Manchester United Review: Can Ruben Amorim save United?

      I will reviewing Manchester United in this article, evaluating the team style of play, the team strength and potential players for Fantasy Premier League team. Finishing 15th last season. What happen to United? Where is the problem? Can Ruben Amorim save United?

Ruben Amorim-Wikipedia

Manchester United

How United did in the transfer window? 

Four key players leaving the club, two are defenders, one midfielder and one striker:

• Christian Eriksen - Released - Midfielder
• Jonny Evans - Retired - Center Back
• Victor Lindelof - Released - Center Back
• Marcus Rashford - Barcelona - Loan - Forward

The new five transfer in are:

• Matheus Cunha - Wolverhampton Wanderers - Permanent - Forward
• Enzo Kana-Biyik - Le Havre (free agent) - Permanent - Young U19 Forward-Loaned out
• Diego Leon - Cerro Porteno - Permanent - Young U19 Fullback
• Bryan Mbeumo - Brentford - Permanent - Forward
• Benjamin Sesko - RB Leipzig - Permanent - Forward

   If we look at this, this is unbalance transfer, two Center Back leaving the club but no transfer in for new first team Center Back as the replacement or backup to current Center Back.

   Diego Leon has potential to making his first debut as he already had senior experiences in previous league but he is a full back, not a center back. United already have a very reliable selection for full back. Led by Diogo Dalot £4.5m, Amad Diallo , Patrick Dorgu, and Mazraoui.

Diogo Dalot

The Manager - Ruben Amorim

   Amorim taking over as United head coach on 11th November 2024 last season trying to switch from united traditional 4231 formation to his new modern tactical approach 3421.

   Before joining united, he had a very good record with Sporting CP football club, grabbing league title and few other title.

   As of now he had managed 30 league games, recorded 8 win, 7 draw, and 15 lost. This is really a bad record and no positive impact for his arrival to united. We will analyse deeper through out this review.

   But before that i have spot on second issue on why not immediate positive impact to league games under Amorim, it was the differential type of club resources.

Sporting CP : Are well known as talent producer club for it ability in exposing new youngsters to high level competitive games. Taking Cristiano Ronaldo for the example, at 14 already play in youth semi-pro league and then play as regular Sporting first team at the age of 17. So at 19 most Sporting CP players already had a full season senior experience competing with senior players.

Manchester United : United are totally different club, they are not a talent producer and youth team are not exposed much to high level matches. Traditionally united buy high talented player from other club.

Footballer Database

So that is another issue, Ruben Amorim don't have big talent resources as he had in Sporting. as per record he had promoted more than 10 youth from Sporting youth academy to the main squad.

Tactical Style

   Ruben Amorim tactical favorite are modern 3421, high mobility football, fast tempo and narrow and wide positioning. Three center back need very good with ball control and passing, will drop deep to create space for the midfielders. Need strong physical, fast and strong aerial ability too because no compactness as "gegenpressing" football mean the center back need to do their task on their own. Will be low defensive support from defensive midfielder.

   The fullbacks will be the key of success and require most stamina and mobility in Amorim tactical, as the player need to cover the most wide area defensively and also overlapping run on attacking situation and creating goal opportunity.

   Two midfielders will play as box to box midfielder to linking the defend and attack, creating space to receive ball.

   Another two attacking midfielder upfront will be more focus on making attacking movement, running and dribbling to create scoring opportunity.

   Lastly, the solo striker who is like a classic forward that require both physical strength and strong scoring technical ability.

I will call this tactic as "Modern High Mobility Football 3421", this tactic strengths are:

• Counter attacking goals increased
• Conceding less chance because defenders drop deeper
• More scoring chances
• Entertaining fast football
• Young players will get more chance to play and get exposure

The biggest challenges faced by Amorim are to matching his tactical with a matured players at United. I have found out two of the main challenges:

1. Unsolved Center Back reliability issue
2. Low mobility and scoring ability of the strike forces

Unsolved Center Back reliability issue?

   Amorin Modern High Mobility Football 3421 will require 3 high mobility center back to be effective. Most of the time United will start with Matthijs de Ligt as the center CB, Leny Yoro as right CB, and Luke Shaw at the left side.

   As we can see the 26 Matthijs de Ligt are the best performer among them, followed by the 19 years old Yoro, and Luke Shaw the lowest. Yoro are performing well but Luke Shaw as we know he is a full back, but Amorim put him as center back.

Reviewing them in term of Aerials Dual Won, Loke Shaw are the lowest:

• Matthijs de Ligt - 5.7
• Leny Yoro - 3
• Luke Shaw - 2.3

Clearance Made:

• Matthijs de Ligt - 5.3
• Leny Yoro - 4.3
• Luke Shaw - 2

These data conclude that the weakest point in United defense are Luke Shaw.

Manchester United first 11 - Whoscored

Is there any other option in the substitution?

• Harry Maguire, 32 years old - possibly low mobility.
• Ayden Heaven, 18 years old CB - lesser experience and exposure than Yoro.
• Casemiro, 33 years old - can play as CB but low mobility and United need him as midfielder.

   Looking at this list, i don't see any standout CB to be bring in to replace Luke Shaw. If united cannot get a new reliable center back either from transfer window or youth academy. It will be tougher for Amorim to get through the season with limited reliable option in his squad.

Low mobility and scoring ability of the strike forces

   Amorim are well aware of the issue with United strike forces, that is the reason behind the 3 attacker transfer in. Amorim attacking philosophy are focusing more on attack from the middle of field. The attacking move will depend on the two attacking midfielders and single striker and they also need to be very fluid and high mobility.

• Matheus Cunha - 4 games played(No goal/assist)
• Bryan Mbeumo - 4 games played(2 goals/ 0 assist)
• Benjamin Sesko - 3 games played(No goal/assist)
• Mason Mount - 4 games played(0 goal/ 1 assist)

Combining stats from all the attackers, only 2 goals and 1 assist recorded.

The Conclusions

We have identified key issue:

• Unbalance transfer.
• The differential type of club resources.
• The biggest challenges faced by Amorim are to matching his tactical with a matured players at United.
• Unsolved Center Back reliability issue.
• Low mobility and scoring ability of the strike forces.

With all these challenges faced by Amorim and Manchester United, do you think what is the solutions?

Recommended Key Players

   Diogo Dalot at £4.5m could be the solutions to enter United asset when they have favorable fixtures.

Difficulty Table

However the next 6 fixtures will have Man.City, Chelsea and Liverpool, which are low potential for clean sheet. Unless only one game at home against Sunderland. Read more about Sunderland review.

We hope this review has been helpful and if you like this kind of review please like and share or leave a comment so we can prepare to review the next team. We'll be back soon with more tips, so stay tuned!

Don't forget to checkout our new Difficulty Table and Injury and Suspension list.