Amorim's United
Amorim's problems at United were ideological rather than executional, from a build up that sacrificed a player and tried to go around or over the block to the same flaws showing up against Arsenal, Fulham and Grimsby alike.
The posts
- Opinion Carrick's struggles don't vindicate Amorim or Ten Hag The nostalgia for the previous two managers ignores that their problems were ideological, not executional, and that recruitment was built around the same flaws.
- Opinion United are repeating their Hojlund mistake with Sesko Bought for direct GK to CF progression and duels for long balls, Sesko is now used as a deep passing outlet in an unbalanced team.
- Tactical analysis How Amorim adapted Three pragmatic changes — direct progression from the goalkeeper, Amad restored at right wing-back, and a more compact out-of-possession shape.
- Tactical analysis United gone long Long passes have doubled and own-third touches have collapsed: the numbers behind United's direct build-up, and its limits against compact blocks.
- Match analysis Are Grimsby better than Arsenal? Arsenal pressed high but passively, Fulham refused the bait and overloaded midfield, Grimsby pressed man-to-man: one system, three different results.
- Longform The Mainoo Problem Mainoo's value sits in receiving under pressure and turning out of it, the connector function Amorim's pivot partner for Bruno is not being asked to provide.
- Match analysis United’s flat back line: How West Ham exposed a serious flaw A single West Ham goal in a friendly shows how United's flat 5atb block, with a deep DM in front of it, collapses the moment the front line steps up.
- Tactical analysis Amorim's build up: the fatal flaw The inverted centre-back is only part of it: why Amorim's goal-kick structure fails in a league where 47% of games come against elite pressing sides.
- Opinion Amorim should be judged on adaptation, not replication The back 3, the wingbacks and where Bruno fits are the wrong questions; the real ones concern risk-reward, pressing structure and whether his model can evolve here.