Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

[MadDogg]

Exactly right. Set pieces aside, Arsenal didn't really look like scoring against us. Despite not looking dangerous ourselves, we looked very composed in possesion and had a very decent share of the ball. Particularly in the first half. We completely controlled the game against Forest. 71% of the ball and bossed every single statistic. Individual errors and set pieces our failing again. Even against Spurs, there were elements of our play that were really very good and I don't even mean during our little fight back.

As much as the win at City has been played down by some people (Gary Neville, no less), it was no fluke. We looked really composed and possession was practically 50/50. We were comfortably the better side in the second half.

It was obviously at a very early stage, but something was being formed. We need to regain that.

Excellently said.

Yes these last couple of games have been worrying and I do think Amorim has to take some of the blame himself, but way too many people seem to be making out as if it's worse than it has been. The improvement for most of the games under Amorim was noticeable, to the extent that it was quite impressive considering the situation that he was thrown into and the lack of training he was able to do. The results weren't quite matching the performances yet, but that's something that almost always evens out over time so there shouldn't have been any worry.

That's obviously fallen right off for the last couple of matches, but it's hardly surprising that we have a rough period. As long as we get over it and go back to our earlier performances there's nothing to panic about.

 

[MadDogg]

Why is thinking about relegation any more fanciful than what you're suggesting will happen?
Currently on a run whereby we are not winning, not scoring and conceding for fun, basically relegation form.
Yet it's apparently more fanciful to state that relegation is a possibility rather than we will start winning again magically playing a formation that doesn't suit the players available?

Ipswich are on 15 points. Double that in the second half of the season and they are on 30. We only need 9 points in 19 games to be above that.

We've obviously not getting relegated ffs.

 

[sglowrider]

I agree with this, tried saying much the same idea, just not as cogently as you did.

Simples. We are all addicted to hopium.

 

[devilish]

This has less to do with tactics and more about control. Our players want to play at low intensity, preferably with wingers and in counters. They will do anything to push managers to adapt their style to what they want as shown with Rangnick and ETH. The moment the manager dares breaking the mold they'll turn against him fast (ex Ole and Amorim). What United need is a serious cultural reset. Players should be sold, proper disciplinary measures are introduced alongside a mountain of fines for those transgressing the new rules. INEOS had shown itself to be an expert in making the average employee's life difficult. Its time it turn its sight from the small fry who has nothing to do as of why we're in this shit state and they should aim their guns towards players. That can be done by

a- introducing the much maligned 'ritiro' after a series of defeats which still scares the shit out of most players in the Serie A. Inspired by the retreats done by medieval monks, ir ritiro usually consist of a couple of days in the middle of nowhere (no internet, no mobile reception, nothing) were players live together, eat together and train together with the only free time reserved for sleeping. Its supposed to strengthen team spirit which it kind of does because the consensus after that experience is not to want to experience it ever again

b- United should introduce a rule book the size of a bible. That would specify what a player can say and do in different circumstances (ex when he's available, when he's injured etc). It also gives the club the opportunity to fine the crap out of a player whose misbehaving if they want him out. Gazza is said to have not made a single penny in Italy because of that.

c- reintroduce the 'I had a Pally' shirt but this time round call it 'I had a Rashy'. Then give it as much media exposure as possible. I have a feeling that those behind 'Brand Rashford' will be more keen to listen to offers for Saudi after that

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

This has less to do with tactics and more about control. Our players want to play at low intensity, preferably with wingers and in counters. They will do anything to push managers to adapt their style to what they want as shown with Rangnick and ETH.

Eh?

ETH literally bought one keeper, 3 CBs, 2 full backs, 2 CMs, 3 number 10s, a right winger and a forward. He also brought through Mainoo and Garnacho. That’s 15 new first team players since Ragnick.

These aren’t remotely the same players Ragnick tried and failed to work with. He was trying to work with Matic, McTom, Fred, Ronaldo, Varane, Telles, AWB, Lindelöf.


