Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

My biggest issues from a couple of months in.

De Ligt cannot be the central CB. He hampers our ability to play from the back for more there than at RCB where he’s a lot better.

Our CBs need to be braver on the ball and in the pass when teams try and pin us in our half. We need to pass into positive areas to drag the other team to create space.

The wingbacks absolutely need to win the battle of being the ones to pin the other team in their half. If our wingbacks are deeper we turn into a five at the back and that makes a mediocre attack into a terrible one.

Mainoo doesn’t look like this system is for him. He’s slow to the press and has poor recovery speed. When we play compact against the big teams it’s fine but if we want to be expansive he doesn’t have the legs.

Our attack. Enough said.

I see us do a lot of good things and I do believe in Amorim but these things absolutely need to be fixed. It’s easy to say, sign better players but these are things I think Amorim can coach the side better on to make us much better.
 
Rajma said:
What I will say though is he needs to be braver himself at times, we absolutely didn’t need 3 CBs at the end of the game.
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Nothing wrong with 3 CBs if they're pushing up like they should with one stepping out of the defensive line. Which is no different to a 4 where the FBs aren't pushing up.

We aren't there yet in the implementation but he's made a choice to teach it mid-season. We may well see that benefit next season.
 
DJ_21 said:
One thing I really like about him compared to the man he replaced is his subs. They change the game and he doesn’t leave it to late
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100% agree. His substitutions actually seem to improve what happens on the pitch.
 
I like the guy but I hate seeing 3 centre-backs against shit teams like Southampton, it's too limiting and makes the game very dull.
 
massey said:
Oh ok boss I guess I should love the fact we got outplayed by Southampton a shite team at home and then start playing attacking in the 80th minute I'm over it now thanks.
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No one’s saying you should love it. None of us do. Not like he said… he ain’t changing the formation so get over it. The formation isn’t the problem… the players are and once we sign in the summer we’ll look a lot better in this formation.
 
DJ_21 said:
One thing I really like about him compared to the man he replaced is his subs. They change the game and he doesn’t leave it to late
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Agree shows he has awareness something Eth significantly lacked.

I'll take results over performance at this rate merely to build confidence. The club is in desperate need of reinforcements all throughout the team.
 
Idxomer said:
I like the guy but I hate seeing 3 centre-backs against shit teams like Southampton, it's too limiting and makes the game very dull.
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City sometimes play with the 3 Cbs. We just don’t have the right personnel. Our biggest issue is the wing backs. Amad should be the starting RWB now after tonight. But we seriously need to sort that left side out. And the number 10s need addressing to
 
Redstain said:
Agree shows he has awareness something Eth significantly lacked.

I'll take results over performance at this rate merely to build confidence. The club is in desperate need of reinforcements all throughout the team.
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100%. We definitely need a ST and a LWB and that should improve things massively. Also we need smarter number 10s. I’d be tempted to play Bruno CM every game with Ugarte, he always looks better there
 
He needs to put pressure on the higher ups to get him proper wing backs. We got lucky today that Southampton were crap but we can't continue like this. We need proper wing backs who can stretch the opposition so that these attackers can have a hope of doing anything in the middle.
 
DJ_21 said:
City sometimes play with the 3 Cbs. We just don’t have the right personnel. Our biggest issue is the wing backs. Amad should be the starting RWB now after tonight. But we seriously need to sort that left side out. And the number 10s need addressing to
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Amad should not be played at wing back. He needs to be as close to the goal as possible.
 
Idxomer said:
I like the guy but I hate seeing 3 centre-backs against shit teams like Southampton, it's too limiting and makes the game very dull.
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I think the issue is their technical and physical qualities just aren't up to the required standard particularly because they are supposed to be our deep playmakers. One should also have the license to push up, support the press and make runs into the box - that's how we took the lead at Liverpool.

I think we should also remember how fragile this team is when things don't go their way. Start them with a couple of off form players they just collapse into a heap of self pity.
 
