The fact that he didnt move an inch from his original plan deserves a salute in itself regardless of the outcome. And the outcome is so far satisfactory to me. I cant imagine being in his shoes.
Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach
- Thread starter sewey89
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After a few weeks of rotating to see who fits in his system and a couple of weeks of actually being able to coach in training it looks like Amorim has worked out his core members of his desired squad from what we have and is beginning to rotate less so he can get those players playing together in his system.
It looks like Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Martinez, Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes and Hojlund are the core members that will be definitely kept around whilst Dalot, Mount, Garnacho and Collyer are probables so Amorim now has a very good idea of what positions he needs to recruit in and also upgrade in.
I’d say it’s a certainty that Malacia, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony and Rashford will follow Sancho out the door in the summer if not before whilst I’d expect Heaton and Evans to retire and maybe take up coaching roles but for the first time since Mourinho came in I’m genuinely excited on where we go under a new coach and unlike Mourinho we have the bonus of Amorim not being burnt out or broken by previous clubs.
It looks like Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Martinez, Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes and Hojlund are the core members that will be definitely kept around whilst Dalot, Mount, Garnacho and Collyer are probables so Amorim now has a very good idea of what positions he needs to recruit in and also upgrade in.
I’d say it’s a certainty that Malacia, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony and Rashford will follow Sancho out the door in the summer if not before whilst I’d expect Heaton and Evans to retire and maybe take up coaching roles but for the first time since Mourinho came in I’m genuinely excited on where we go under a new coach and unlike Mourinho we have the bonus of Amorim not being burnt out or broken by previous clubs.
From what I heard, even at Sporting He never made a comment about refrees.
Maybe that is sensible. It is down to your own players to win games, not the referees.
Its all well and good this but when the pressure hits, managers change.
I remember this time last year or before perhaps where Ange was the same, didn't want to blame ref's, now he is blaming them.
ETH did turn it around on the pitch, but he did it by largely just going back to the style of play we had under Ole. It still wasn't anything that would lead us to true success. The hope was that it was just a place-holder and ETH would then develop a style that could bring long term success as he signed more players and had more time on the training ground. Well he did change it, but unfortunately his changes were basically the exact opposite of what almost all the successful teams of the last 15 years have been doing, and left us further away from where we needed to be than when he started.
Amorim's changes so far have been centred around things that will help develop that long term success. He's focusing on gaining control and implementing patterns of play (both on and off the ball) that will stand us in good stead in the years to come. Whether he can take us all the way or not is yet to be seen, but at the moment I'm at least confident he'll leave us in a better position than where we were.
This is the encouraging thing for me - the organised press. It was absolutely killing the team under ETH, you could see the team just didn’t know when to press/whose job was what. That has been a lot better especially the last 2 games. It’s a pity the red card changed the game as it did as I thought we looked very comfortable with 11, and Arsenal only looked threatening from set pieces.
I think what we're seeing from him is sensible without being super high risk/entertaining and it makes sense given he's right at the start of his tenure. I'd argue we are actually still quite a counter dependant team but we just keep the ball now a lot more in non threatening areas to minimise the amount of counters we in turn receive. That, in itself, means we struggle to create lots of chances but I feel like the quality of chances is better now, if it's on it's on but if it's not we won't just force it. I'm sure someone can work this out if needed to prove disprove the idea, but I feel like our xG is basically the same if you compare ETH this season versus Amorim but it has come from fewer shots.
We played some alright stuff for a couple of months in his first season, that was literally it. It was a blip of things going alright and Rashford being red hot. It was acceptable because we all thought and hoped it would lead to better, but it ended up being his peak really, and that was nothing to get excited about at all in hindsight.
He seems to have nailed it against stronger opposition with results (and performances) against City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
The next step for him will be to ensure we get results against the less glamorous with the same commitment, desire and tenacity…and more attacking threat from wingbacks.
The next step for him will be to ensure we get results against the less glamorous with the same commitment, desire and tenacity…and more attacking threat from wingbacks.
Our ability to breakdown teams who are sat back has been woeful for so many years, so that’s going to be a big test to sort out, especially with our less than stellar attack.
Its incredible to see these players working their bollocks off, and the ones who dont get their rewards. Rashford should be ashamed of himself that he's out the door. This manager will give everyone the same chance if you work for him.