Personally I feel De Ligt and Yoro will likely happily play at a high intensity, Ugarte has only one intensity level (high), Højlund and Bruno want to work hard, Mount works hard, Amad and Antony are both hard workers.

 

[devilish]

Eh?

ETH literally bought one keeper, 3 CBs, 2 full backs, 2 CMs, 2 number 10s, a right winger and a forward.

Eth's biggest fault (biggest not only) was to buy players that aren't athletic enough for the EPL.

About the rest all I can say is that bad habits are so easy to learn especially at a club were there's serious issues around discipline. There's a reason why when SAF joined the club (back then we had the same issues) he burnt the whole place to the ground and he rebuilt everything from scratch

I think that the only way united has to return to it's former best is to get rid of every person whose underachieving, starting from the 'untouchables' who survived multiple managers. The same can be said about backroom staff as well. I am genuinely surprised how our fitness team can survive years of united players being able to play on just walking pace.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Eth's biggest fault (biggest not only) was to buy players that aren't athletic enough for the EPL.

About the rest all I can say is that bad habits are so easy to learn especially at a club were there's serious issues around discipline. There's a reason why when SAF joined the club (back then we had the same issues) he burnt the whole place to the ground and he rebuilt everything from scratch

I think that the only way united has to return to it's former best is to get rid of every person whose not underachieving, starting from the 'untouchables' who survived multiple managers. The same can be said about backroom staff as well. I am genuinely surprised how our fitness team can survive years of united players being able to play on just walking pace.

I just can’t agree with you here, I think Ragnick took over a lazy squad, no question you are bang on there but there is very few players in our squad these days who I feel don’t want (Rashford, Shaw, Garna) or can’t (Cas, Eriksen) to put a shift in. Mainoo aint the hardest worker either in fairness but seems a good lad who is willing to learn, he probably falls into your ”not athletic enough category”.

Right now I imagine Amorim’s preferred starting eleven is something like:

Onana

Yoro De Ligt Martinez

Maz. Ugarte Bruno Dalot

Amad Mount
Højlund​

That doesn’t appear a work shy bunch of players to me? However it appears extremely defensive due to forcing full backs to be wingers. Bringing in Shaw won’t help much in terms of intensity (but quality absolutely), cause he’s certainly work shy, so for me it’s about using a hard working Antony out there else making one intense wing back priority number 1 this window.
This would also enable him to remove Martinez and replace him with Maz in the back 3.

 

[Champ]

Ipswich are on 15 points. Double that in the second half of the season and they are on 30. We only need 9 points in 19 games to be above that.

We've obviously not getting relegated ffs.

Ipswich also have double the amount of points than us in the past five games....
Whilst relegation is unlikely it's definitely not impossible.
And the point I was making was it's just as likely as United going on a winning streak....

 

[sglowrider]

I think we are on the cusp of a new football philosophy: low-energy football.

I am almost certain it will catch on.

 

[devilish]

I just can’t agree with you here, I think Ragnick took over a lazy squad, no question you are bang on there but there is very few players in our squad these days who I feel don’t want (Rashford, Shaw, Garna) or can’t (Cas, Eriksen) to put a shift in. Mainoo aint the hardest worker either in fairness but seems a good lad who is willing to learn, he probably falls into your ”not athletic enough category”.

Right now I imagine Amorim’s preferred starting eleven is something like:

Onana

Yoro De Ligt Martinez

Maz. Ugarte Bruno Dalot

Amad Mount
Højlund​

That doesn’t appear a work shy bunch of players to me? However it appears extremely defensive due to forcing full backs to be wingers. Bringing in Shaw won’t help much in terms of intensity (but quality absolutely), cause he’s certainly work shy, so for me it’s about using a hard working Antony out there else making one intense wing back priority number 1 this window.
This would also enable him to remove Martinez and replace him with Maz in the back 3.