I think, Soton was very well prepared for us tonight and that added to us looking as dire as we looked. Have a feeling that smaller sides are more inclined to play into our weaknesses while bigger sides will rather attempt to play to their strength which suits us more than stuff like today or against Wolves. It is still early days though and I am not going to criticize him for today as performances like this are to be expected. What I am a little mad about is the missing urgency that suddenly was there in the last 10 minutes. As understandable as that is, I think, he needs to be ruthless and axe players who are underperforming or aren't focussed.
 
I kinda love all the whinging about the formation when things aren't going great. It's such an easy thing for people to cry about. The first thing they can grasp. If we played 4-3-3 but played with purple boots, they would complain that the purple boots were the problem.
 
People who claimed our best first 11 is exactly what he started today, blaming him for picking a bad team.
Unreal.
 
Tonight will have showed him a lot in who he can trust and who he can't.

This team in a few seasons will look a lot different.

I hope he starts drilling it into the CBs that they need to pass it through the lines, likewise with our CMs. The two times the ball was passed forwards from midfield, it resulted in us having a shot, this is what it needs to be like.
 
Drainy said:
He's literally perfect for the right side 10 in this system. Or at least he could be if he improves his creative passing
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Exactly. Playing him at wing back is a complete waste of his talent. Hopefully between now and the start of next season actual wingbacks are bought.

Valencia would have been incredible as a right wingback in this system. We need to find someone like that.
 
I think any system can be a success with the right players of the required quality in their best positions.

At the moment, Amorim has put the jigsaw together as best he can, but a few of the pieces are from a different set.

343 is not an issue with the right players. However, our recruitment has been bad and this system needs specialist operators. I'm reserving judgement until he's had at least a pre season & a transfer window.
 
swooshboy said:
Completely agree.

And the same for those who think he is getting sacked if we lose more games.

He was brought in knowing what formation he will be playing. It is clear we don’t have the right players yet, but there is no point going back to 4 at the back.

Not only would that mean we have to start afresh I the summer to learn the system…but we have been shite with 4 at the back anyway.

He is the right man for the job and needs to get some better suited players in and more time with the team.
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Exactly. Unless we actually end up in the relegation zone (which won't happen) he's staying for definite.
 
Man proves formation can work with own players, destroys everyone they play against including very strong CL opposition.

Man joins new club, inherits squad of players, doesn’t buy anyone and tries to teach them new formation which has ultimately proven to be effective against big teams, but needs more work to break lesser teams down. Man probably needs new players to play system, but can’t sign anyone.

Let’s blame that man for our struggles.

My god this place at times. It’s going to take time, and lots of new signings for this to work, but it will.
 
Yeah he really needs a dig out and be give 2 players this window that can help him out and goes straight in to starting 11.

LWB and CF or No 10
 
Garethw said:
The irony is that we play with 5 defenders and two holding midfielders and still look ridiculously fragile every time the opposition breaks on us.
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This is the killer. He is a bit hamstrung by the options available, but if we are gonna play with 5 defenders (plus Ugarte) then surely he has to find a way to capitalise on that.

It's not even as if the WBs are bombing forward getting caught out because they are unfamiliar with the role, they were incredibly deep for periods of the match. Perhaps they haven't quite got to grips with his instructions on when to go, or they are afraid to do it. I'd love to know what he tells Maz to do in games, for example.
 
FriedClams said:
Man proves formation can work with own players, destroys everyone they play against including very strong CL opposition.

Man joins new club, inherits squad of players, doesn’t buy anyone and tries to teach them new formation which has ultimately proven to be effective against big teams, but needs more work to break lesser teams down. Man probably needs new players to play system, but can’t sign anyone.

Let’s blame that man for our struggles.

My god this place at times. It’s going to take time, and lots of new signings for this to work, but it will.
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Agreed. Get behind the man. The last one was a sham.
 
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: "In the end it is good. A very difficult game, a game of two halves.

"They did a very good job Southampton. Creating space in-between the lines.

"Number 20 [Kamaldeen Sulemana] with a lot of space. We had a lot of difficulty to stop that player.

"When they lose their physicality, we find the space to use. The feeling is we have so much to do - the team is really tired.

"It was a win, it was good - let's continue."

