Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

[Nevilles.Wear.Prada]

He built sporting and ending there 19 years without a title. Ended the domination of Porto and Benfica. I think we all should be a bit optimistic that this is finally the man to turn us around. ETH said Eras come to an end… Ruben Amorim is coming to prove it.

That was hopetul and positive. Very refreshing, thank you.

 

[Sir Erik ten Hag]

So are people more optimistic about him than all the other managers post SAF?

No. Van Gaal brought the most excitement, since he went in to replace dreadful Moyes.

 

[I Am Zlatan]

No. Van Gaal brought the most excitement, since he went in to replace dreadful Moyes.

I remember thinking now that Moyes is gone, we’ll be back to winning the league… nonetheless I’m cautiously optimistic about Amorim (don’t know too much about him though) and the new Ineos setup.

 

[DJ_21]

So are people more optimistic about him than all the other managers post SAF?

I am. What he did with sporting was insane and we’re in a similar situation where we have 2 teams challenging for the league. 1 team dominating the league.

 

[DJ_21]

Regarding Gyökeres, it seems clear to me that he will leave at the end of the year. For my club’s success, I hope he doesn’t leave in January. It seems there's an agreement with management that he can go at the end of the season for around €80 million if a big club shows interest. In my view, the Swedish player is the best player in the history of the Portuguese league. I’m 36 years old and have seen a few players come and go here.

When Rúben Amorim took over in 2020, Sporting was an extremely disorganized club. We had incidents of player assaults in 2018 that left deep scars on the club, which was highly politicized and divided into factions. Adding to that, the football team lacked direction, and financial difficulties didn’t help either.
That said, understand this: Rúben Amorim will ALWAYS play in a 3-4-3 formation. He has never once changed this strategy. At most, he tweaks the team dynamics, and it may often look like the team is playing a 4-4-2, but the foundation remains 3-4-3. This is non-negotiable.

As for how long it took him to implement this structure, I think this evolution can be viewed as follows:

Rúben Amorim's first match with Sporting: Link to match;Currently, none of the players from that match are still on the team. Captain Coates (the center-back I mentioned earlier — not very technical, tall, but with strong leadership qualities) only left at the end of the season due to a family issue and had to return to Uruguay. He was our leader.

The following season, we were clearly underdogs, with many young players from the youth ranks. The most-used starting XI was as follows:

-------------------Adán-----------------------

Neto (Gonçalo Inácio)--------Coates--------Feddal

Pedro Porro João Palhinha João Mário Nuno Mendes

Nuno Santos Pedro Gonçalves

-----------------------Tiago Tomás---------------------

We were deserved champions, but we especially benefited from a very solid defense. We played with very low lines and scored just enough to win each game. This doesn’t take away from his merit, though; there was no money, he adapted, and led us through a historic season: champions after 19 years.

Then we had two seasons where we didn’t win much, but we laid the groundwork for last season. We generated revenue from several player sales and brought in good players.

Most-used lineup in the second season:

-------------------Adán-----------------------------------

Gonçalo Inácio----Coates-----Matheus Reis

Porro Palhinha(Ugarte) Matheus Nunes Nuno Santos

Sarabia Pedro Gonçalves

Paulinho

Most-used lineup in the third season:
--------------Adán-------------

Diomandé Coates Gonçalo Inácio

Porro (Esgaio) Ugarte Morita Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis)

Edwards Pedro Gonçalves

Paulinho

In short, last season we made only two key signings: Gyökeres and Hjulmand. But for instance, Geny Catamo emerged as well. He had been with us since the youth ranks but was never seen as an exciting prospect; at most, he was considered a player with potential for a career in the Portuguese First League. But he became one of the key players in the league. That's why I mention that Rúben is likely to bet on players no one expects, often in unconventional positions, to surprise everyone.


-----------------Adán (Israel)-------------------

Diomande (Quaresma) Coates Gonçalo Inácio

Geny Catamo Hjulmand Morita Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis)

Trincão (Edwards) Pedro Gonçalves (Paulinho)

Gyokeres

With these starting elevens, you can see the versatility in the positions players take on. And in this lineup, it’s not even clear how many times, for example, Pedro Gonçalves has also played in one of the midfield positions, or how Paulinho has played both on the right and left, as well as centrally. The players adapt to this 3-4-3 formation.

Finally, here’s a video of a Sporting training session to give you an idea of the intensity Rúben brings to daily practices. Watch the whole video if you’d like, but my point starts at minute 3:48, where you can see the intensity Sporting has whenever they lose the ball, the aggressiveness players are required to have in defensive transitions: lose the ball, then sprint back.
I can't put youtube videos but search for "INSIDE SPORTING | Agosto & Setembro"

​

I’ve seen that video. I like how he does GK training. Using a tennis ball, not sure if it’s common with other clubs or if they do the same. Seems like he loves working on the fitness. Got a big job for our players. We have lazy players that don’t like pressing.

