Having allowed ample time to reflect on United’s 3-0 Manchester derby defeat, I’m no closer to gaining any semblance of peace.
The fallout among a fractured fanbase has been blazing through the night, as large sections of the United faithful have seen enough of Ruben Amorim and his tactical ideology.
On paper, there is little to nothing to offer in support for the former Sporting man, with eight Premier League wins from 31 attempts highlighting a harrowing 25.8% ratio.
Following the performance and result at the Etihad, early-season defeats to Arsenal and Grimsby have been hammered home—a 14th-place standing supplies a grim outlook.
It’s one thing to highlight the advancements in various metrics, from chances created to xG and time spent in the opposition half.
However, all of that counts for nothing if this system and the playing selection are incapable of putting the ball in the net. Inevitably, that is a recurring theme for the 40-year-old tactician.
Criticism is warranted, and frustration is expected by the Manchester United faithful
Please make no mistake, I have zero intention of creating an outstanding case for Amorim and his methodology. Still, I genuinely hope it works out for the Portuguese and his Manchester aspirations.
My reasoning stems from disdain for chopping and changing every 16 months, as each appointment grants less and less time to manufacture their vision.
Naturally, I don’t accept that what we have seen is good enough, nor am I happy settling for the improved statistics behind our losses. It is something to celebrate alongside the progression in results, not defeats.
Truthfully, United could have scored three or four yesterday, but City should have scored five.
Bryan Mbeumo was a bright light in attack, and although nothing went to plan for the Cameroonian, his efforts deserve recognition. He and Matheus Cunha appear to be standout acquisitions for this United rebuild.
But football is cruel, and the best teams will punish a hint of uncertainty, particularly with Erling Haaland in attack.
Amorim’s men outpassed (501 | 430) and out-tackled (23 | 13) Pep Guardiola’s outfit, but a calamity of individual errors supplied more than a couple of opportunities for a relentless City attack.
The sum of all parts leads us to an endless conversation about formation and what many believe is necessary to transition to a more familiar 4231 structure.
Again, on paper, the squad appears tailor-made to revert to the old setup, while banishing any suggestion of a three-person defensive wall. But that’s the problem with formations and the popularity of ‘Football Manager’; everybody thinks they have the solution.
This setup is not without blame or fault, and it often appears as though five things must work to reap the benefits, while one thing must go wrong to cause it to fail.
However, when I discuss this team, the players, and their abilities, I always veer toward the same opinion, and that stems from a psychological issue rather than a physical one.
Against Arsenal, a dominant display was swotted aside by an individual error. Craven Cottage saw similar frailties surface in surrendering a lead, while Burnley scored twice from three efforts on targets, both of which arrived on a silver platter.
Confidence is a funny thing, and goals in football return the ultimate boost. It’s not a coincidence that this side is devoid of the former.
Manchester United are a team lacking any form of belief or momentum, struggling to comply with the expectations of the world’s most demanding media and fanbase.
I agree that we need to see more, and Amorim should be open to reason, but I’m unwilling to ignore the glaring issues provided by the softest of individual underbellies.
For many, the solution is to disregard another manager, adopt a more forward-thinking approach, and capitalise on the squad we see today.
Still, many people fixate on narratives, and social supporters earn acclaim with endless support from armchair tacticians. However, the players are often disregarded in this conversation, and Marcus Rashford offered a glimpse into what is occurring on the ground.
“You see it with any team that’s been successful over a period of time,” Rashford told The Rest is Football podcast. “They have principles that any coach that comes in, any player that comes in, has to align to these principles or be able to add to these principles.
“Whereas at times I feel like United have just been – we’re hungry to win, so we’ll always try to adapt and to sign players that fit this system. But it’s reactionary.
“If your direction’s always changing, you can’t expect to be able to win the league. Yeah, you might win some cup tournaments, but it’s because you do have a good coach and you do have good players, and you have match winners in your team – you’re not there by accident.
“This is what some people forget. So yeah, we’ve been way below where we deem United to be. But then, if you take a step back, which I’ve been able to do, especially over the last six months, what do you expect?
“People say we’ve been in a transition for years. To be in a transition, you have to start the transition. So, it’s like the actual transition’s not started yet.”
As we are all too aware, football is an ever-changing beast, and the requirements at board level can shift in an instant.
However, despite the understandable discontent among a fractured Manchester United fanbase, our sources state that while Ineos officials are considerably concerned, they share Amorim’s belief that the side has been unfortunate in several key moments this campaign.
Whether that remains, we shall wait and see.
Let us know your thoughts about Ruben Amorim and the Manchester derby in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by Craig Thomas/News Images via depositphotos.com
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