I agree we were all very happy in Ten Hag’s first season and until the league cup final it was really going well. However it was very evident he had given up on his tactics/ethos from about the third game onwards. We had gone back to our counter attacking football and bar a few games it was pretty much like how we were under Ole, with Rashford in red hot form.
However the next step was always to build on it and the fans expected him to now turn our squad into a team who could start to dominate possession and games as a consequence. For some absolutely insane reason, he went in the complete opposite direction. He tried to turn us into a pure transition based team which would try to turn over possession high into the opposition half and quickly get at them.
Not only was it a half-baked idea since it was only the forwards pressing and we didn’t squeeze the pitch as a whole (like what Liverpool did under Klopp), he thought the best way to do it was completely surrendering midfield and get Bruno and Mount working together high up the pitch. It was suicidal tactics and he was too stubborn to learn and rectify it.
Amorim has come in with a very clear plan and idea on how he wants us to play and he is sticking by it. He has shown it can work in another league and we have seen in games against the likes of City snd Liverpool away from home where it came together. Obviously there will be hiccups along the way but he is not trying something insane which he has never done before.
Adore our manager.
Positive couple of weeks.
Obviously the last few years, we've seen a lot of false dawns and this could be another one and we could go on a run of 4/4 without a win against easier opposition than Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, I'm quietly optimistic. Not necessarily optimistic that we're going to be challenging for the league next year or anything that drastic. But certainly optimistic that we are going to be a competent team that can follow a plan and work hard. If we can then improve some of the personnel in key areas, there are lots of reasons to be hopeful moving forward.
Changing the culture and attitude was seen by some as Amorim's hardest task and he looks to have already made great strides with that.
Obviously the last few years, we've seen a lot of false dawns and this could be another one and we could go on a run of 4/4 without a win against easier opposition than Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, I'm quietly optimistic. Not necessarily optimistic that we're going to be challenging for the league next year or anything that drastic. But certainly optimistic that we are going to be a competent team that can follow a plan and work hard. If we can then improve some of the personnel in key areas, there are lots of reasons to be hopeful moving forward.
Changing the culture and attitude was seen by some as Amorim's hardest task and he looks to have already made great strides with that.
The difference is that ETH didn't come into the club mid season with 90% of the players confidence and ability shot, was able to make his own signings soon after coming in, along with a pre season. We still started seasons absolutely horrendously under him. What Ruben has been able to do in such a short space of time with a team that's in no way his own yet, aside from a few is nothing short of admirable. He does need to start picking up points in the league now, to really get us back on track this season.
Ole on the other hand was a caretaker who actually inherited a very good squad at the time, along with Jose's already instilled defensive drilling.
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I think out form will be up and down for the rest of the season because of our attack. There just isn't enough goals in the team to go on a strong run. We will slip up in a few games we would expect to win. Unless Rasmus or JZ turn their form around.
He won't talk about refs. It's a matter of principle. He explained that in multiple interviews. We had games at Sporting where we were clearly affected by bad refereeing decisions and even with the constant baiting of our media he doesn't like or wants to talk about refs. He has been very coherent regarding that.
Its not just the attack. As much as I appreciate De Ligt and Maguires performances recently, they were playing a very different role to that they are asked to play against the smaller sides. Thats why we keep getting into issues. Poor offensively and then caught out in defence because our CBs aren't mobile enough unless they are playing in more of a static defensive game.
Best thing I've seen today. Fantastic.
Love this!! Especially because its been 30 mins since we were down to 10 men and its the 90th minute of the game
Damn... is that De Ligt? He's rapid!
Yeah thought so too. All determination, even from Zirkzee
Has anybody mentioned how weird+genius it was that Amorim put two CBs in the first 5 penalty takers? One of them a youngster in Leny, too.
AND IT WORKED wonderfully!
A stroke of genius – defenders are calmer and calm wins pens? Or something he saw in training, or both? Whatever it was - he nailed it!
AND IT WORKED wonderfully!
A stroke of genius – defenders are calmer and calm wins pens? Or something he saw in training, or both? Whatever it was - he nailed it!
I am not sure any of that was the reason... we had 10 men and our forwards were Bruno, Amad, Zirkzee and all 3 took pens. So the only ones remaining in midfield were Collyer.