If you take Casemiro, Eriksen, Rashford and Garnacho out of midfield then there's not much left. You also have to remove Mount (he's always injured) and all you're left with is Bruno playing deep (he lacks the discipline and awareness for the role), Ugarte (DM, nothing more nothing less), Amad (5ft8), Mainoo (not the biggest worker) .. Midfield is the engine room of a team btw


Then you have to look at the back. Onana is a maverick. He can deliver a star performance that would make Buffon proud followed by a stinker that would make you regret that OShea is not around as GK. Yoro is still young, Martinez is adorable at 5ft9. Every 6ft3+ forward is targeting him on corners these days. I guess they love him hitting his head at their knees or something. Regarding De Ligt, how many clubs had sold De Ligt for a cheaper fee to the one they bought him? Surely there's something wrong in a person that had made both Juventus and Bayern lose money on.

Last but not least there's Mazraoui whom Bayern got rid for a cut price and teen sensation Dalot who had given us how many WC performances exactly? I bet you can count them in one hand.

Which leads us to the initial point I was making ie a cultural reset. First of all standards need to go up substantially. Players are being hyped far too easily at this club and we're too hesitant to let people go. That's not just on players btw. For example we've been hearing about the important of data analysis since at least the time of David Moyes. Fast forward to present time and SJR was shocked how shit our data analysis team is. Then there's the usual waves upon waves of injuries with barely any changes being made at fitness level (if there were changes we didn't notice), the leaks that had been consistent since SAF retired, our ability to develop good players into WC which was the norm under SAF but had mostly died out as soon as he retired, our inability to sell unwanted players or bring in 'out of the box' signings (the Chicaritos, the Oles, the Johnsens) which ends up surprising us.

Laziness is not just jogging on the pitch. I mean I watched the likes of United/Italy playing live in different eras and I would struggle to name 5 players with the same workrate of a Gattuso or a Ji Sung Park. (actually the only person I would liken Park in terms of workrate is Gattuso and viceversa). That doesn't mean that the rest were lazy. On the pitch its about constantly losing 50-50 challenges, its about players not making themselves available to team mates, its about not learning from mistakes and not being gutted when the team lose. Off the pitch its about letting complacency settling in, its about managers having to adapt to the player's preferred style because they refuse to go out of their comfort zone, its the lack of paranoia that standards might slip and football might stop being the center of everything. I was listening to Roades the other day of the muppeteers were he heavily criticized Ole for demanding Rashy to not let non football issues distract him. In his opinion that was uncalled fall bla bla bla. Guess what? United brings the food on the table so yes club football should be his focus

 

[MadDogg]

Seems like Amorim has 2 reasonable routes to success:
1. Modify his system in the short term to fit the players’ strengths OR
2. Coach the players to play his system.

Thus far Amorim has selected neither path.

We were clearly playing a different system and looking quite different in how we built up and controlled the tempo of the game up until the last couple of matches. Yes we've obviously slipped backwards in the last two or three matches, but is that really surprising considering we've barely had a proper training day since Amorim started?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Regarding De Ligt, how many clubs had sold De Ligt for a cheaper fee to the one they bought him? Surely there's something wrong in a person that had made both Juventus and Bayern lose money on.

I absolutely refuse to respond to the rest whilst this daft Juventus thing continues to pop up.

Juventus wanted to keep him, it's well documented, but he made it clear he wasn't signing a new deal so their hands were tied.

He's once been sold by a club who didn't want to keep him, after a season with plenty of injury issues/niggles.

 

[flappyjay]

Eh?

ETH literally bought one keeper, 3 CBs, 2 full backs, 2 CMs, 3 number 10s, a right winger and a forward. He also brought through Mainoo and Garnacho. That’s 15 new first team players since Ragnick.

These aren’t remotely the same players Ragnick tried and failed to work with. He was trying to work with Matic, McTom, Fred, Ronaldo, Varane, Telles, AWB, Lindelöf.


Personally I feel De Ligt and Yoro will likely happily play at a high intensity, Ugarte has only one intensity level (high), Højlund and Bruno want to work hard, Mount works hard, Amad and Antony are both hard workers.

