What should be the minimum expectation for Amorim this season?

red.knight

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Despite our dreadful start to the season, Amorim took over United after 11 games, on 15 points, 0 goal difference, in 12th place and 4 points off the top four. While I recognize it will take time and new players to fully implement his system, what should be the minimum expectation for him this season?

- A top-four finish?
- Winning the Europa League?
- Establishing a consistent and improved style of play?
- Or should there be no expectations at all?
 
Honestly, I'll take just not being shit.

And actually I can accept being shit if its due to a commitment to a playing in a certain style/way that will bear fruit in the long run
 
I don't think it really makes sense talking about expectations in terms of results one game into Amorim's tenure. For now we should be expecting our style of play to move towards his vision (whatever that entails at United). We should look for improved and more consistent performances. We will see which results are realistic in a couple of months' time.
 
Visible improvements in the quality of performances over the course of the season and by May we should be able to see a somewhat clear roadmap.
 
It shouldn't be related to league position or number of points - that's the mistake we keep making.

In the past, our managers, Jose, OGS, LvG and EtH, have prioritised a "win at all costs" mentality to keep themselves in jobs by scraping into the top four or winning 2nd rate competitions like the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League.

If I was the DoF at United, I would make it clear that none of those things are good enough for United in isolation, and therefore the ONLY target is to win a major trophy - and to do that, we MUST improve tactically and we must improve our overall performance levels.

Put simply, finishing 4th but being awful is not acceptable. Finishing 6th, being awful and winning the Europa League is not acceptable

It's all about the performances and progression on the pitch for me.
 
  • Know who to bin in summer
  • Drop every player not working hard enough for the team
  • Build performances over the next 6 months
 
Just an improvement in basic standards and an idea of what he's trying to do/evidence he's working out how to get there.

It's hard to put specific expectations next to that in terms of results or performances as a lot depends on how players react to it, how suitable they are, how quickly they pick things up, etc.

Maybe in a month or two when we have an idea of that the expectation will be clearer but for now I'm just expecting him to stick to his principles and not do anything completely insane.

He's been pretty open about what he expects as far as the basics go, so the first step is working out who in our squad can and can't stick to them, and that in itself will take more than a couple of games.

ETH, Jose etc had a pre season to iron all that stuff out. It's only really Ole who came in under the same situation and he went initially for a quick fix because he didn't know how long he'd be in charge.
 
As results are likely to be up and down, I think the Europa League should be the number one priority.

It guarantees Champions League football next season and despite our poor recent run in European games it's a very weak competition. Spurs are the bookies favourites to win it!

I think we will do far better under Amorim and there's not a single team to fear. We only need another six points to guarantee a playoff place and 10/12 points will likely be enough to go straight in to the last 16.

With home games against Bodo and Rangers, plus always to Plzen and Steaua Bucureșt there's no reason why we couldn't pick up the 10/12 points required to get a top 8 finish.
 
Don’t care about league position or winning any cups, just want him to have the team properly playing the way he wants.
 
red.knight said:
- Establishing a consistent and improved style of play?
Click to expand...
This. I'm not interested in results this season. I don't think we have a hope in hell of getting top 4. If we happen to win the Europa League by catching Spurs on a bad day, fantastic! However, the most important thing is to establish an identity. A functioning system. Synchronised patterns of play that become second nature. Find out which players are suited to each specific role and decide upon those who will have no future here.

After drawing our conclusions, we can then attack the summer window with precision. Pre-season will be invaluable to allow us more time to work on our system in greater detail. From there, results will improve and I'd be confident of a strong push for top 4 next season.
 
Don’t give a feck about trophies. It’s all about improvement in our play. A clear system and a clear idea of who our best starting 11 is. A massive improvement in effort and finally looking like a team. That’s my expectation for this season. If we can do this but finish 10th I’ll still be happy. For the love of god can we please, after all these years, just look like a fluid team again.
 
Honestly, if we qualify for any European cup I'd consider that a positive.

League Cup is still in reach.

A positive goal difference would be expected.

But most important, establishing a playing style and players once again caring.
 
