Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

His subs were good I feel.
In my opinion he did three things Ten Hag rarely did:

1. Took off underperforming players regardless of their status
2. Made the subs early
3. Moved to a more attack minded team bringing on Zirkzee, Hojlund and Mount


It didn't pay off but the approach was right
 
I have every confidence in him. Fairly soon I think we will see players such as Gore, Amass,Fletcher and a few others integrated into the first team, maybe even statring on Thurdsay
We might, but they’re not going to transform the team. Our attackers are among the least dangerous in the league. They lack pace, ability to beat a man, intelligence etc.
 
What did he say about Bruno?
I am paraphrasing, but essentially he said that he played better when he dropped back and played closer to the ball, as we could benefit from his long passes. But also that he can't always play there as his tendency to often go long is counterproductive to the system.

In other words, Bruno's performance at 10 wasn't up to par. It is now up to him to improve there or change his game to fit playing as an Amorim 8.
 
Am I the only one thinking it’s a bit naive to openly talk to the press about your tactics when you’ve also explained you play one way only? I mean why, give stuff like that away?
He’s played this way for years, I’m sure other teams are aware of it…

He’s going to have us playing much better in a few weeks
 
To play a 3 at the back in this league you need defenders that are brave with passing but also very good at carrying the ball into advanced positions in midfield. If you don’t do this you will just pass the ball in front of your opponents slowly and barely create openings.

The back 3s that have succeeded in this league and across Europe have all had multiple players with these qualities.

Azpilicueta David Luiz Cahill
Alderweireld Dier Vertonghen
Christensen Thiago Silva Rudiger
Barzagli Bonucci Chielini
Pavard De Vrij Bastoni

These teams have at the very least two defenders in the trio that are very good on the ball and can pass. The ones that aren’t short passing specialist are at least top class at long passes.

I’m sorry to say it but if De Ligt is to play in a 3 at the back then the two wide CBs need to be majestic on the ball because he’s below average in possession. If they aren’t then we’ll just get slow passes and barely progress into good positions. Hopefully Yoro and Martinez can do that as they are our best bet for the RCB and LCB positions.
 
He has a massive job on his hands. The performance today was not up to standard and doesn't bode well if changes aren't made. Not sure I liked his selection of players in certain positions. Would have preferred Amad further forward and Mazraoui at RWB. Hopefully he has the balls to drop underperforming players regardless of status. The comments about Bruno are interesting and hopefully that means he won't constantly get picked regardless of his form. Will be interesting to see the starting lineups in the next few games. If Rashford is still stinking up the place and getting starting berths consistently...
 
We might, but they’re not going to transform the team. Our attackers are among the least dangerous in the league. They lack pace, ability to beat a man, intelligence etc.
Agree 100 %. We Should look at some of the talent in the youth. I would be inclined to give Ethan Ennis or Biancheri a chance. They can't do any worse
 
I wonder if the respective players will feel that they are being singled out here?

He Did say that he wasn't the type to throw his players under the bus just a couple of days earlier.

I personally don't mind that. Players are way too precious these days. He's saying what he sees and he's the coach, so they should probably listen to him. If the players were doing the right things, they would have won the game.
 
The team looked like if a person from 1900 was suddenly given a mobile phone. Just absolutely clueless. What a shit team. How did we get here. They really dont understand football, bunch of one trick ponies.
 
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Having to tell a striker to get in the box for crosses is depressing
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/joshua-zirkzee-signed-for-manchester-united.472168/post-32079884

I've said something along the similar lines when we were first linked with him. So yea, I'd say his play style has been more of a player who likes to drop deep to get on the ball and would benefit with runners around and play them in. He looked good in his debut game for Netherlands too because Reijnders was a willing runner behind him.

Ofcourse it's an issue and if we can get him to make runs into the box it should be better for him and us overall. Getting him to do that shouldn't be that much of a big deal in my opinion and hopefully Amorim can coach that into him.
 