Every permanent manager besides Moyes has brought their own dross. This place behaves like its the same squad since 2013. "Its not the managers its the players". Its a combination of bad managers and horrible recruitment.

I think only Rashford and Shaw are left from the Jose days, a few left from Ole.

 

[devilish]

I absolutely refuse to respond to the rest whilst this daft Juventus thing continues to pop up.

Juventus wanted to keep him, it's well documented, but he made it clear he wasn't signing a new deal so their hands were tied.

He's once been sold by a club who didn't want to keep him, after a season with plenty of injury issues/niggles.

There is a lot of he said, she said in that deal. De ligt claimed that Juventus weren't matching his ambition while Juventus claim that his performance didn't match his monstrous salary. That doesn't remove the fact that he moved to Bayern for less money then they spent on him and he then moved to united for less money then Bayern spent on him

 

[MadDogg]

Ipswich also have double the amount of points than us in the past five games....
Whilst relegation is unlikely it's definitely not impossible.
And the point I was making was it's just as likely as United going on a winning streak....

Our performances and results improving is obviously more likely than being relegated. It's not like we're talking about a winning streak that will get us to the top 4. Just getting back to the performances that we had for Amorim's first 8 or so matches will see us move up the table and comfortably away from the bottom three.

A few matches where we've been really bad (and that's all it's been - a few) doesn't warrant the hysterical panicking that some are doing in here.

 

[erikcred]

Considering Pochettino's achievements at Spurs and PSG, along with the significant step up in quality from Amorim's previous league to this one, it is accurate to say he has accomplished very little in
the big leagues.

First of all, what are these "achievements" at Spurs and PSG?

Secondly, Sporting won the league under Amorim after 18 years of Porto and Benfica dominating the league between them. And Amorim won two in four years.

To dismiss this because it was done in a weaker league is just lazy. SAF's biggest achievement was breaking a 15 year long Celtic Rangers dominance. And the Scottish league is hardly a top league in Europe.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

There is a lot of he said, she said in that deal.

No there isn’t, if was widely reported in Italy that they offered him an extension on the same wage, and a second offer to try convincing him they matched his ambitions by lowering his release clause with a slightly lower wage.

And even his captain made it crystal clear.

I wish him the best, but some of the things he said with his national team were not pleasant".

"We spoke about it after the holidays and he understood it. I'm not surprised by his exit because he made it clear that he didn't want to stay at Juventus. But I think the foundation of everything is respect for the group who he spent three years with, who helped him to grow and the club who have invested in him. I wish him the best", were the words Bonucci provided for 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'.

Great players have moved for free, or insanely cheap because their club have no choice.

Stop the nonsense that Juventus wanted rid somehow or were ok with selling him, they weren’t, they were gutted to sell him.

So once again, one team happily sold him off at a loss after a season with too many niggling injuries.

 

[NicolaSacco]

First of all, what are these "achievements" at Spurs and PSG?

Secondly, Sporting won the league under Amorim after 18 years of Porto and Benfica dominating the league between them. And Amorim won two in four years.

To dismiss this because it was done in a weaker league is just lazy. SAF's biggest achievement was breaking a 15 year long Celtic Rangers dominance. And the Scottish league is hardly a top league in Europe.

Point of order- he wrested the title from Dundee Utd in fact.
Rangers didn’t even finish in the top 3 from 1982-1986.

 

[MadDogg]

There is a lot of he said, she said in that deal. De ligt claimed that Juventus weren't matching his ambition while Juventus claim that his performance didn't match his monstrous salary. That doesn't remove the fact that he moved to Bayern for less money then they spent on him and he then moved to united for less money then Bayern spent on him

The fee that Juventus paid was largely due to how young De Ligt was and the expectation that he would keep improving and become one of the best in the world. Three years later and while he'd been their best defender for at least two of those years, he hadn't reached the heights that was expected. At that point he had two years left on his contract and refusing to sign another one, so of course his transfer fee will be less. That doesn't mean that there's something wrong with him. It was still the 6th highest fee for a defender of all time.

