Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

[Hoof the ball]

People think we’d not concede from set pieces if the official line-up has 4 at the back

I'm sick of it. These tools know next to nothing about football. Everything is always so binary. Wouldn't dawn on them that formations are fluid in game and conceding has feck all to do with whether you're lining up in a Plalanx or a Maniple formation.

 

[Sandikan]

Very true. One is where people actually look at the performances in the context of the mess our new manager came into. The other is where people just look at the results and take everything at face value.

I'm in the middle. I can see we create a few chances, but look such a mess that we're losing frequently against traditional midtable at best clubs.

 

[Andersonson]

The short pasning in our penalty box followed by a long pass by Onana needs to stop

 

[Halftrack]

We are losing 3 fecking 0 to bournemouth at home.

Wake the feck up.

Sit the feck down, you hysterical child.

 

[Sandikan]

Right now though with such poor wing backs we essentially are playing 5 at the back. We need improvements in various areas but the addition of 2 decent attack minded wing backs would be a massive upgrade.

I think Maz was known as a wing back?
And are there actually that many specialist wing backs about? So few teams play with them.

I've always personally hated wing backs and back 3s, but will come round if there's any sign it's working

 

[Solius]

I'm in the middle. I can see we create a few chances, but look such a mess that we're losing frequently against traditional midtable at best clubs.

Traditional is the key word here. Bournemouth are very well run and have one of the best presses and out of possession structures in the league. That will often trump a team full of ‘better’ players who are a bit of a mish mash with a new manager trying to get ideas across.

 

[AltiUn]

I'm in the middle. I can see we create a few chances, but look such a mess that we're losing frequently against traditional midtable at best clubs.

They might be traditional mid table sides but they're 3rd and 5th this season, they're among the best teams in the league this season and that's far more relevant.

 

[Sarni]

It was a horrible result but once again I felt performance was quite good. We could have easily gone into half time with a lead, and again succumbed to two dumb mistakes early in the second half like we did v Forest.

We keep playing this way and results will come (especially as we add players that suit this formation and style better). Performances are already miles better than they were prior to him joining.

He has a free pass this season from me, and I’m sure he will come good. The only thing I did not agree with today was taking Ugarte off as it made midfield unbalanced.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Think he made a mistake today taking off Ugarte at 0-1. I was actually happy to see Malacia start but turned out to be a mistake, not sure he'll start again soon. We're too vulnerable at the back while being so poor in attack. Good thing is we're creating chances but doesn't mean much without proper finishing.

We will suffer a lot this season. Just hope it won't be too bad and that we can finish the season with decent amount of points (around 55 would be great given our current tally of 22). 2 Europa League games in January are important. Have to qualify to last 16 to avoid those 2 extra games in February and have less games and more time to prepare for every game. We might be out of the Fa Cup early as third round will be at Arsenal but that could be a good thing in terms of avoiding too many games.

Even an 8th place finish would be great as things stand.

Others in here are right. 4-0 vs Everton was never a 4-0 result. Loss to Forest could've finished different and 0-3 today was not a 0-3.

 

[Hoof the ball]

It just seems excessive to me I suppose. Everything is fine in degrees.

Not necessarily you in particular, but, he's explained why he's doing it in the endless number of press interviews he's done. It's not Amorim's fault that after the umpteenth explanation as to why he's rotating, the goldfish on here treat it like a forgotten dream from last night and proceed to make uninformed arguments.

 

[Sandikan]

They might be traditional mid table sides but they're 3rd and 5th this season, they're among the best teams in the league this season and that's far more relevant.

Yes they're 5th now, but weren't before the game. We all hoped a win in this game could be the time we finally get above 13th, but alas not to be.

By the time we get going the league will be way more stretched.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Also, I don't think people realize how much of a handicap it is to be the worst set piece team in the league. We essentially are spotting every side we play a free goal, and we already aren't a good attacking side right now. That needs to be fixed, but I'm not sure how much it can be currently without recruitment.

