The new manager of Manchester United — Ruben Amorim — has made a radical tactical switch. He departed from his once-beloved 3-4-2-1 setup. This change comes on the heels of two frustrating performances, in which the ten-woman team has given up six goals in two games. The shift in direction to change the structure of the system has been met with both hope and skepticism from football pundits and ex-players.
Amorim’s alteration in direction follows a waves of reproval from supporters after facing strong backlash for his defensive minded setup. During his time managing clubs on the continent, he became associated with a 3-4-2-1 set up, a formation he frequently leaned on as his managerial trademark. He’s taken a much more adaptable approach in the past few games. This decision has led to a lot of debate about how it could affect the team’s performance going forward.
Tactical Flexibility
In contrast to Amorim’s former go-to formations, the new system is a 3-4-3. In the past, he preferred 5/3/2 (or 3/5/2) formations with two midfielders, two wing-backs and three forwards. This flexibility has raised eyebrows among Manchester United supporters and pundits who have long debated the need for adaptability in modern football.
Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender turned TV commentator, was encouraged by Ruben Amorim’s tactical flexibility. As for all the changes and corrections made over the past week, he feels they put the team in a great position for success in the future.
“Ruben has given himself a blueprint to move forward after a notable change in style.” – Gary Neville
Even with all this optimism, the results on the pitch have still not shown up. Based on United’s last two matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, it’s clear there are glaring issues that need to be addressed.
Criticism and Concerns
Another Manchester United legend, Roy Keane, still isn’t buying what the team is selling, especially when they don’t have the ball. He went after their defense pretty brutally. Indeed, he characterized them as “one of the league’s worst teams” when they’re out of possession.
“Out of possession they’re one of the worst teams in the league. With the ball they’re good, but if you want to be a top footballer, it’s about what you do out of possession.” – Roy Keane
Keane emphasized the importance of hard work and commitment during challenging phases of matches, stating, “You can have all the talent in the world, but you have to roll your sleeves up and when the game gets a bit tight you say you’re going to do your bit for the team.”
On a wider level some attention was paid to the performances of Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot against Aston Villa. Their contributions will be important even after United heals up if United wants to fix some of the defensive weaknesses that have been their undoing of late.
Future Prospects
Looking forward, Manchester United have reached a watershed moment. They’ll be looking to those players coming back soon, currently playing in this years Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Simultaneously they pray for the recovery of those still nursing wounds. Vital members such as Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha, and Bruno Fernandes are set to make their returns. Their return will greatly increase the team’s attacking threat.
Neville is still optimistic about United’s chances of a fifth-place finish following recent disappointments. He said they’ve shot themselves in the foot multiple times by failing to win critical points during these last few weeks.
“Manchester United can still finish in the top five,” – Gary Neville.
This optimistic outlook hinges on Amorim’s ability to maintain his newfound tactical flexibility and improve the team’s defensive organization. We will have to wait for the upcoming fixtures to see if this change will result in better performance.
Leave a Reply