There's an element of that in the Bayern to Utd move as well (in the sense that as he's aged teams are paying for his current level instead of the future potential that he didn't reach), but that one is definitely more along the lines of what you are saying. Bayern clearly decided that they wanted a different profile and were actively looking to sell him. So by all means this one does fit your claims and does raise some question marks for us. But trying to make out the Juve to Bayern move also does simply isn't the case.

 

[gajender]

Point of order- he wrested the title from Dundee Utd in fact.
Rangers didn’t even finish in the top 3 from 1982-1986.

You Might wanna check your facts , Sir Alex's first league title in Scotland was won after breaking Celtic and Rangers 15 years duopoly .

 

[erikcred]

Point of order- he wrested the title from Dundee Utd in fact.
Rangers didn’t even finish in the top 3 from 1982-1986.

Should I do a quick google check before confidently jumping in to correct someone or just run with it and come off as ignorant and lazy? Tough choice.

 

[Bondi77]

First of all, what are these "achievements" at Spurs and PSG?

Secondly, Sporting won the league under Amorim after 18 years of Porto and Benfica dominating the league between them. And Amorim won two in four years.

To dismiss this because it was done in a weaker league is just lazy. SAF's biggest achievement was breaking a 15 year long Celtic Rangers dominance. And the Scottish league is hardly a top league in Europe.

Just a minor thing as well....He did win a European final against Real as well as beating Bayern on the way

 

[erikcred]

Just a minor thing as well....He did win a European final against Real as well as beating Bayern on the way

That's true. Just to be clear, I'm not equating Amorim with SAF.

The poster I was replying to implied that the Portugese league being weaker somehow invalidated Amorim's massive achievement of breaking a long running duopoly. That's why I reminded them of SAF's Aberdeen win and how widely lauded it is.

 

[Bondi77]

That's true. Just to be clear, I'm not equating Amorim with SAF.

The poster I was replying to implied that the Portugese league being weaker somehow invalidated Amorim's massive achievement of breaking a long running duopoly. That's why I reminded them of SAF's Aberdeen win and how widely lauded it is.

Fair enough

 

[Yakuza_devils]

I think he needs to set a basic Rule No.1 that is mandatory for all players to comply. Never ever let the opposition team outrun us ever again. Enough is enough where every opposition team's players run more than us, played higher intensity than us and have more desire to win the match.

 

[devilish]

No there isn’t, if was widely reported in Italy that they offered him an extension on the same wage, and a second offer to try convincing him they matched his ambitions by lowering his release clause with a slightly lower wage.

And even his captain made it crystal clear.

I wish him the best, but some of the things he said with his national team were not pleasant".

"We spoke about it after the holidays and he understood it. I'm not surprised by his exit because he made it clear that he didn't want to stay at Juventus. But I think the foundation of everything is respect for the group who he spent three years with, who helped him to grow and the club who have invested in him. I wish him the best", were the words Bonucci provided for 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'.

Great players have moved for free, or insanely cheap because their club have no choice.

Stop the nonsense that Juventus wanted rid somehow or were ok with selling him, they weren’t, they were gutted to sell him.

So once again, one team happily sold him off at a loss after a season with too many niggling injuries.

If Rashford had to leave United right now then I expect Bruno to say pretty much the same thing. That doesn't mean that he didn't want out and the club wants him out as well.

Here's a very balanced article about De Ligt during Juventus time. Its in Italian of course.

https://www.panorama.it/calcio/de-ligt-juventus-bilancio-risultati-costo

He was bought because Andrea Agnelli wanted to buy the most promising youngsters around. In his words "We must be able to get the next Cristiano Ronaldo at age 25"

The article does say that Juventus were at a time of turmoil during that time with 3 managers (Sarri, Pirlo and Allegri) at the helm at one point and that the Serie A can't hold to its biggest names anymore But it also highlights that De Ligt has to carry his fair share of fault as he didn't delivered in a consistent way. It also admit that De Ligt has taken more out of Juventus than he had given.

