Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

Me too. He’s the only one that’s actually showing some signs of what he actually wants to do and how he wants to play. It’s obviously not going to be pretty yet with these bunch of players but with a couple of transfers windows we’ll be miles better
Exactly right. It's what we have wanted in a coach for ages. There hasn't been instant gratification, but that isn't any reason to pull the plug. I'm liking the new transfer strategy and even if it may not pay off immediately, we have reason for optimism. I look forward to Amorim having a full preseason with the team and more options incoming who will fit his intentions.
 

That is something that really grates on me as we’ve spent years wanting a structure to be put in place so the coach comes in simply to coach rather than choosing the style of play, the footballing identity and what players come in to fit the system and Ratcliffe himself publicly said those days are gone yet here we are again.

I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.
 
Being slightly cruel here using the sort to make a point. This is data taken from Whoscored. This shows every player who's played in the FWD position, i've included anyone with 270+ mins. Sorted it by minutes per shot.

Player​
Club​
Mins​
Goals​
Min P Goal​
Shots​
Shots OT %​
Min P Shot​
Raúl Jiménez​
Fulham​
1696​
10​
170​
71​
36.62%​
24​
Erling Haaland​
Manchester City​
2394​
20​
120​
99​
57.58%​
24​
Rodrigo Muniz​
Fulham​
451​
1​
451​
17​
29.41%​
27​
Darwin Núñez​
Liverpool​
630​
3​
210​
23​
43.48%​
27​
Nicolas Jackson​
Chelsea​
1716​
9​
191​
62​
50.00%​
28​
Diogo Jota​
Liverpool​
689​
2​
345​
24​
16.67%​
29​
Newcastle​
1984​
19​
104​
68​
50.00%​
29​
Ollie Watkins​
Aston Villa​
1964​
13​
151​
67​
49.25%​
29​
Beto​
Everton​
605​
5​
121​
19​
68.42%​
32​
Yoane Wissa​
Brentford​
1919​
12​
160​
59​
47.46%​
33​
Evanilson​
Bournemouth​
1400​
5​
280​
43​
51.16%​
33​
Luis Díaz​
Liverpool​
821​
3​
274​
25​
40.00%​
33​
Dango Ouattara​
Bournemouth​
614​
4​
154​
18​
50.00%​
34​
Dominic Calvert-Lewin​
Everton​
1479​
3​
493​
43​
37.21%​
34​
Paul Onuachu​
Southampton​
591​
1​
591​
17​
41.18%​
35​
Gabriel Jesus​
Arsenal​
488​
3​
163​
14​
42.86%​
35​
Dominic Solanke​
Tottenham​
1691​
7​
242​
48​
43.75%​
35​
Kai Havertz​
Arsenal​
1694​
7​
242​
48​
37.50%​
35​
Danny Welbeck​
Brighton​
1415​
6​
236​
38​
34.21%​
37​
Jarrod Bowen​
West Ham​
682​
3​
227​
18​
44.44%​
38​
Lucas Paquetá​
West Ham​
270​
1​
270​
7​
14.29%​
39​
Liam Delap​
Ipswich​
2098​
9​
233​
53​
47.17%​
40​
Jean-Philippe Mateta​
Crystal Palace​
2083​
12​
174​
52​
46.15%​
40​
Bryan Mbeumo​
Brentford​
540​
4​
135​
13​
53.85%​
42​
Joshua Zirkzee​
Manchester United​
587​
2​
294​
14​
57.14%​
42​
Cameron Archer​
Southampton​
802​
1​
802​
19​
26.32%​
42​
João Pedro​
Brighton​
932​
4​
233​
22​
50.00%​
42​
Chris Wood​
Nottingham Forest​
2255​
18​
125​
51​
58.82%​
44​
Son Heung-Min​
Tottenham​
270​
2​
135​
6​
100.00%​
45​
Michail Antonio​
West Ham​
736​
1​
736​
16​
18.75%​
46​
Jamie Vardy​
Leicester​
2146​
7​
307​
44​
43.18%​
49​
Leandro Trossard​
Arsenal​
473​
1​
473​
9​
33.33%​
53​
Jørgen Strand Larsen​
Wolves​
1874​
6​
312​
35​
68.57%​
54​
Manchester United​
1227​
2​
614​
13​
53.85%​
94​

TLDR:

Rasmus Højlund:

Mins Per Goal: 614 (ranked 32nd/34)
Mins Per Shot: 94 (ranked 34th/34)
Shots OT %: 53.85% (Ranked 8th/34)

Joshua Zirkzee
Mins Per Goal: 294 (Ranked 24th/34)
Mins Per Shot: 42 (Ranked 25th/34)
Shots OT %: 57.14% (Ranked 6th/34)

and yet some in here will argue that Hojlund would improve Arsenal :lol::

I'm sure Arsenal would be a much better team with Hojlund leading their attack. For me, our squad is much better than 15th. Something's wrong with Amorim's setup. The man needs to understand that sometimes you need to be flexible and make "obvious" corrections. Can we confidently say we'll smash Ipswich at OT? On the evidence of results so far, Amorim's system is limiting the players as the team output is less than the sum of the parts.
 