 

[Skills]

I'm not that worried tbh. Generally I've been more convinced by him than any of our previous managers - his impact is obvious.

But, team sports are a funny thing - momentum matters. He needs results just to not get into a rot, because rots are hard to reverse. Unfortunately, because of the ownership and the fanbase he inherited a team in the rot rather than when he could've got a clean slate of a job in the summer or even in October. Psychology matters, and I think just getting over the ETH/Solskjaer PTSD is a big deal.

 

[Marcus]

Exactly. It's incredible we spent over £600m with Ten Hag at the helm and we've just continually made the squad worse, how is that even possible?

I think the biggest crime is losing proven goal scorers and just not replacing them, at one time we had players like Greenwood, Ronaldo, Cavani, Martial etc who all knew where the back of the net was and could rescue us in a pinch. Absolutely no one knows how to score in this team.

Amorim's not even had a transfer window yet. A completely thankless task.

It's possible. Because we have sucked for so long, players willing to come to us only did so for financial gain. If we play better football and start progressing, players may be willing to join us for more reasonable salaries because of the prospect of winning the EPL and CL.

 

[saik]

Amorim won’t waiver from his principles. If he fails then the club has failed him too.

Well, I said this before but we better hope results pick up soon. The pressure will be immense in the next couple of months if the results are going to be as inconsistent as this.

 

[Sandikan]

Think he made a mistake today taking off Ugarte at 0-1. I was actually happy to see Malacia start but turned out to be a mistake, not sure he'll start again soon. We're too vulnerable at the back while being so poor in attack. Good thing is we're creating chances but doesn't mean much without proper finishing.

We will suffer a lot this season. Just hope it won't be too bad and that we can finish the season with decent amount of points (around 55 would be great given our current tally of 22). 2 Europa League games in January are important. Have to qualify to last 16 to avoid those 2 extra games in February and have less games and more time to prepare for every game. We might be out of the Fa Cup early as third round will be at Arsenal but that could be a good thing in terms of avoiding too many games.

Even an 8th place finish would be great as things stand.

Others in here are right. 4-0 vs Everton was never a 4-0 result. Loss to Forest could've finished different and 0-3 today was not a 0-3.

Malacia had about 18 months out and has come back in to a far more demanding position. It's no surprise he looks well off it.
Inevitable he'll be in the next round of outbounds.

How can or will we use Shaw when he's next back in for a few games? Left of the 3 probably sounds the only sensible position. Martinez looks well off it, and no-one can see Shaw being able to cope as a wing back.

 

[Camy89]

It’s going to be crap again after this and many more times. Everyone was happy to accept this in theory but can’t take it when it actually happens.

Absolutely.

He mentioned the ‘Storm WILL come’ and everyone was like ‘I love his honesty’, ‘Yes, we can’t win every game implementing a new system’, ‘Agree, it’ll take time to bed in…’

Then when we get a shit result, it’s toys out of pram and calling for his head.

Many people can’t see farther than the end of their nose in here.

 

[Judas]

I thought we were pretty middling under Ruud, just finished alright. It wasn’t impressive, so to see people saying we were better under him is quite funny. It’s classic Utd fans lusting for the past.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

It isn’t that hard as long as your goalkeeper doesn’t let in a shot straight at him, or your CB doesn’t watch a header bounce in instead of clearing it. Or your defender dives in giving away a pen for a no reason. He’s not been helped by some awful individual errors which have created platforms in the games for the rest of the squad to become nervous again.

What if, what you've allude to continues who's to blame?
Because for sure, the possibility of winning 1 game in 3 league games is shocking.

As a club we've been deprived of winning runs for years now. Imagine the Vidic run on not conceding goals in more than 1,000 minutes. That's a dream now.

 

[crossy1686]

Well we’re creating good chances, lots actually. We’re definitely defending better. We’re playing with a clear style of play and look better on the eye but we’re still conceding from set pieces and almost every shot on target seems to go in, and we’re still losing games.

I feel like a lot of these issues are psychological at this point, and many of us said there would psychological repercussions for letting a shit manager dismantle the team and lose week after week. It’s hard to come back from, might be impossible for this group of players now.