Agree 100 %. We Should look at some of the talent in the youth. I would be inclined to give Ethan Ennis or Biancheri a chance. They can't do any worse
I’m all for playing youngsters but I’m afraid it will be boys against men out there. Neither Ennis nor Biancheri look like they’re ready physically for first team football.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a better solution myself. I fear we will struggle to score goals for the rest of the season regardless what we do. It’s actually scary how much money we have spent on Antony, Sancho, Zirkzee and the likes just to look so toothless.
 
For his first game with us I’ll give him a 6.5/10

We finally seem to have a defined play style but lack the players or quality to execute it.

Some of the players were also in questionable positions but I suppose this is something they’ll have to get used to.

Mazraoui has had his best games for us as a full back.

Amad is not a wingback.

Rashford is not a striker (or anything else for that matter).

Playing two ageing veterans in central midfield was tantamount to suicide.

Will certainly be interesting to see how he gets on this season and how the players respond to him.
Wingback is a label not a player role. Formations are shapes that accommodate those roles in the defensive phase. The 3-4-3 basically just simplifies the positional system. Welcome to modern football.
 
I’m all for playing youngsters but I’m afraid it will be boys against men out there. Neither Ennis nor Biancheri look like they’re ready physically for first team football.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a better solution myself. I fear we will struggle to score goals for the rest of the season regardless what we do. It’s actually scary how much money we have spent on Antony, Sancho, Zirkzee and the likes just to look so toothless.
It already looks like that now with our first team players. Why not try something or someone different?

It is not an easy situation to resolve though. Will take some brave decision making from Amorim.
 
Agree 100 %. We Should look at some of the talent in the youth. I would be inclined to give Ethan Ennis or Biancheri a chance. They can't do any worse
The youth teams are great at their level, but they’re not ready for this. And a lot of our injured players have just/about to come back (for now) so we’ve got some depth.

I think a couple might get some minutes this season (Wheatley?) but it’ll be next season and one after, before they’re properly embedded IF they continue their progression to date.

I also think we might look at one in in January window then 3-4 in Summer. With a few out the door.
 
Am I the only one thinking it’s a bit naive to openly talk to the press about your tactics when you’ve also explained you play one way only? I mean why, give stuff like that away?

Car crash of a post.

So you think because he plays 343 it must mean he plays it is the same way every game?

You also think that teams with large scouting and analysis departments actually just rely what managers say to the press? So with that in mind, today you just learnt that under EtH Dalot used to move into midfield......you never saw that for yourself?
 
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I personally don't mind that. Players are way too precious these days. He's saying what he sees and he's the coach, so they should probably listen to him. If the players were doing the right things, they would have won the game.
Thats not true. Because we aren't playing against ourselves but against an opponent who is prepared to a) try to damage and exploit our gameplan and b) make adjustments to their own gameplan to maximize on chances and minimize on risks. The opponents dictates how "good" you can play.

Overall I agree with your point though, I don't mind the manager ruffling a few feathers here and there even though I prefer those things to happen in private. Amorim doesn't have to praise them when he feels it isn't justified, but so soon after getting in, he should stick to internal stuff.
 


Bruno has 92% passing accuracy, with 7 long balls ( a third after Onana and Maz with 10 LB), where 5 LB reaching the targets. In contrast, Onana's 10 LB didn't reach any target.

It would be weird to expect your number 10 to have 100% passing accuracy.

It was Case and Eriksen that had a mare, with 70% and 80% passing accuracy playing as CMs.
 
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He does seem to be learning about the players quickly and being more decisive than other managers.

I do have a slight concern that he looked at this lot and decided to start our slowest and most lethargic players in midfield though.
 
Next match against Bodø Glimt and Everton after that are crucial matches that, combined with the training in between, should hopefully have the players get more familiar with the formation and roles. After these 2 matches we really need to be prepared if we want to grab points!

Hope we soon get back Ugarte, Yoro and Martinez. The match today highlighted the CB and midfield issues.
 
I understand the long balls from the back to help relieve some pressure but we’re not a long ball team. we don’t have any players that posses the physical tools to win them consistently, or even if we win them do anything productive with it. He’s gotta get them more comfortable playing out from the back, and get rid of players who can’t do it.
 
He does seem to be learning about the players quickly and being more decisive than other managers.

