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Ruben Amorim is reportedly set to take over as manager after Erik Ten Hag was sacked as manager of Manchester United, and the Portuguese tactician thinks about what he will do with the players at his disposal. It’s very interesting to do.
Ten Hag spent quite a bit of money building a team to suit his style of play, but after more than half a billion pounds that style failed to materialize as his galaxy of stars routinely failed to deliver.
Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon team currently sits first in the Primeira Liga table with a goal difference of +28. That’s a far cry from 14th-place United’s dismal GD (-3).
Under the 39-year-old, Sporting have already scored an astonishing 30 goals, conceded just two and are 50% ahead of Premier League leaders Manchester City (albeit in a less competitive division).
So Amorim will have his work cut out for him to carry on at Old Trafford what he left off at Éstadio José Alvalade. But there is no doubt that United’s resources can be flexed to replicate his exciting brand of possession-based football.
The manager is known for running a 3-4-3 formation, with marauding full-backs linking up with ball-playing centre-backs in the first third and running a high defensive line when the opposition have the ball.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana is certain to keep his place. In addition to being named United’s Player of the Season so far, he is unrivaled on the ball and a dream for any manager looking to build a defence.
United have a variety of options at centre-back, but the most logical trio when they are all fit would be Lisandro Martinez on the left, young Leni Lloro on the right and Matthias de Ligt in between.
All three have come through well, but with Yoro yet to make a competitive start for the Red Devils and still sidelined due to injury in pre-season, Amorim will no doubt look to more senior options such as Harry Maguire or Jonny Evans at an early stage. I will switch. , perhaps De Ligt may be the anchor pushed wide.
Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have confirmed the full-back spots until this season due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Both could impress going forward, and with none of United’s wingers likely to be good enough defensively, they would be obvious choices to play as wing-backs. That said, Shaw has a good offensive record and will be breathtaking as soon as he returns to health.
Perhaps the most difficult decision will be in the middle where United have a range of options when everyone is fit. Despite his youth, Kobbie Mainoo has developed into a player that almost no one can deny, and the Portuguese is no stranger to putting faith in youth, so we’ll go with him whenever he can.
Amorim’s arrival would be good news for the signing of Manuel Ugarte, who has struggled for minutes at Old Trafford this summer. He was brought in to replace Casemiro, but the Brazilian has moved closer to form and forced the Uruguayan to sit on the bench. On the team sheet, his days may be numbered with Amorim in the dugout.
The situation with the front three becomes interesting with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford likely to keep their places. Amorim is no stranger to making big decisions and will probably consider the following, but it’s hard to see the manager giving up on either one coming into the Old Trafford hot seat. Players like Amad need replacements.
The elephant in the room is Bruno Fernandes. He is a club captain who will not easily adapt to the 3-4-3 system that does away with the traditional number 10 role. Despite the frustrating interlude, the man ultimately became United’s talisman and could well reinvent himself as a wide-open option.
This is a position he has played in before and will certainly provide a different dimension to what Rashford or Garnacho can provide. Alternatively, he could provide a contrasting option in a deeper role, rotating alongside Mainoo.
Above, it’s hard to get past Rasmus Hojlund, United’s number 9 and arguably the strongest finisher of his time. Amorim is accustomed to top quality at the forefront of the attack, with Viktor Gyökeres playing a role like no other in Europe at Sporting at the moment, and while the Dane’s position is currently secure, he will quickly come under scrutiny if he fails. deliver