I haven’t seen the current manager put a foot wrong apart from rotating the back line too much, but then again none of them are good enough to hold a position down. We need a transfer window badly to address malaise that has set in.

 

[jem]

Poor today - front 3 was never going to work as they all come deep and want the ball to feet. Nowhere near enough pace in behind.

Second time this week where taking Ugarte off was the wrong decision.

Hmm - if we don’t beat Wolves..

What are you hinting at here?

 

[Sandikan]

Exactly. It's incredible we spent over £600m with Ten Hag at the helm and we've just continually made the squad worse, how is that even possible?

I think the biggest crime is losing proven goal scorers and just not replacing them, at one time we had players like Greenwood, Ronaldo, Cavani, Martial etc who all knew where the back of the net was and could rescue us in a pinch. Absolutely no one knows how to score in this team.

Amorim's not even had a transfer window yet. A completely thankless task.

You list these players like there were no problems at all between them.

Everyone knows the Greenwood situation.
Martial had most of the cafe tearing their hair out for the last 3 or so years he was here.
Cavani spent a lot of time injured and was unreliable.
Ronaldo scored a lot, but Ten Hag decided he wouldn't try and work to his strengths and play him every week, but instead fell out with him and decided that Weigy (1 goal in 30 or so games) was a better option.

 

[DRJosh]

Amazing how Amorim is now being criticised by some after being praised in previous games for establishing a clear pattern of play.

He has inherited a poor quality team - selling these overpaid players (to buy new ones) will take a couple of seasons at least. I don’t know if our fans will have the patience for this necessary overhaul.

One thing is certain - our recruitment has been absolutely shambolic. To just have Zirkzee and Hojlund as attacking threats is laughable considering our supposed top-4 aspirations.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

Yeah context is key. Everton weren’t as bad as that made out and two of our goals were from individual errors.

The club needs to get Amorim some players in January. Whatever about writing season off , new managers need their own signings even just to freshen things up.

I worry for Amorim, not because I don’t think he’s got potential to do well, I worry cause it’s a fickle game and if he spends a season persisting with tactics “that need better players” but the team does significantly worse then last season, he will be sacked.

It really isn’t a bottom half of EPL squad and I’m not sure SJR has the patience he has been publicly implying.

 

[city-puma]

So much money spent to build a team without physicality and athletic. We lost too many first and second ball. Many players can’t read the situations of the game but let go with their mood and emotion. Bruno, Onana, just name a few.

 

[Judas]

We have been our own worst enemy so often over the last few weeks.

I’m personally still fully backing in him as I’ve seen a lot more to be positive about under him already than we did under Ten Hag in a much bigger period of time.

 

[Sandikan]

What are you hinting at here?

The pressure will ramp up.

And if we don't make any signings in Jan, as we suspect we won't (and can't financially), that the pressure could reach huge levels before we even get to the summer.
That's what he's suggesting.

 

[DJ_21]

Is it true that the roof was leaking during his press conference?

 

[Mickeza]

I mean we can all cope about the Xg - but we just lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth after losing 3-2 in our last home game against Forest - and we were proper shit for 30 minutes until they scored. We were worse than shit for the opening 15 minutes of the second half against Spurs in midweek too where we also went 3-0 down and had our first shot on target after 63 minutes. It’s great that we have a better shape for most of games now but the results are poor and he isn’t going to get time and buy-in if he doesn’t start winning games soon. I get expectations are on the floor but feck me - today and Forest were both really bad.

 

[Wezzaldo]

I actually thought first half we could have been clear. Those already calling for his head need a reality check. Probably 7-8 of this squad are good enough.

As long as we remain (and I mean the club) patient, I actually think missing out on Europe could be a blessing in disguise. Will allow us to trim the rubbish from the squad without having to replace them instantly. Plus the one game a week will allow us to become a coherent unit.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

It isn’t that hard as long as your goalkeeper doesn’t let in a shot straight at him, or your CB doesn’t watch a header bounce in instead of clearing it. Or your defender dives in giving away a pen for a no reason. He’s not been helped by some awful individual errors which have created platforms in the games for the rest of the squad to become nervous again.