 

[Highfather_24]

Onana
Yoro--MDL--Martinez
Dalot--Ugarte--Mainoo--Shaw
Amad--Bruno
Hojlund
​

Think this is our best team under him.

 

[Remember the geese]

Onana
Yoro--MDL--Martinez
Dalot--Ugarte--Mainoo--Shaw
Amad--Bruno
Hojlund
​

Think this is our best team under him.

Mazraoui?

 

[DJ_21]

Mazraoui?

I’d have him over Dalot every day. Been one of our best players in the last 2 games. Especially the Chelsea game.

 

[Judas]

Shaw in a fictional lineup makes sense I guess, won't be happening in reality very much.

 

[JE-365]

I think this is probably the set up I would like to see us play under Amorim. I placed Mount as the main player because this 343 is actually the formation he was playing at his best producing lot of end product means he has adapted to play in this no 10 in 343 formation before in comparison to the other players.

I think based on what we see below and the fact that I have to put Rashford as our no 9, Antony and injury prone Shaw as wingback means it’s clear that we lack of top class striker and wingbacks for this 343 formation.

—————— Onana —————
Yoro —— De Ligt —— Martinez
Antony - Casemiro - Mainoo - Shaw
———— Bruno —— Mount ————
—————— Rashford ——————

—————— Onana —————
Lindelof —— Maguire —— Evans
Dalot - Ugarte - Eriksen - Mazraoui/Malacia
———— Amad —— Garnacho ————
—————— Hojlund ——————

 

[Redfrog]

Thanks for your comment. Was a good read.

The bolded part interests me and excites me the most about him becoming manager tbh. Contrary to popular belief in this forum especially, I don't think our players are as bad as made out to be. I think we're plenty capable of giving any of the top teams a good game just by our players performing to their max potential.

Right, and I am optimistic too about this guy. But what we need most is improving our consistency by winning regularly against lower opponents. I think he can do that too.

 

[Avero]

I think this is probably the set up I would like to see us play under Amorim. I placed Mount as the main player because this 343 is actually the formation he was playing at his best producing lot of end product means he has adapted to play in this no 10 in 343 formation before in comparison to the other players.

I think based on what we see below and the fact that I have to put Rashford as our no 9, Antony and injury prone Shaw as wingback means it’s clear that we lack of top class striker and wingbacks for this 343 formation.

—————— Onana —————
Yoro —— De Ligt —— Martinez
Antony - Casemiro - Mainoo - Shaw
———— Bruno —— Mount ————
—————— Rashford ——————

—————— Onana —————
Lindelof —— Maguire —— Evans
Dalot - Ugarte - Eriksen - Mazraoui/Malacia
———— Amad —— Garnacho ————
—————— Hojlund ——————

A couple of transfers in the summer and our team looks quite good.

Bring in Gyokores and a LWB, possibly Kerkez. And if Eriksen goes then a DM/CM like Baleba or Wharton.

—————— Onana —————
Yoro —— De Ligt —— Martinez
Mazraoui - Ugarte - Mainoo - Kerkez
———— Bruno —— Mount ————
—————— Gyokores ——————

—————— Bayindir —————
Lindelof —— Maguire —— Shaw
Dalot - Casemiro - Eriksen - Amass
———— Amad —— Rashford ————
—————— Hojlund ——————

But for now I am looking forward to seeing players like Antony, Rashford and Garnacho tested in this system.

 

[nickm]

So are people more optimistic about him than all the other managers post SAF?

I've been optimistic about all of them in their own way, but the time does seem especially right for his set of skills.

With all the clearouts, there is space to build something fresh and new at United, and we need someone who a) has something to prove b) makes things easy for players to understand, c) has the man management skills and d) big personality to imprint his values on the team. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[ErikElevenHag]

So are people more optimistic about him than all the other managers post SAF?

I'm excited but also in a lets wait and see type situation. It's not just amorim that gives me optimism, it's the hiring of a young progressive manager with an unknown ceiling, paired with a new footballing structure which is giving me hope.

Every manager we'd hired barring 2 had been exciting and cause for optimism but none of them had worked out. Hopefully this will be different.