I dont see how "I dont care about league position" and "just want to see the team playing the way he wants" be said in the same sentence?

Surely, if the team plays the way he wants and has a style, we pick up points?

Also... the reason Ten Hag was sacked is because he was such a poor coach and we were still 4 points off top 4. He has to deliver top 6.
 
Trophies and league position don't matter this season unless it's relegation which is unlikely.

He needs to implement a clear style of play and not back track on it.

Identify the players who can play effectively in his system and those that can't so they are ready to be sold in the summer.
 
Avoid relegation
Get the best out of underperforming players
Identify deadwood. Sell well in the summer.
Begin to rebuild.
Try to win the EL.
 
Just expect some top performances, a clear direction of travel and a deep run in one of the cups.
 
So many other managers can instill a style of play and you can clearly see what they are doing early doors. Progress is clear. Slot, Maresca, Ange, Emery in recent years alone.

Enough of this “it could take years” nonsense. He should be aiming for top 4, and if he falls just short, it should be nailed on for next season.

Top managers make progress year on year and Amorim should be no different. Top 4 should still be a target with EL qualification being the minimum expectation while playing better football.
 
Thorough examination of the squad in readiness for culling or keeping; not just rinsing favourites and giving others little chance to stake a claim.
 
Minimum
- Get the players playing and fighting for the club. More intensity and less injuries.
- Build an identity and improve players by coaching

Maximum
- Qualify for champions league and win a trophy
 
Less trashing from opponents, dropping underperforming players, more pattern of play and a few of comfortable victories at Old Trafford.
 
Bastian said:
  • Know who to bin in summer
  • Drop every player not working hard enough for the team
  • Build performances over the next 6 months
Click to expand...
Pretty much this. I don't think we have the personnel to get top 4 anyways right now barring Amad turning into Foden for us and Hojlund making huge improvements, so I'll go with the above criteria and a solid run in Europa.

Would like to see some youth experimentation too in the new system since many of the current players don't seem to fit great.
 
Fortitude said:
Thorough examination of the squad in readiness for culling or keeping; not just rinsing favourites and giving others little chance to stake a claim.
Click to expand...
This has been secretly one of the biggest issues of our past managers honestly. Lack of meritocracy in performances/selection. If a player is playing poorly he should be dropped and someone else given a solid chance. It's not like we have anyone that's such a superstar level performer that it's worth "sticking with them" through terrible form in hopes they figure it out.
 
It's a prep season there is no minimum expectation, unless of course we look like we might get relegated.

If we're asking what the minimum is to go into next season with any hope then it's improved performance and a basic understanding of the system (from most players).
 
For Ten Hag it was 5th, but changing mid season it's never good. However Amorim is fortunate to have a full and settled squad so I will say 6th in the PL. The cups are a bit of a lottery but one of the domestic cups would be a bonus. Europe should be a priority for a place in the CL.
 
How the tune has changed from when 90% of this forum attacked Ole for saying that mickey mouse cups don't necessarily mean real progression. Too many flip-floppers
 
  1. Identity: a clear playing style.
  2. Improved fitness: player running metrics up significantly and players able to handle the intensity for 90 minutes
  3. Reduced injuries as per point 2, reduced injuries due to players being fitter (eg muscle problems that seem to plague the squad).
  4. Improvement in performances (as per 1, 2 and 3)
  5. Players adaptation to the new style by around February with battling for top 4-6.
Those should be the targets, ignore the league position focus on building the foundation.
 
Looking like we know how to play his system, I can forgive individual mistakes and a lack of ability/fitness, but all the players are good enough to at least know what they should be doing after half a season.
 
A playing style. A basis, something to build upon.

Drop anyone that isn't on board.

Having a clear understanding of who needs to leave the club in the summer.
 
To drop players who simply aren't good enough. Start with Rashford and Bruno.

That would make him the first manager since Fergie who actually made some big decisions that would make a real difference.

Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo, which many will argue was a big decision. In all honesty I don't think Ronaldo wanted to play for this awful team, so he effectively forced a move.
 
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