What if, what you've allude to continues who's to blame?
Because for sure, the possibility of winning 1 game in 3 league games is shocking.

As a club we've been deprived of winning runs for years now. Imagine the Vidic run on not conceding goals in more than 1,000 minutes. That's a dream now.

 

[redshaw]

Amorim hasn't won 2 consecutive Premier League games since he arrived.

Not to go at him.
But surely, winning just 2 league games on the bounce isn't that hard or isn't asking for too much.

It's the 22nd of December, his first PL game win was the 1st of December

22 fecking days

 

[jem]

The pressure will ramp up.

And if we don't make any signings in Jan, as we suspect we won't (and can't financially), that the pressure could reach huge levels before we even get to the summer.
That's what he's suggesting.

Of course there’s pressure - there always will be, but any suggestion of Amorim being in trouble anytime before the end of next season is just ridiculous, in my opinion

 

[Sandikan]

Of course there’s pressure - there always will be, but any suggestion of Amorim being in trouble anytime before the end of next season is just ridiculous, in my opinion

You say that, but keep getting beaten / battered by the likes of Forest, Tottenham, Bournemouth for month after month...

 

[Insanity]

Amorim hasn't won 2 consecutive Premier League games since he arrived.

Not to go at him.
But surely, winning just 2 league games on the bounce isn't that hard or isn't asking for too much.

We, Manchester United, haven't won 2 leagues games in a row so far this season; we have played 17. I was shocked to hear it on commentary.

Also, we have conceded 42% of our goals from set-pieces when the average for a PL team is 11%.

It's not a Ruben problem, it's has been a Manchester United problem this season.

 

[Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick]

It's the 22nd of December, his first PL game was the 1st of December

22 fecking days

I know it’s ludicrous to be questioning the manager after such a short period when he’s just got shite players to work with. I’d cut him a lot of slack just for ditching Rashford which should have been done years ago.

 

[AneRu]

Wouldn't want to pile on him but, after watching them for a few games, what does he think he will get from players like Malacia, Zirkzee etc that he wouldn't get, and more, from Wheatley, Amass etc? He is almost becoming too loyal to a treacherous bunch of mentally weak, physically shot and average talent players.

I don't mind us losing if it meant we are building to something, we are developing talented players and it's only a matter of them growing and us buying a few reinforcements. This is where I disagree with him, we have talented youngsters so use them and be held hostage by this pile of shit. I wouldn't put it past some of these loafers deliberately throwing goals because Rashy isn't getting picked, that's how low I think of them.

 

[Solius]

You say that, but keep getting beaten / battered by the likes of Forest, Tottenham, Bournemouth for month after month...

You’re being disingenuous again. ‘Battered’ by Forest and Spurs? Are you incapable of taking context into account? Do you just look at scores and the bigger number scares you?

 

[AltiUn]

You list these players like there were no problems at all between them.

Everyone knows the Greenwood situation.
Martial had most of the cafe tearing their hair out for the last 3 or so years he was here.
Cavani spent a lot of time injured and was unreliable.
Ronaldo scored a lot, but Ten Hag decided he wouldn't try and work to his strengths and play him every week, but instead fell out with him and decided that Weigy (1 goal in 30 or so games) was a better option.

I said we didn't replace them properly, not that we should've kept them. Fact is they were all reliable goal scorers, reliable goal scorers aren't cheap but there's 0 excuse for us not to have signed one in 3 years.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Caf logic is saying that Liverpool's attack isn't that great and is carried by Salah, and that Slot hasn't had to do much, but at the same time Amorim is clueless and needs to figure it out (hint: goals and great individuals make everything much easier)

It's just frustrating for me to read so much angst when I can watch full 90's like today and not be too bothered because I never expected a huge upturn in results anyways and it's clear as day that half of that starting XI isn't close to be good enough to play in a proper side.