Dunno, we've quite often had some strange candidates up first for pens. Casemiro and Dalot took the first two against Coventry in the FA Cup semi last year.
At least we're a lot better at them than we used to be.
After having already played +90 minutes too. I really want to know where that myth began that he was slow.
Probably saved us a goals as well, had the players been more lackadaisical in their effort the result would have been different there.
His acceleration isn't the best, it gives the impression of him being slow overall.
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Put too much faith in Rashford after his 30 goal season, the amount of games he looked disinterested and walked around the pitch, but still Ten Hag kept piking him game after game, not to mention it was hard to see what our tactics were 90% of the time
Makes sense. Forgot who was on, by the end of 120 minutes. Thanks
Not sure if it's just Ruben, but we've had more scraps this past few weeks, than the last 10 years combined. And I like that, we need some character build up and last night Maguire going berserk was refreshing. Amorim is cool as a cucumber on the sidelines though.
Even in that instance, Pogba got sent off with 15 minutes to play while we were 3-1 up. A little different than yesterday's game.
Agreed this is the sort of fight we have to show in every game.
Easier to rev yourself up whilst under the cosh against a big team, now we have to do that against everyone else as well.
Let’s hope that happens!
His fat dad.
I just hope he's realized by now how bad Dalot is and will get rid of him depsite their Portugal connection.
Rúben Amorim at Manchester United: Part 1 – The Game with the Ball
A comprehensive 14,000-word analysis of Amorim’s early weeks: tackling possession play issues and reshaping the team post-Ten Hag.
Challenges, adjustments & first glimpses of progress.
[Translation is coming soon]
https://spielverlagerung.de/2025/01/11/amorim-bei-Man Utd-teil-1-das-spiel-mit-dem-ball-mx/
A comprehensive 14,000-word analysis of Amorim’s early weeks: tackling possession play issues and reshaping the team post-Ten Hag.
Challenges, adjustments & first glimpses of progress.[Translation is coming soon]
https://spielverlagerung.de/2025/01/11/amorim-bei-Man Utd-teil-1-das-spiel-mit-dem-ball-mx/
Looking back at the Cup game, it strikes me that the big lesson was to have trust in ourselves, and in youth. The other point is about character. To draw at Anfield and overcome the gunners at home would have been major even for peak United in the glory years. It’s a credit to the manager.
Collyer was great when he came on yesterday. On one occasion he went thundering into the box and just needed a well-timed delivery.
Maguire - my MOTM - was utterly outstanding, in an outstanding back three. Character is being prioritised now, building on these; Ugarte, too, Mazraoui, too. Bruno has always shown no end of passion and commitment; likewise Dalot. I liked the attitude of Bayindir. Out of the starting eleven, that leaves Garnacho, Amad, Mainoo. All three have lots of talent; they also have different strengths and weaknesses. I feel Garnacho may be the biggest challenge/conundrum for Amorim. But I trust him to sort it out. All I hope is that PSR rules don’t force us into regrettable transfers (out), without the corresponding benefits. We need a left wingback, and another striker. Beyond that let’s stick with what we got. Amorim’s trust in players like Zirkzee and Bayindir (that many were quick to disparage here) was inspiring yesterday.
Edit; I realise Amad was not a starter.
Collyer was great when he came on yesterday. On one occasion he went thundering into the box and just needed a well-timed delivery.
Maguire - my MOTM - was utterly outstanding, in an outstanding back three. Character is being prioritised now, building on these; Ugarte, too, Mazraoui, too. Bruno has always shown no end of passion and commitment; likewise Dalot. I liked the attitude of Bayindir. Out of the starting eleven, that leaves Garnacho, Amad, Mainoo. All three have lots of talent; they also have different strengths and weaknesses. I feel Garnacho may be the biggest challenge/conundrum for Amorim. But I trust him to sort it out. All I hope is that PSR rules don’t force us into regrettable transfers (out), without the corresponding benefits. We need a left wingback, and another striker. Beyond that let’s stick with what we got. Amorim’s trust in players like Zirkzee and Bayindir (that many were quick to disparage here) was inspiring yesterday.
Edit; I realise Amad was not a starter.
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Thursday is a good test. Let's wait and see.