On Amad Diallo: "Even in the first half, every time Amad gets the ball he can push the ball.

"He pushes the other team into the final third - that is really important. We didn't have a good game, but at this moment, winning is the most important thing."

On lack of enthusiasm: "It seems like a lack of enthusiasm. Ugarte is late and Mainoo is late, Bruno Fernandes going outside when the ball is inside.

"One transition and Yoro cannot catch the guy - small things push the team behind, and then we get nervous.

"Today was not a lack of enthusiasm, it was a lack of control in the game."

On players suited to his system: "They are not suited to playing like that.

"With the ball, you saw, we had some patterns."
 
DJ_21 said:
City sometimes play with the 3 Cbs. We just don’t have the right personnel. Our biggest issue is the wing backs. Amad should be the starting RWB now after tonight. But we seriously need to sort that left side out. And the number 10s need addressing to
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I don't agree about Amad, he scored his goals tonight and his play improved massively once he was moved up to play as a 10 after the subs
 
Idxomer said:
I like the guy but I hate seeing 3 centre-backs against shit teams like Southampton, it's too limiting and makes the game very dull.
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There are many things that this team is lacking... If you watch his sporting teams you see a vey different build up to what we see currently.

The wide CBs are primary progressors, the wing backs act like actual winger and hug the touch line high up and the no 10s are primary receivers in the middle 3rd. The wing backs spreading the width create space for the 10s to be able to recieve the ball directly from the wide CBs and make turns or play triangles with the Centre Midfielders who have positioned themselves to either be passing options for the 10s or scoop up any second balls when these 10s are challenged...

This team is far from what an ideal Amorim team plays like.
 
I will admit that there are fans out there who are more tactically astute than me so I am genuinely curious to know: are there signs of improvement game-to-game? Are things clicking into place but going under the radar?

I feel like we've heard a lot about the time needed on the training pitch but I'm struggling to identity much progress as the team builds experience with this system.
 
I'm happy with him. Very proactive which is what has been lacking since SAF. No hesitations regarding substitutions. Keeps the squad on its toes and you can see harmony and a good feel in general with the players. I believe in him!
 
He got his tactics wrong today, steep learning curve to benefit in future. His subs made a big difference. Shame we don't have enough quality on the bench in attacking positions.

Love his in-game management, noticing issues and plugging them.
 
witchtrials said:
I will admit that there are fans out there who are more tactically astute than me so I am genuinely curious to know: are there signs of improvement game-to-game? Are things clicking into place but going under the radar?

I feel like we've heard a lot about the time needed on the training pitch but I'm struggling to identity much progress as the team builds experience with this system.
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This team is about 5 players in key positions short of what we need to be competitive in any style. Get a couple of wing backs, a ball playing CB, a striker and another creator then things will improve. We don't even have pace at the back to push up on teams for crying out loud.

The poor squad building job done by Ten Hag and Murtough means that it's going to take us longer to get to where we need to be. Hopefully Collyer's encouraging cameos make him more confident to use academy kids because we desperately need to supplement the missing profiles with promotions from the youth because we can't buy all the players we need in one window.
 
AneRu said:
This team is about 5 players in key positions short of what we need to be competitive in any style. Get a couple of wing backs, a ball playing CB, a striker and another creator then things will improve. We don't even have pace at the back to push up on teams for crying out loud.

The poor squad building job done by Ten Hag and Murtough means that it's going to take us longer to get to where we need to be.
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Hmm, interesting. Not saying you're wrong but sounds like your answer to my question is "No, things aren't improving (because that's not possible with this squad)".
 
First half was shocking. Like really, really bad. Think we'll struggle plenty of times more this season (even more at Old Trafford probably) especially if we don't get a wingback this month and so far it doesn't look like we'll get anyone. We were being dominated by team that won 6 points this season and it was really hard to watch.

Subs he made were spot on though. Zirkzee, Collyer and Eriksen great subs, Maguire was late on but good as well and then there's Antony who was not that bad imo (despite the big chance missed).

There is going to be another 4+ months of some poor performances but hopefully it won't get too bad and ugly.
 
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