Moyes - was never happy with this appointment.
LVG - massive reputation and excitement levels went up as Netherlands progressed through the world cup.
Jose - 12 months removed from winning the title at Chelsea when it was announced he was coming to united. Had won titles everywhere, didn't expect slick football but was willing to compromise for a return to competing in the league.
Ole - never really excited by his appointment
ETH - similar feeling to the amorim appointment, but he didn't have the same structure in place and it all fell apart.

 

[shd0w]

Any word on if there will be a press conference on Monday?

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

I wish people would stop talking like every manager has had the same pool of players. ETH changed 75% of his squad so if he still had a squad that couldn’t play his way that’s on him as a coach.

Players have of course changed, but all of Mourinho, Ole and ETH were most succesful on the counter.

I never understood what ETH was trying to achieve tactically. If you try to press high up the pitch with players such as Rashford, Garnacho, Bruno, Höjlund, Casemiro, Mainoo you will of course leave acres of space in midfield since your CM is very slow and some won't track back. They are not good in possession either except for Mainoo. They are very effective in a low block counter playing style. If ETH wanted to play like Ajax he wouldn't have bought Höjlund, nor played Rashford.

 

[Bo_devil]

People are fogetting how decent Shaw is as Centreback, I think he'd be great competing with Martinez for the LCB position. People really think he still has the legs to get up n down the flank as a LWB in this new high energy system??
He doesnt get in ahead of Dalot or Maz for me. He will need time to get up to speed, thats if he even fancies it in the new set up.
We dont really know yet if Amorin will opt for his tried n trusted method of having two wingers play as wing backs. But I imagine he may play it cautious for the first few games and have more defensive stability opting for fullbacks in the wing back roles.

Also, since he likes ball playing centrebacks I wouldnt even be surprised to see Maz tried as a RCB.

 

[OldTrevil]

There is talent in this United team, but what's clear is it lacks some good coaching, motivation and application. What Amorim has to avoid, is falling in the same trap of bizarre and unfounded favouritism and preferential treatment of players. Nothing demotivates players than knowing that the best team isn't being selected, or that training and game performances are not being rewarded/punished. On the flipside players will run through brick walls for a great coach who is fair and maintains clear rules of getting in and out of the team.

If Amorim comes and avoids the outside noise like he said, and just coaches for six months giving all players an equal chance, then we'll easily finish in the top 4 come end of the season. At worst we'll miss it by a whisker or due to your typical english refereeing ineptitude.

 

[RuudTom83]

I think Rashford's reputation is a bit better in Europe than the UK, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him returning to playing CF under Amorim.

 

[msjmohd83]

any chances of playing 3-5-2 formation? miss the glory days where we play with strikers.

 

[Blood Mage]

Sick of people putting Shaw in their lineups. You all need to get over that crock already.

 

[Bright_Eyes]

So are people more optimistic about him than all the other managers post SAF?

I am weirdly less optimistic than every other manager. Moyes came right when we were a successful club and I didn't think it would go south so quickly. Then LVG was a bigger name who had achieved great things who was meant to take us in a progressive direction. Mourinho I had some doubts about but was still optimistic that he'd get the squad in fighting shape. Solksjaer started really well. ETH was meant to bring a new vision and move us to playing an exciting brand of football. I finally hit the point where I'm just not optimistic anymore, we could have hired anyone and I'd have felt the same. I think Amorim is the right choice though. I just don't wanna get too hyped anymore.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Sick of people putting Shaw in their lineups. You all need to get over that crock already.

Don’t get it twisted, he’ll be straight back into the starting line up when fit. There’s a reason why he’s first choice for every manager he’s ever played under, he’s a very good footballer. As frustrating as his injury record is, it doesn’t take away from his ability, and as long as he’s under contract at the club it’s best to play him whenever he’s actually available because he’s the best fullback we’ve got at the club.

 

[the_cliff]

Right, and I am optimistic too about this guy. But what we need most is improving our consistency by winning regularly against lower opponents. I think he can do that too.

I agree mate. Beating opposition that we're supposed to beat and giving a game to the top teams will see us climbing up the table quite quickly. I refuse to believe that other than Liverpool, City and Arsenal other teams in this league have a better overall squad than us.

 

[ddg01]

Onana
Yoro--MDL--Martinez
Dalot--Ugarte--Mainoo--Shaw
Amad--Bruno
Hojlund
​

Think this is our best team under him.

You can’t leave out our best player - Garnacho.
Bruno needs to be dropped.

 

[Bo_devil]

Sick of people putting Shaw in their lineups. You all need to get over that crock already.

Yeh, he doesnt have the energy of a Dalot or Amass for me. I think he will be better suited to LCB if he can push Martinez out the team.

