RUBEN AMORIM promised in his first press conference that we would see ‘an idea’ of his methods and approach at Ipswich – and it took just 81 seconds!
Marcus Rashford may have got the manager off to a flier, but there is clearly lots more work to do.
Here, presenter of our brilliant new YouTube show Tactics Exposed, Dean Scoggins gives a tactical rundown of Amorim‘s first game.
As expected, Amorim went for his tried and tested 3-4-3 formation. Rashford led the line with two ‘inside forwards’ playing around him.
The three defenders were very much centre-backs and were very structured – especially when playing out from the back.
The system relies on a huge amount of running from the wing-backs and midfield two.
Perhaps surprisingly, it was Noussair Mazraoui chosen in defence with Diogo Dalot then at left wing-back.
It is obvious this is the system Amorim believes in.
Despite the early goal, there was still a lack of creativity but he has had just a week on the training ground.
Amorim said: “The system is not the concern, everyone is talking about it – but it’s the players understanding how were are going to play, not their positions.”
Amorim started with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the centre of the field.
Despite them clearly being drilled to stay close and work together, they were caught numerous times in transition and looked short of legs to play in these roles.
The two experienced players looked unsure if they were pushing up behind their attacking players, or sitting deep in front of the defence and Ipswich‘s best moments in the first half came from those two being neither up or back.
It looked far more natural when Manuel Ugarte came on and was later partnered by Bruno Fernandes, they worked better as a pair and pressed higher to put more pressure on the Town midfield.
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IN theory at least, the only way is up for Manchester United, writes Charlie Wyett.
We are nearly a third of the way through this Premier League season and it is still staggering to see United lurking in 12th place.
They have managed just four wins with a goal difference of 0. Only Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored less.
It is certainly not a false position and a point at Ipswich illustrated the massive job that Ruben Amorim faces.
United’s fans sang the name of their new manager throughout the game.
They also gave the players rapturous applause on the final whistle and although this was an improvement on some of the performances this season, the bar has been set pretty low.
The club’s optimistic supporters will see that their team is only six points off the top four. Ultimately, though, it is difficult to see United even reaching last season’s final position of eighth as they look worse.
United’s patched-up defence will improve – and a three-man formation at the back will help them – but you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from. Marcus Rashford struck after 81 seconds and then went missing for the rest of his 68 minutes on the pitch.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were also introduced in that double change midway inside the second half but added absolutely nothing. What a terrible couple of signings they have proved to be and United’s fans would swap both of them for Ipswich’s Liam Delap.
Amorim did not celebrate the Rashford goal and paced around his technical area throughout looking uneasy.
Each time there was a break in play, he called over players for instructions.
Alejandro Garnacho headed over to the touchline on a couple of occasions while there were also words for Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and Jonny Evans.
Amorim, a manager with infectious enthusiasm, will be hopeful he can get his message across to all of the players in the next few weeks.
But the problem for the Portuguese coach is that this was the first of 10 games in the space of 33 days.
What he really needs are spells on the training ground without a midweek game but he does not have that luxury.
The role Amorim wants his ‘inside forwards’ to play is not quite as a No10.. but these are the playmakers.
Four players got the chance to be in those positions and none of them really made an impact on the game.
Amorim said his players were ‘thinking too much’ and that was clear as they didn’t have an instinctive view on when to run in behind and when to drop deep to receive the ball.
The Portuguese coach likes these players to be ‘different’ in that one is more of a traditional No10 and the other makes runs in behind.
Garnacho made lots of runs but was barely found, Bruno linked play well in the early stages but was often touching the ball in deep areas that gave no danger to Ipswich.
Amorim brought on Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount as fresh legs in these positions but with little joy.
It will be these positions that take the most work.
Ivorian winger Amad got a new position at right wing-back.
Again, Amorim likes to have different profiles of player on each side and Amad is the direct runner, whilst Dalot is more of a traditional full-back and cuts inside on his right foot from left wing-back.
Amad started the game superbly with the bursting run to set up Rashford for the goal – and it is this type of direct running that Amorim loves.
But the intensity dropped and Amad spent more time in a traditional right-back position and lots of time defending rather than attacking.
He had some bursts in the second half, but it was from far too deep to create any more clear chances.
The No9 position is going to be hotly debated, it’s clear that this player has to work VERY hard, running the channels and creating space for the other forwards around him.
Obviously Rashford got the dream start – but it went quickly downhill from there and he struggled physically and to get back into the game.
The press looked disorganised too – but Amorim has had only a couple of days on the training ground.
Hojlund looked a far more natural fit for what Amorim wants.. this player must come to feet, be physical with centre-backs and then spin and get in the box for crosses.. more of an old-school No9.
MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich.
Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross.
But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson’s strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui.
And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half.
Here is how SunSport’s Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players…
ANDRE ONANA – 7/10
United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal.
Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 5
Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 5
Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap.
JONNY EVANS – 5
The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced.
AMAD DIALLO – 6
Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 5
Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three.
CASEMIRO – 4
Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor.
Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot.
DIOGO DALOT – 5
Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 5
Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man.
Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions.
Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 6
Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics – but did not offer much after that.
Subs
Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) – 6
Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) – 6
Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) – 5
Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) – 5
Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) – 5