That is something that really grates on me as we’ve spent years wanting a structure to be put in place so the coach comes in simply to coach rather than choosing the style of play, the footballing identity and what players come in to fit the system and Ratcliffe himself publicly said those days are gone yet here we are again.

I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.
I don’t have an answer to your overall concern, but I’d like to point out that since SAF left, we don’t have any style of play or philosophy, so to speak. It’s just all short-term solutions, which culminated in where we are today. The blame is squarely on the Glazers for the abandonment of course, but it is what it is. Maybe with Amorim, we’re trying to establish a new football identity rather than just a new system. It will be more telling what kind of football style we’ll be pursuing going forward IF Amorim was sacked.
 
I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.

We're overhauling to bring in a type of profile and better quality, not players who can only play 3421. Why don't you lot save your moaning until we sign a player that is no use beyond this manager? Until then it's an odd hypothetical to moan about.
 
That is something that really grates on me as we’ve spent years wanting a structure to be put in place so the coach comes in simply to coach rather than choosing the style of play, the footballing identity and what players come in to fit the system and Ratcliffe himself publicly said those days are gone yet here we are again.

I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.
That’s a very good point. Them laying down the foundations and wanting similar managers to manage us which then means we don’t need a big overhaul each time basically means If Amorim doesn’t succeed and we look to move on then that means we’d need a manager who prefers a back 3 which limits who we go for. The top ones would obviously be Alonso, inzaghi.
 
That’s a very good point. Them laying down the foundations and wanting similar managers to manage us which then means we don’t need a big overhaul each time basically means If Amorim doesn’t succeed and we look to move on then that means we’d need a manager who prefers a back 3 which limits who we go for. The top ones would obviously be Alonso, inzaghi.

People are way too hung on three at the back. Amorim's basic approach is no different to most big teams these days - a combination of pressing and possession, the aim to play the game in the oppostion third, width on both flanks, a couple of players moving in and around the half spaces outside the penalty area. Its a common template. The difference between his style of football and many other coaches who play the same way but with 4 at the back is smaller than the difference between counter attacking football and possession football.

The main concession to his style is needing either attacking full backs, or wingers who can do a shift defensively. This is different from those managers who prefer inverted full backs or inverted wingers. But really, that's not a huge issue, plenty of managers use attacking full backs. Beyond that, the only other issue is the potential to have an extra first team quality CB, which is not really an issue if you buy decent players in the first place, just sell one on.

You almost never get a new manager coming in who doesn't want to make any changes to a squad. There's always some turnover as new managers do their own thing. What matters is that you can adjust a squad to the new manager's style with 2 or 3 new players, rather than needing 7 or 8.
 
If he is supported with the transfers of some players who fit his system, promote from the youth and shift as many as he can of the worst/injury prone players on this summer, then I think Amorim has a good chance to get us top 6/7 next season and put us on a footing to break top 4 the season after and eventually a title shot. He proved his worth with the 3rd best club in Portugal who were miles behind Benfica and Porto before he took over, breaking the duopoly up, bit like Fergie in Scotland.
 
Which midfielders would everyone go for to play in midfield two?

They have to be mobile, good on the ball and have great defensive instincts.

These types of players are few and far between if you ask me so I think we have a tough task filling those roles.
 
That’s a very good point. Them laying down the foundations and wanting similar managers to manage us which then means we don’t need a big overhaul each time basically means If Amorim doesn’t succeed and we look to move on then that means we’d need a manager who prefers a back 3 which limits who we go for. The top ones would obviously be Alonso, inzaghi.
Only a few top teams play 3 CBs, hence it was a big gamble by us going down that path.

Anyone can have a clear vision, the difficult part is to implement it on the pitch.
 
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That is something that really grates on me as we’ve spent years wanting a structure to be put in place so the coach comes in simply to coach rather than choosing the style of play, the footballing identity and what players come in to fit the system and Ratcliffe himself publicly said those days are gone yet here we are again.

I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.
Yeah that quote stood out to be too. Feels like we've once again gone back to "the coach decides how we play and the rest of the club follows along".
 
Which midfielders would everyone go for to play in midfield two?

They have to be mobile, good on the ball and have great defensive instincts.

These types of players are few and far between if you ask me so I think we have a tough task filling those roles.
Baleba would be a dream signing, but is too expensive.
 
It's funny to hear the owner name check the shite players who every clued in fan can see are the millstones on the clubs neck. Not just the obvious ones like Sancho and Antony but also Hojlund, Onana and Casemiro. Only one spared was Mount.