Regarding your last comment. Juventus announced Bremer a little over 24 hours after they sold De Ligt. That how 'sad' and 'shocked' Juventus were to lose De Ligt. Bremer had just won the la Lega Serie A Best Defender for season 2021-22. The Brazilian earned a net salary of 5m as opposed to De Ligt's 8m and the Brazilian lacked the reputation of playing hand ball in the box. If you want to know more about that then type this in youtube. There's quite a compilation that would make Tracey Neville wonder if she could have followed her brother's career in football after all

"3 minuti di Matthijs de Ligt che prende il pallone con le mani"​

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

https://www.panorama.it/calcio/de-ligt-juventus-bilancio-risultati-costo

Literally says in the headline:

NOW HE ASKED TO LEAVE, TREATING JUVENTUS AS A WAY STATION....

So yeah, your own source confirms exactly what we've been debating. Juventus sold him because he asked to leave them, despite them wanting him to stay. They sold begrudgingly to the club he had chosen, Bayern and did the best they could on the price, still getting a large sum for him (kinda like us with Di Maria).

So stop the nonsense. One single club has been happy to let him leave, and at much cheaper than they paid for him, after a season of many niggling injury issues.

 

[devilish]

The fee that Juventus paid was largely due to how young De Ligt was and the expectation that he would keep improving and become one of the best in the world. Three years later and while he'd been their best defender for at least two of those years, he hadn't reached the heights that was expected. At that point he had two years left on his contract and refusing to sign another one, so of course his transfer fee will be less. That doesn't mean that there's something wrong with him. It was still the 6th highest fee for a defender of all time.

There's an element of that in the Bayern to Utd move as well (in the sense that as he's aged teams are paying for his current level instead of the future potential that he didn't reach), but that one is definitely more along the lines of what you are saying. Bayern clearly decided that they wanted a different profile and were actively looking to sell him. So by all means this one does fit your claims and does raise some question marks for us. But trying to make out the Juve to Bayern move also does simply isn't the case.

Potential tend to have a bearing over the fee but in De Ligt's case it was also down to Mino Raiola who orchestrated the perfect auction. Its a shame because in the long run it did hurt De Ligt big time. At one point De Ligt was Juventus highest earning player and he wasn't delivering the goods to justify that. Hence why there was nudges on both sides to part ways. The same happened at Bayern were De Ligt was let go despite being a decent CB there.

 

[devilish]

Literally says in the headline:

NOW HE ASKED TO LEAVE, TREATING JUVENTUS AS A WAY STATION....

So yeah, your own source confirms exactly what we've been debating. Juventus sold him because he asked to leave them, despite them wanting him to stay. They sold begrudgingly to the club he had chosen, Bayern and did the best they could on the price, still getting a large sum for him (kinda like us with Di Maria).

So stop the nonsense. One single club has been happy to let him leave, and at much cheaper than they paid for him, after a season of many niggling injury issues.

I never said that he didn't asked to leave. All I said is that Juventus were glad to see his back. They had everything wrapped up for Bremer who was signed a little more then 24 hrs after De Ligt was gone. No club is able to wrap a deal so quickly unless they had it sorted for quite a while. So what kept the Bremer deal from going through was De Ligt riding off the sunset to Bayern were, in few years time, they will also realize that he's not worth the salary he's on as well.

Its pretty much the same situation we have with Rashford if let's say PSG came in in the January window with let's say 60m. Rashford was the first to say that he 'needed a new challenge' and strictly speaking United had never placed him on the market. However every man and his dog knows that United want him gone and are probably working towards that goal.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I never said that he didn't asked to leave. All I said is that Juventus were glad to see his back. They had everything wrapped up for Bremer who was signed a little more then 24 hrs after De Ligt was gone. Its pretty much the same situation we have with Rashford if let's say PSG came in in the January window with let's say 60m. Rashford was the first to say that he 'needed a new challenge' and strictly speaking United had never placed him on the market. However every man and his dog knows that United want him gone.