 

[meninred]

This 3 4 3 formation is a big talking point. It is generally a specialized formation requiring specialists and that is why a lot of couches donot play that formation. Amorim doesnot necessarly need to play a back three unless he has the players and as a coach he must be flexible and adabtable enough to play a back four too.

 

[Champ]

This 3 4 3 formation is a big talking point. It is generally a specialized formation requiring specialists and that is why a lot of couches donot play that formation. Amorim doesnot necessarly need to play a back three unless he has the players and as a coach he must be flexible and adabtable enough to play a back four too.

I don't think it requires specialists, it just requires players who can listen and perform instructions.
Sportings team was decimated at times during Almorims reign, yet they had players who slotted in without skipping a beat, likewise when they had injuries others stepped in and they carried on due to all players following the game plan.
But I agree he will have to have a level of adaptability with his tactics.

 

[Champ]

Don’t get it twisted, he’ll be straight back into the starting line up when fit. There’s a reason why he’s first choice for every manager he’s ever played under, he’s a very good footballer. As frustrating as his injury record is, it doesn’t take away from his ability, and as long as he’s under contract at the club it’s best to play him whenever he’s actually available because he’s the best fullback we’ve got at the club.

Well put, there was also a reason England took him to the last tournament despite not being 100% fit, he's an extremely talented footballer when fit.

 

[r0663664]

I really want Rashford and Bruno phase out of United. Rashford is a very average player and he isn't that type of player who to sprint back to defend. Bruno's carelessness with the ball and body language is detrimental to this side a captain. I hope we can recoup his transfer by selling him ASAP. What I really want to see if young players given a chance to play. Hope Amorin can incorporate some young, hardworking and talented players into the squad. That would be a dream.

 

[Hammondo]

People are fogetting how decent Shaw is as Centreback, I think he'd be great competing with Martinez for the LCB position. People really think he still has the legs to get up n down the flank as a LWB in this new high energy system??
He doesnt get in ahead of Dalot or Maz for me. He will need time to get up to speed, thats if he even fancies it in the new set up.
We dont really know yet if Amorin will opt for his tried n trusted method of having two wingers play as wing backs. But I imagine he may play it cautious for the first few games and have more defensive stability opting for fullbacks in the wing back roles.

Also, since he likes ball playing centrebacks I wouldnt even be surprised to see Maz tried as a RCB.

I agree, he's very good defensively in different roles, he will be valuable if fit.

 

[VictoriaRed]

Bring the kids through, please! If you are good enough, you are old enough, a great man once said. I’m more excited more than previous managers we’ve flopped on. Plus, he’s got great hair and style.

 

[JediSith]

Anyone know when United will officially unveil him for his first presser ?

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Don’t get it twisted, he’ll be straight back into the starting line up when fit. There’s a reason why he’s first choice for every manager he’s ever played under, he’s a very good footballer. As frustrating as his injury record is, it doesn’t take away from his ability, and as long as he’s under contract at the club it’s best to play him whenever he’s actually available because he’s the best fullback we’ve got at the club.

But he won't be fit and might get 2 or 3 games max out of him before he is injured again.

 

[Berbaclass]

 

[Shaneo2121]

Does anyone else think this 3-4-3 system should fast track Amass into the team quicker due to the extra protection behind?

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

But he won't be fit and might get 2 or 3 games max out of him before he is injured again.

The point is he’ll still get those 2 or 3 games or however long until he’s injured again because he’s our best fullback. When he’s fit he plays until he isn’t anymore, that won’t change until we sign a long term replacement.

 

[Marwood]

Don’t get it twisted, he’ll be straight back into the starting line up when fit. There’s a reason why he’s first choice for every manager he’s ever played under, he’s a very good footballer. As frustrating as his injury record is, it doesn’t take away from his ability, and as long as he’s under contract at the club it’s best to play him whenever he’s actually available because he’s the best fullback we’ve got at the club.

I think we all need a software update re Shaw.

Luke's days as a fullback are done.As a CB sure he could maybe carry on.

Really hoping it isn't a clean slate for some players.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

I think we all need a software update re Shaw.

Luke's days as a fullback are done.

As a CB sure he could maybe carry on.

Yeah I think he could perform really well as the left sided CB in Amorims system, he’s shown previously he’s capable of playing CB pretty well, you’d think Martinez would have that spot nailed down. It remains to be seen if he’s able to play as a wing back, I certainly think he’ll be given the chance to prove himself before he’s written off though.

 

[NLunited]

I think there's a difference between what we're doing and actually being quick though. Looking hurried on the ball doesn't mean you're actually playing quickly, and that half a second to compose yourself and play a better weighted pass or bring the ball under better control should, overall, improve our speed of play.

It's that old adage of how slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

Well put.