Manchester United

Maradona37

Well-known member
Think this was mainly because Mainoo was suspended against Arsenal.

Ugarte-Mainoo will be Amorim's first choice DM/CM pair when available imo. They don't have depth behind them though as I don't see Amorim counting on Casemiro and Eriksen beyond this season. Wouldn't even surprise me if they will try to ship Case to Saudis in January and bring another midfielder. They also have this Collyer kid who they've signed from Brighton (so he must be good!) few years ago but he has played only one half of PL football so far in his career (interestingly against Liverpool). Don't know his level but should probably be loaned to a Championship/League 1 team to earn some experience.
Fair point which I overlooked. Just think Casemiro in his natural position would have been a better bet. Fernandes was quite disciplined in first half but reverted to hero ball in second. It will likely be Mainoo and Ugarte but they don't have any depth as you say. Eriksen is a lovely footballer but has lost any physicality he did have for understandable reasons.

Mainoo will likely come in aye. I have seen Collyer play several times - he looks a trier but not enough quality to start for a top six team. However, I acnowledge I am biased against United, and that he is still pretty young.
 

Messi983

Senior Member
Casemiro and Ugarte are both destroyers who are not that good on the ball. It's true in Sporting he used Hjulmand and Morita together but I think in this game Amorim wanted to have a bit more control, keep possesion and don't concede and tbf his plan worked quite well in 1st half. Another reason is probably that Bruno has more legs than Case or Eriksen.

I also think Amorim is using these early games to experiment and trying out different players. He also played Malacia who is nowhere near close ready enough to start against a top team but he wants to see what he has in current team before potentially going to market in January.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Yes, that is why i don't really like Ugarte and am not convinced about him. But we'll see, will give the lad a chance and see if he proves me wrong. Time will tell.

I get your point but Fernandes doesn't control games either really - he gives the ball away as much as Casemiro if not more, he's just more likely to play the odd brilliant ball too, as he does have a great pass in his locker. You're right too he has more legs. Most of their possession first half was generally in their own third too. I know what you are saying though and that they kept Arsenal at arm's length. As you say none of those three is a particularly good option and he had to just put Fernandes there as a band aid.

I agree fully with the second paragraph. Tbh I have already said I am biased against them but I think their squad is mid-table standard really. Amorim looks a very good coach (I agree with you on that) but he cannot work miracles. I don't know if they can afford to go to market either - they make loads of money but their spending might finally be catching up with them in PSR.

Anyway, I hope they continue to struggle as I despise them as a club and find their circus/soap opera way of being very funny. But I am a fair guy and will give them credit if and when they do well. Like you said they did well first half the other day, but the other side of that is they had to forego basically all attacking threat (other than the Dalot chance first half) to keep Arsenal at bay. They need to find a balance between being good both defensively and offensively, but their attackers are pretty poor so I don't think they can, really.

One thing I will say is I think Amad is a good player and I thought he'd be used in the two behind the striker, not as a wing-back. He's been fairly impressive so far so maybe Amorim knows what he is doing, but I think he could play the Marcus Edwards role too.

In general though I agree a good amount with what you said.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Diallo is their only good player, imo. Maybe Mazraoui too. Eriksen is talented but has no legs.

The rest are absolute non-entities who range from average to absolutely awful. Mainoo, Garnacho and Holjund is the most overrated 'young trio' I have ever seen in football - no lies. I wouldn't be surprised if all three are playing for mid table clubs in 7 or 8 years. If all three are at United, United will still be struggling.
 

El Gato

Villarato!
Cant be simping for Liverpool and claiming anything about overrated players
That team has been chuckfull of shite players
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Cant be simping for Liverpool and claiming anything about overrated players
That team has been chuckfull of shite players
where do I simp for Liverpool? How many times have I told you I don't like them as a club, would rather Barca, Dortmund, Brighton and so on destroyed them. I simply prefer them to United, probably City, and Arsenal. That isn't the same as liking them. I hated them for many years because of my hatred for Gerrard - I simply rate their team now. How many guys who like Liverpool hate Gerrard like I do?

Also, have you been living under a rock this season and the last 7/8 years? Liverpool have been miles better than United. Your own Real Madrid have plenty poor players so take your own advice about claiming anything. What United players are as good as Alisson, Van Dijk, Trent, Konate, Robbo (pre decline), Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Salah?

Apparently I can't say Liverpool have better players than United despite the fact they've been miles better since 2018 and are miles ahead of United in the table now
:lol:
 

soul24rage

Senior Member
I haven't been following this club for a while, but the incredibly bad management from the top management has been absolutely horrendous.

Each manager that they hired has their own style which differ a lot from one another and it's a huge wonder how this club can function. Doesn't seem like INEOS knows what they are doing atm.

If I were Amorim, I would ditch the 343 formation. This team does not even have the players nor time to implement a completely different formation and style. Worry about the latter doing the summer.

This would be my lineup

433

Onana---Mazraoui, Yoro, De Ligt, Lisandro---Ugarte, Collyer, Mainoo---Amad, Hojlund, Garnacho
 

Temptation

Well-known member
I haven't been following this club for a while, but the incredibly bad management from the top management has been absolutely horrendous.

Each manager that they hired has their own style which differ a lot from one another and it's a huge wonder how this club can function. Doesn't seem like INEOS knows what they are doing atm.

If I were Amorim, I would ditch the 343 formation. This team does not even have the players nor time to implement a completely different formation and style. Worry about the latter doing the summer.

This would be my lineup

433

Onana---Mazraoui, Yoro, De Ligt, Lisandro---Ugarte, Collyer, Mainoo---Amad, Hojlund, Garnacho
That's a 10th in the PL lineup buddy. Conference League level at best.
 

Ter Stature

Active member
They just don't have a single creative midfielder.
Seem like their scouts thought midfielders are just supposed to run and pass sideways.

You can shit on their strikers, but both barely get chances unlike Lewandowski.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
I hate them, but have to say I felt bad for Zirkzee the other night. He was poor but so was the rest of the team and he didn't deserve to be cheered off the park. No wonder he originally went to the dressing room rather than watch from the dug out.

I don't think he is good enough, and their matchgoing fans tend to be very patient, but it was a poor move on their part.
 

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