Palhinha’s not the only one cooling the seat under the other Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim. His team looks absolutely lost in the Premier League of late. Amorim’s creative squad Nearly a year into his tenure, Amorim has yet to string together two straight league wins. This record would normally be regarded as “unthinkable” for a club of Manchester United’s size. Former player and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson thinks Amorim’s tactical system and preferences conflict too much with the current squad’s abilities. For this reason, he argues, Chelsea might have been the best match for the coach after all.
Opposition to Amorim’s tactics has grown as Manchester United has continued to struggle. Merson highlighted the lack of quality in the team’s wing-back positions. He raises alarms about player adaptabilities in Amorim’s system. This disconnect has grave consequences. Now, direct rivals like Liverpool and Everton have opened up a pandora’s box of issues within United’s structure.
Amorim’s Tactical Approach Under Scrutiny
Amorim’s vision for Manchester United would be a radical departure from the typical Premier League set up. His approach has not worked as he would have liked. That leaves one to wonder how well he’ll pivot in a changing game and maximize the talents of the players he has on hand.
Merson pointed out that Amorim has not yet settled on an effective lineup, stating, “I just wish he would change it every now and then and adapt to the personnel he’s got available.” He highlighted the painful uncertainty around who the superior team is. This is especially concerning considering the defensive line’s up and down efforts.
The former professional believes that Amorim’s preference for a specific style undermines the team’s potential. “Ruben Amorim, the way he wants to play, is a worry,” Merson noted. This sentiment gleans a larger concern about whether Amorim, in the long term, will be able to round up the melting pot of talents in his squad.
Chelsea: A Missed Opportunity for Amorim
According to Merson’s analysis, Chelsea would’ve made far more sense for Amorim. In that environment, his tactical philosophy could really take off with the right players at his disposal. He pointed out that Chelsea have two world-class wing-backs in Reece James and Malo Gusto, which fit Amorim’s attacking playing style.
“He would have been a perfect fit for Chelsea,” Merson stated, emphasizing that Chelsea boasts “the best holding midfield player in the league in Moises Caicedo.” The implication is clear: Amorim’s system may be better suited to clubs with players who can execute his strategies effectively, rather than the current Manchester United lineup.
That difference in the tactical fits realized serves to highlight a key area of development that must become a focus for Amorim. Without the right players, making his vision a reality will become more and more challenging.
The Bigger Picture: League Dynamics and Rival Teams
Manchester United’s troubles arrive against a backdrop of an increasingly competitive Premier League. Merson highlighted another unfamiliar weakness within Liverpool’s defence. He announced, “Teams are finding out Liverpool,” a sign that even the mightiest of teams are now susceptible to this tactic.
On the upside, he stressed what Everton are beginning to develop – they have the potential to frighten teams with their attacking threat. “For the first time in a long time, Everton play Liverpool and they’ve got weapons,” he explained, referencing the effective trio of Ndiaye, Grealish, and Dewsbury-Hall.
Merson stressed that it was recently that Arsenal’s quality really shone through. Most remarkable about the depth has been their absences to essential players like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. They were just as excellent in the first half at Anfield, he noted, arguing that Arsenal’s squad and attacking approach this year could prove decisive in a potential title fight.
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