So glad in fact that they offered him 2 new deals in an attempt to persuade him to stay.

They got just 8m less than they paid for him, and they were clearly pissed he asked to leave and treated them like a way station, so no doubt they ultimately ended up happy they recouped most of their money and lined up a top replacement. Tends to be that way when a club feels like they are treated like shit, as with Di Maria.
They knew for weeks De Light was moving, so obviously they were working on his replacement but due to finances had to wait until De Light to Bayern was confirmed. That's just normal.

Rashford's situation is very different.

So let's finish this off once and for all, 2 clubs begrudgingly allowed De Ligt to leave to the highest bidder after he declared his wish to leave.

JUST ONE club has happily taken a hit on him and sold him off after a season of many giggly injuries.

 

[devilish]

So glad in fact that they offered him 2 new deals in an attempt to persuade him to stay.

They got just 8m less than they paid for him, and they were clearly pissed he asked to leave and treated them like a way station, so no doubt they ultimately ended up happy they recouped most of their money and lined up a top replacement. Tends to be that way when a club feels like they are treated like shit, as with Di Maria.
They knew for weeks De Light was moving, so obviously they were working on his replacement but due to finances had to wait until De Light to Bayern was confirmed. That's just normal.

Rashford's situation is very different.

He was 23. How much loss do you expect them to do out of him?

And yes Rashford is different. He was occasionally the star player of a big club whose competing at a top league ( a league that can't be won by idiots like Frank De Boer). He's yet to lose value at every transfer he's been involved into as well.

Ultimately the issue was quite clear. De Ligt didn't represent value for money in terms of salary, he left and they got Bremer. Years later Bayern came to the same conclusion and we're slowly getting there as well

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

You've gone on a tangent again pal so let's finish this off once and for all.

2 of De Ligt's previous clubs begrudgingly allowed De Ligt to leave to the highest bidder after THE PLAYER declared his wish to leave.

ONE club has happily taken a hit on him and happily sold him off after enduring a crap season for the team and one of many niggly injuries for the player.

I know it packs a harder hit to make out he's been happily fecked off on multiple occasions, but it's simply a lie.

 

[NLunited]

I have no idea if he’s going to be successful or not. But as a coach, he has a philosophy - one that he believes in, and one that he has achieved success with.

It’s unreasonable to expect him to suddenly invent something new that he hasn’t previously implemented.

What’s also clear is our squad is either not capable of playing his way, or needs time to adapt to play his way.

People are quick to treat the real world like FIFA. Change this, change that, and everyone immediately adapts and plays well. People forget that a lot of what happens on a football pitch is instinct and muscle memory, making quick decisions without confusion.

It’s therefore unreasonable to expect the players to suddenly change the fundamental style of play without serious time to create that muscle memory. It’s unreasonable to expect Amorim to suddenly change.

We won’t know if it works until we give it time. That’s the reality. How bad it can get, I don’t know.

But then that comes back not to the manager or the players, but the club overall. For too long we’ve had no strategy. No philosophy. We pick a manager and then try and create a squad in their mould. Instead of first coming up with an identity and finding a manager and players who fit that ideal. I thought we were learning with all the changes to our football operations. But I fear we aren’t. And that’s going to be a huge problem.

If we want to build a team which fits how Amorim plays - whether Amorim remains as coach or not - then we have to stick it out. Is that the plan? I have no idea. But I also am losing faith that’s the plan.

If we are building a squad just for Amorim and if he fails we will find a manager with a completely different philosophy and then try and build a squad to them, then we’ve learnt nothing and we will continue in this horrible cycle we’ve found ourselves in.

This season was supposed to be different, with a new game model that was implemented and better recruitment.

Supposedly Amorim‘s philosophy fits within the parameters of the game model, although I have heard nothing about it. There are a lot of similarities between Ruben and Erik.

We did recruit better, with ZZ the only question mark for me. We chose potential over experience in the striker position.

 

[VP89]

let's finish this off once and for all.