Probably not the greatest thing for squad harmony if the owner of the club is confirming you're not wanted.
 
People are way too hung on three at the back. Amorim's basic approach is no different to most big teams these days - a combination of pressing and possession, the aim to play the game in the oppostion third, width on both flanks, a couple of players moving in and around the half spaces outside the penalty area. Its a common template. The difference between his style of football and many other coaches who play the same way but with 4 at the back is smaller than the difference between counter attacking football and possession football.

The main concession to his style is needing either attacking full backs, or wingers who can do a shift defensively. This is different from those managers who prefer inverted full backs or inverted wingers. But really, that's not a huge issue, plenty of managers use attacking full backs. Beyond that, the only other issue is the potential to have an extra first team quality CB, which is not really an issue if you buy decent players in the first place, just sell one on.

You almost never get a new manager coming in who doesn't want to make any changes to a squad. There's always some turnover as new managers do their own thing. What matters is that you can adjust a squad to the new manager's style with 2 or 3 new players, rather than needing 7 or 8.
It’s very different to top teams though when defending. We defend with a solid back 5. None of the other top teams do. So that’s a massive difference.
 
It's funny to hear the owner name check the shite players who every clued in fan can see are the millstones on the clubs neck. Not just the obvious ones like Sancho and Antony but also Hojlund, Onana and Casemiro. Only one spared was Mount.

Probably not the greatest thing for squad harmony if the owner of the club is confirming you're not wanted.
That wasn’t what he said. He said they are still being paid for.
 
Only a few top teams play 3 CBs, hence it was a big gamble by us going down that path.

Anyone can have a clear vision, the difficult part is to implement it on the pitch.
True. Some successful teams aswell. Inter Milan being the main one, alonso at Leverkusen last season. Most top teams play either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 as it gives a lot more attacking freedom.
 
That wasn’t what he said. He said they are still being paid for.

Yes but his subtext is obvious. They're not the only ones still being paid for. So is every player signed in the last 4-5 years to some degree.

They're the ones who are worth a tiny fraction of what the club is paying for them in the here and now.
 
Our defence have improved quite a lot recently. De ligt is thriving in a back 3. Our issue is forward players. There actually letting the defence down… our defenders must think every game that we need a clean sheet as if we concede then we ain’t out scoring the opponents.
 
Yes but his subtext is obvious. They're not the only ones still being paid for. So is every player signed in the last 4-5 years to some degree.

They're the ones who are worth a tiny fraction of what the club is paying for them in the here and now.
They are the majority of the larger outlays relevant to the previous regime, no?
 
I haven't read the interview (s?) but going by just some of the quotes, I am more optimistic. I still think Amorim has to show more but if the board really do back him then perhaps, it's more a simple case of bringing down the whole foundation (i.e sell everyone we can) and bring in whoever suits him. It's a gamble but at least it's a concentrated and single minded effort unlike the haphazard approach of before.

Sometimes it is all or nothing and I guess I'd take those odds. At least that gives me some (blind) hope but I know it's going to be a few years before we'll see the type of progress we've all been begging for.
 
They are the majority of the larger outlays relevant to the previous regime, no?

Yes but also coincidentally all the ones who's values are now a fraction of what we paid for them. Or in Mount and Casemiro's case basically zero. Hojlund and Antony at best would fetch 30% what we paid for them. Sancho is fetching 32%.
 
It's funny to hear the owner name check the shite players who every clued in fan can see are the millstones on the clubs neck. Not just the obvious ones like Sancho and Antony but also Hojlund, Onana and Casemiro. Only one spared was Mount.

Probably not the greatest thing for squad harmony if the owner of the club is confirming you're not wanted.
Doesn't he know he's wrong and we should be finishing top 4 with that lot.
 
That is something that really grates on me as we’ve spent years wanting a structure to be put in place so the coach comes in simply to coach rather than choosing the style of play, the footballing identity and what players come in to fit the system and Ratcliffe himself publicly said those days are gone yet here we are again.

I really want Amorim to succeed but if he doesn’t then do we then go for Xabi Alonso or Oliver Glasner or Antonio Conte because they also play 3-4-2-1 ? Or do we do the same thing yet again and bring in a coach who has to have yet another overhaul because the players don’t fit that coach ?

I hear from a lot on here that Amorim’s formation doesn’t require specialists then it’s that he doesn’t have the players he needs for his formation to work, either way I hope he succeeds but this does have to be the final time that we do this in regards to constant overhauls to fit coaches tactical preferences and should have our own way of playing so the coaches bend to the clubs Will rather than us bending to theirs.

Assuming we sign Quenda, both he and Dorgu are more than capable of playing as out and out wingers too. There really isn’t an issue adjusting to a different formation, should be ever need to. You guys need to stop getting so hung up on formation.

Quenda is actually currently playing as one of Sporting’s 10s in their system.