB and vice versa.
Mazraoui and York and heaven will just play at LCB I think. De ligt occasionally RCB to fill in until Martinez is back, and Shaw at some point will play a handful of matches again so I just don't see any back 3 signings tbh. Think we're in a good position with it, especially if you get another wing back which pushes Maz to only really be a RCB option.
I bet we go back in for Branthwaite.
I think Dorgu and Mainoo with Amad and Garnacho would be 2 great pairings on the flanks. Given time they should be able to create loads for the centre forward and Bruno arriving late.
In May possibly so could play again this season potentially.
We need to stop playing midfielders in our front 3 if we actually want to get in behind teams and score goals. Mainoo and Bruno are not hurting anyone, and need to be the players finding people, not the ones we are trying to find.
This just underlines the negativity of our approach. We cannot have a team full of defenders and CMs and just stick a striker on the top and expect to score goals. Players like Rashford and Garnacho cannot be less suited to forward roles than Mount and Mainoo, otherwise that tells you all you need to know about the penetration of the team.
He will kick up a fuss if he plays RWB. He's obviously a forward. A player with his skill level has to be closer to the goal regardless of a few good performances.
I think we need to have him and Quenda on the right hand side, if we can strike up a partnership with two explosive players it would be pretty exciting to watch two players who loves to run at defence.
Disagree. He can't really control the game like a proper regista. Maybe he will have a Scholes-like evolution but he's currently not that player. Despite his workrate, you really need someone more physically solid in that role. Like a Partey if not a Rodri or Carrick. There's no one else in the squad that can do the job so he's in there right now.
If I have to profile the two #10s, one is a nippy, Wirtz like player who can get the ball in the half space, turn and drive. Also provide some running in behind and score goals. Garnacho can be this #10 if he was a bit better technically. Right now we're forced to play him wide and the wing back inside because his touch is inconsistent, he's not strong enough etc.
The other #10 is basically Bruno / Mount. Maybe Mainoo but he's a strange player and probably won't fit at all in this system.
Zirkzee is also a weird fit at CF. I think he'd be viewed mostly as a replacement for Bruno / Mount in the #10 role not in the CF role although there are some games where that skill can be useful if we don't want to pick a physical fight with the opposing CBs. If I had to construct a semi-realistic line up:
Delap
Cherki Bruno
Dorgu New CM Ugarte Amad
New LCB / Heaven De Ligt Yoro / Maz
Onana
Cherki Bruno
Dorgu New CM Ugarte Amad
New LCB / Heaven De Ligt Yoro / Maz
Onana
He's good at both roles, but I suspect that Amad at #10 with a good wingback behind him will ultimately be stronger than Amad at RWB with a good #10 ahead of him. Could easily go either way though so it'll be interesting to see which role Amorim and the club prioritise signing in the summer (I presume we will sign either a RWB or a #10, depending on which we see Amad playing in).
I agree with this. Amad’s issue before he got injured was that teams had started doubling up on him as he was so obviously our main attacking outlet. He was still able to make things happen, but didn’t have the space to shine as much as he could have because there just wasn’t enough of a threat from the RWB to consistently create pockets of space for him.
With the right player at RWB attacking the space on the flank both with and without the ball, that changes the dynamic completely. Strong, pacy runners either side are really going to bring the best out of the like of Zirkzee, Amad and Bruno, as we saw with Dorgu and Zirkzee against Sociedad.
Very interesting what Zirkzee had to say about him here:
I'll take the other side of this one.
@Zumbi I think you could easily make the alternative argument. In other words, if we had a stronger #10 playing inside of Amad at WB, opposition would find it harder to double-up
Strictly on the basis of his performances this season, I think he's shown much more at RWB. When he plays wider he gets more space to cut inside on his left foot, can ghost into the back post area (has actually led to quite a few of his goals), and reaches the by-line for pullbacks more often
The only thing I'm less confident in is whether his best pressing has come from RWB or as a #10. I haven't gone back at checked where he was playing during each of his pressing-related goals & assists
Ivorian Messi
I forgot about him. We could have a good side next season if we manage 2-3 good sales and then buy right profiles. Win vs Sociedad was encouraging but if Amad was fit I'd be much more confident of our chances to go all the way and win the Europa.