Feels like a WWE promo

 

[devilish]

You've gone on a tangent again pal so let's finish this off once and for all.

2 of De Ligt's previous clubs begrudgingly allowed De Ligt to leave to the highest bidder after THE PLAYER declared his wish to leave.

ONE club has happily taken a hit on him and happily sold him off after enduring a crap season for the team and one of many niggly injuries for the player.

I know it packs a harder hit to make out he's been happily fecked off on multiple occasions, but it's simply a lie.

What started this whole funfare is this

"Regarding De Ligt, how many clubs had sold De Ligt for a cheaper fee to the one they bought him? Surely there's something wrong in a person that had made both Juventus and Bayern lose money on".

I've yet to understand how all your post suggest otherwise.

 

[TheDutchLad]

Given the lack of quality in our squad, I did not expect him to do much better. We are certainly better then the table reflects right now, but not good enough for top 6 and everything in between I dont really care about.. The only slight worry I have right now is that he seems rather one-sided, I have yet to find out his plan B (again, maybe it is due to our limited squad). The successful managers in the prem (Conte, Guardiola, Jose, and even Slot now) always had their base formation/set-up and could tweak things, if needed. But I guess he still deserves some time before final judgment.

 

[MadDogg]

There are a lot of similarities between Ruben and Erik.

Not based on what they did at Utd so far. For most of Amorim's games we were much more solid and controlling than we ever were under ETH, and obviously the shape of the team is quite different as well. That's all fallen away the last few games of course, but hopefully that's just a short drop off on the road to being a team that can actually control a match.

 

[MadDogg]

What started this whole funfare is this

"Regarding De Ligt, how many clubs had sold De Ligt for a cheaper fee to the one they bought him? Surely there's something wrong in a person that had made both Juventus and Bayern lose money on".

I've yet to understand how all your post suggest otherwise.

What is 'wrong in a person' that has two years left on his contract, refusing to sign a new one and clearly wanting to leave being sold for 'only' the 6th highest transfer fee for a defender of all time?

Juventus had no choice. They accepted that very high bid (albeit not quite as high as they'd paid three years earlier) rather than lose him for much cheaper 12 months later or for free two years later, things they couldn't afford to do considering their financial position at the time. Unless De Ligt had been one of the best defenders in the world for those years, there was no possible way for Juventus to get their money back. It's nothing negative about the player at all, unless you want to hold not being one of the best in the world against him.

 

[rimaldo]

a- introducing the much maligned 'ritiro' after a series of defeats which still scares the shit out of most players in the Serie A. Inspired by the retreats done by medieval monks, ir ritiro usually consist of a couple of days in the middle of nowhere (no internet, no mobile reception, nothing) were players live together, eat together and train together with the only free time reserved for sleeping. Its supposed to strengthen team spirit which it kind of does because the consensus after that experience is not to want to experience it ever again

the risk with this, is that after two or three days of isolation, the players start turning gay, which creates deep divides in the dressing room. you’ve got hojlund unhappy because no one is passing him around. shaw and mount’s hamstrings can’t take the elongated bumming sessions, so there’s no motivation for them to get fit. you’ve got rashford feigning interest and thumbing in softies. it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

What started this whole funfare is this

"Regarding De Ligt, how many clubs had sold De Ligt for a cheaper fee to the one they bought him? Surely there's something wrong in a person that had made both Juventus and Bayern lose money on".

I've yet to understand how all your post suggest otherwise.

You're making the absolutely ridiculous assumption that something has to be "wrong" in a player for a club to sell him and lose money.

There was nothing "wrong" with Courtois when Chelsea extremely begrudgingly sold him to Madrid for a measly 35m. There was nothing "wrong" with Michael Owen when Liverpool lost their best player for free. There was nothing "wrong" with Robin van Persia when Arsenal felt obliged to accept a lowly and frankly pathetic 24m for him from a rival.

There was nothing "wrong" with De Light with regards to Juve, they wanted him, tried to persuade him to stay, but he wanted desperately to leave, in that situation the club is nearly always losing out.