I do have a slight concern that he looked at this lot and decided to start our slowest and most lethargic players in midfield though.
I would be worried if he keeps starting them. But this was something to do with not having the options here.
 
He does seem to be learning about the players quickly and being more decisive than other managers.

I do have a slight concern that he looked at this lot and decided to start our slowest and most lethargic players in midfield though.
I took the view that he started the players he’s either seen the most from (due to not being called up, or those who are ‘fittest’).

Evans, Casemiro and Rashford being prime examples, obviously all rightfully replaced albeit without anyone coming on and doing a particularly amazing job either
 
This is going to be a long and bumpy ride to end of season I feel. I hope people accept there are going to be some bad results. There are a lot of players not suited to what he wants to do - but that said when fit we should be able to have a decent xi for him at times.

Onana--Yoro-De Ligt- Martinez------Diallo-Ugarte-Mainoo-Mazraoui-----Mount-Bruno---Hojlund for example, is an xi that should be good when used to his system. Players like Shaw, Dalot, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Antony should be useful at times and Casemiro, Eriksen, Maguire, Lindelof, Rashford are all capable enough for some rotation games in europe/cups.

All in all I hope he identifies his best Xi early and uses it as much as possible in the league with the focus of identifying key players for next season.
 
I'm fully behind him. None of this faux positive bulls**t. He was visibly fuming after the game and you can tell he's simply not going to put up with any shite.
Just wish we made the change after the FA Cup final so he had a proper pre season and was able to get players that will actually work hard.
 
When and if everyone is fit. This would probably be the best team.

Onana
Yoro... De Ligt....Martinez
Maz.....Urgate...Mainoo....Shaw
Amas....Bruno
Hojund

Maybe Mount comes in if he ever gets to full fitness as Wing back or front 3

What's definite is, more signings are definitely needed.
How is a 17 year old left back, played out of position, for a team he has only had a few minutes playing for, a first choice in your ‘best team’?
 
He does seem to be learning about the players quickly and being more decisive than other managers.

I do have a slight concern that he looked at this lot and decided to start our slowest and most lethargic players in midfield though.
What I took from the players picked were the ones who he had trained with over the week. Maybe Mainoo coming back from injury, Ugarte was coming back from international matches, meant he didnt want to risk a breakdown and went with what he thought would be a safe option against relegation fodder. He may have been niave to think this meant an easy game, like it would have been in Portugal.
 
He does seem to be learning about the players quickly and being more decisive than other managers.

I do have a slight concern that he looked at this lot and decided to start our slowest and most lethargic players in midfield though.

It made sense to go with experience, and it's not like he has a wealth of other options with Ugarte coming back from International duty and Mount/Mainoo coming back from injury.
 
Really liked when he said I rather we suffer now than continuing what the previous regime taught them and make same mistakes.

It will be a bumpy road and fans have to give him time. He will eventually become ruthless towards certain players but till then we will be a mixed bag under him.
 
So no manager bounce again for United.

It’s not even all the players fault , club has just spent a long long time rewarding inconsistent mediocrity. If you were offered stupid money to play for United even though you weren’t good enough you’d take the cash. I pity United managers , working with clowns, buckets load of cash wasted because under the Glazers after SAF left , our club couldn’t identity a quality target , get value for money and properly build a strong balanced squad if the future of the club depended on it.

United is like club that spends enough to be really challenging most seasons for 2/3rd and champions league knockout. But based on how the club consistently makes a balls of transfers , we are a mess. And managers are fallguys.

I don’t envy Amorim, I mean we were told we needed open heart surgery 4 years ago and we had the same muppets running things until this summer. Open heart isn’t just buy different players, it takes time to change the culture , I just hope our new manager gets the right support. Be interesting to see if this is a car crash season , how many of the less patient will turn on him.

INEOs also need time although I imagine they will be the focus of many until the end of the season. We are where we are because of the glazers , what they did or didn’t do has led us here. INEOs couldn’t be expected to complete open heart surgery in one summer and even if they made mistakes , those mistakes aren’t the reason United are where we are, it’s a decade of complete and utter neglect from the yanks.