Hell score the winner in the final.
An argument could be had that he's been a bit better at WB so far. But when he's played at RWB he's always had a #10 ahead of him who has helped take defenders away (even if they haven't been good, they are a body in an attacking position that the defenders have to cover), whereas when he's been at #10 he's normally had Mazraoui (who before the Arsenal game provided very little going forward) or Dalot (who gets forward more but still not often enough and not to great quality), so that's why defenders have been able to double up on him. It's basically been the difference between us attacking with four players (the three attackers + Amad) or us attacking with three players (Amad + the other two attackers) so I think it's been more a numbers game rather than Amad necessarily being better or worse. Put somebody behind him who performs like what Dorgu did against Sociedad and suddenly Amad would have a lot more space, both to take advantage of himself or to put that WB into great positions.
We saw signs of that in the brief periods we had Antony at RWB behind him. Suddenly the team as a whole and Amad individually were driving forward more and finding more space.
When we're in possession I don't really have too much of a preference. It's the out of possession side of things where I suspect we'll be better with him at #10. He's extremely good at pressing and winning the ball when it's ahead of him, but not as good when players get in behind him. Still good for an attacker, but perhaps might leave us a bit exposed defensively.
There are talks he might be back much sooner than that.
Was watching some highlights of previous games and missing Amad. He produced so many special moments. Wish him speedy recovery
Heaven might have something to say about thar.
Exactly. This is another one of those situations that push players into the wrong position, like playing Rashford as a 9. Just because he has done a decent job there doesn't mean he should be RWB all his career.
what I will say about the RWB position is that its one of our most creative areas of the pitch.
You only had to see the impact of Dorgu on Thursday to understand that a key element of the system is creating space in behind for the wing backs.
I think its a role he could play very well though in saying that he'd be our best '10' at the minute ahead of Garnacho and Zirkzee
You only had to see the impact of Dorgu on Thursday to understand that a key element of the system is creating space in behind for the wing backs.
I think its a role he could play very well though in saying that he'd be our best '10' at the minute ahead of Garnacho and Zirkzee
I see this so often on the forum. Posters saying they forgot about a player.
Amad's only been out a few week after being our best player this season. How have you forgot about him already?
I have read on a few places that he is ahead of schedule and is expected to be back at the start of next month. Hope it’s true.
That would be incredible. With Amad being fit and in-form we actually have a realistic shot at the Europe League (although Athletic are still the main favourites).
If amad comes back this season he needs to be put at RWB. Garnacho is picking up a bit of form on that right attacking side and he’s becoming more creative rather than greedy like he is on the left. Good to have options. Zirkzee is inform also in one of the 10s
Heard this as well but not sure if from any reliable sources. Seen pics of him walking without crutches or a protective boot which looked a good sign.
It wont make a lot of difference. It will take him several games just to get match fit, and by then the season's over.
Hope we dont rush him back.
I miss Amad Diallos pressing where he nicks the ball of the opponent. He’s done that a few times this season and it’s gotten us goals.
Excellent news.
Do you want to share with the class?
It’s in the post above, he shared. Pic with an hourglass
️ and a happy face insinuating he’s on the way backIt’s in the post above, he shared. Pic with an hourglass
Are you sure it isn't a Wine Glass and he's just pissed?
If we can get past Lyon I wonder if he might be back for the semi finals? We've missed him.
How do you get comeback from that? Time + Happiness = Eventual Misery, so maybe he's insinuating a storm is coming. Or he could be happy that we exist in a plane of reality in which the concept of time is such as it is. I know he's not hourly, but I don't think his contract would be worth much if you take away important terms like "monthly pay" and "5-year commitment." Footballers ought to do a lot more for time, really.It’s in the post above, he shared. Pic with an hourglass
fecks sake. Humanities regression back to using hieroglyphs to communicate continues.It’s in the post above, he shared. Pic with an hourglass
Hopefully in his next post he can hold up how many fingers before he's back in training.