I think we’ve seen enough now to judge where Manchester United is under Amorim.
In terms of how the side is playing, we look to have a better shape, more control and we are starting to create better quality chances on a consistent basis.
The early signs are good. So what are the issues?
1. Quality in the final third. We still have a tendency to take low chance shots over passing to a player in a better position. We see this in high shot numbers, but low goals scored as well as a lower than expected xG value (for the number of shots taken) . This does seem to be more of a personnel problem than anything. Players who naturally play with their head down and on instinct rather than to a tactical philosophy.
We are seeing that Amorim is trying to address this issue (dropping the two biggest culprits – Rashford and Garnacho). The problem is that they are also two of our biggest chances creators through their running at the opposition.
What we need is to replace them with players who better suit the system (ultimately higher quality players) . We need a CF who can play with their back to goal and create chances (this is something Højlund is improving, but he needs competition as we can’t rely on just the one CF). We also need a hybrid No.10/ wide player. Someone who will run at the opposition and create chances, but who plays with intelligence, with their head up and who doesn’t give the ball away or waste good opportunities by taking low chance shots.
Maybe Garnacho can be moulded into this player, but it depends on his ability to listen, take on board instructions and learn. The issue is the other options we have for that inside forward positions tend to be passers rather than runners. With the exception of Amad, who either looked better at wingback, or the team played better when he was at wingback.
Amad offers us balance when he plays wingback, something we lack currently when he’s moved or not played. He could be the solution at inside forward if we can get quality wingbacks in to give the side balance when he isn’t being played there.
2. The lack of quality wingbacks is a real issue, especially at LWB. Personally I like Amad at RWB, and he could make that his position. While Mazraoui and Dalot (when in better form) offer more defensive options. We could do with two LWB’s in my opinion. I’d probably look to bring Alvaro Fernandez back in January on the buyback clause we have as a cheap solution. Then look at another option in the summer when we should have more funds available. Selling both Shaw and Malacia who don’t look up to it.
3. Individual errors and a lack of aerial ability in defence. The individual errors can be put down to both the players learning the new system and the rotation that has been required not allowing for a settled defence. I’d expect to see these decrease as the season wares on. The issue with our aerial vulnerability can be most obviously seen at set-plays. We seem to lack aggression in fighting to win the ball. We are far too passive in how we defend. Again, that might in part be down to players being slightly unsure about where they need to be and what they need to do in the new system. Worried about stepping out of line and leaving space vacant, meaning they are always a step behind when eventually deciding to go for the ball.
There is also the issue that not all of our “CB’s” are great or comfortable in the air. On the ball Martinez has been pretty good, boarding on excellent at times this season. Off the ball though he has been somewhere between average and very poor. Positionally, he doesn’t seem quite sure on what is expected of him, sometimes rushing out to win the ball and others dropping off when he needs to engage. While his channel defending has been exposed, he isn’t the quickest or the best in 1v1 duels. He looks more suited to playing at the central CB in this system, however he does lack the aerial dominance needed.
With Martinez in the back three, we will need to have the other two CBs being very good aerially, along with at least one wingback and one of the midfielders. Players who can drop in to defend the box during set plays rather than relying on Martinez, who gets targeted by the opposition.
Ultimately however, I think Martinez might need replacing in the starting 11 for a CB who is better at defending the channels and is more aerially dominant. Even if that comes at a cost to them being not as good on the ball.
4. The final issue is the lack of dominance in midfield. Ugarte has been growing in confidence every game. He is ideal and easily the first name on the team sheet in midfield. The problem seems to be finding the right partner for him. Mainoo on paper looks a good fit, but he hasn’t yet found his form from last season. Which isn’t too surprising, giving his age and lack of experience. You expecting inconsistency with young players like him. Although he does look like he will need to grow into his body a bit more and improve his stamina and physicality to suit Amorim’s demands in midfield.
Like I said when discussing the defence, we could do with a more imposing midfielder who can win the aerial balls with more consistency. While I wasn’t a fan of signing him for EtH, Amadou Onana would have been a smart pick in the summer for an Amorim system. But to play alongside an Ugarte not instead of.
Also if we do replace Martinez in the back line for a player better suited to the defending this system requires, they will likely be less capable on the ball, in which case we will need a midfielder who is more progressive to make up for that loss.
Until we resolve these issues (all of which will require new players, either bought or from the academy) to improve these aspects of the team and our performances. Interestingly, Amorim has started going to more academy games, which suggests he is looking to see which youngsters he could bring into help solve some of these issues.
However, ultimately you can’t make a silk purse from a sows ears.
So now it’s over to the club hierarchy to give Amorim the support he needs. It’s a tough ask given the clubs financial position, they seem to pushing to find a solution to Rashford, who would bring in cash considered to be pure profit (due to him being a former academy player), while also removing a significant wage from the books. Others who could be on their way in January include Erikson, who’ll bring little to nothing in, but remove another big wage. While we could look to move on a few on loan such as Antony, with hope of them finding some form and drumming up interest for the summer. While players like Lindelof could also be moved on if there is interest.
The club needs to find a solution at LWB this January, along with another option in the forward line who is more suited to the system. Even if that is a loan for now. Someone like Nkunku from Chelsea could potentially be available, and he seems well suited. Maybe a loan with an option to buy, that could ultimately lead to a swap deal with Sancho would be ideal even if unlikely given Sancho’s less than stellar form for his boyhood club.
The CF, CB and CM positions are likely going to have to wait until the summer both due to a lack of availablity of good candidates and costs
A good January would see us selling Rashford for a decent fee, and move on players like Eriksen and Lindelof to reduce the wage bill. Along with loaning out one or two players who aren’t seen as essential.
Then signing someone like Alvaro Fernandez, if money and top targets aren’t available in January. Along with bringing in a creative forward most likely on loan given our situation.
We will then have to see if we can improve the players we have, or find solutions from the academy until the summer at least. At which point we will need another clear out of 5-8 players who either aren’t good enough or don’t suit how we want to play, with another 3-4 top quality, well suited, smart signings.
Only then will we start to see what Amorim is building on a more consistent basis and at a higher quality than we are seeing now.
Written by Shappy December 24 2024 17:32:04
