This next match against Arsenal is perhaps coming a little too soon for the new system, which is looking more positive with every match. If anything, it will be a great opportunity to see what Amorim’s definitive preferred 11 is.
It would be, but both Mainoo and Martinez are suspended, so he can't really as I expect both would be in that. Annoyingly. But, we've got options to fill in. Shaw can fill in for Martinez, for instance. Plus either Casemiro, Eriksen, Ugarte can all play where Mainoo would. All of a sudden, we've got players who were crying out for a decent formation and way of playing able to fit in wherever. I've always thought we should play a back 3/5 with the players we have, but Amorim adds so much more detail to that basic premise.
This is precisely what ETH lacked. Simply saying something like “we need more intensity” is not telling the players how to achieve it. The team needed that detailed method to achieve the aims. Of course it is still very early days for Amorim, but there is no doubt we have badly underachieved over the last few years given the pool of talents in the team.
It is very early but he has already instilled a system and understanding in the players. Now we need the players to behave and ignore those that have strops because they are dropped against certain teams/styles or because they are out of form.
That’s exactly where we need to be again. No player should think they are guaranteed starting games if their form is not consistent. Let them compete for places! Heck, even Shaw is somehow fit and ready to play.
As much as I like Shaw and admire his drive to regain fitness from his horrendous leg break and a string of problems since, I'm afraid his time is up and we need a replacement as a priority to give us the balance that Amorim's system requires
100%! He is effectively a liability at this point. You can’t keep a player that will get injured as soon as he becomes fit again.
His strongest at the moment but just look at our bench - suddenly we've pretty much got another first team sitting there.
What does everyone make of that last game? Importantly, do we think 3-5-2 is the answer in the premier league? Ultimately, we shot ourself in the foot with that second goal. But I don’t think we can read too much into the game other than the fact that we are poor in the back against aerial deliveries.
I don't think the formation contributed to any of the goals. Zonal defending and ****e goal keeping did that. I think a back three with wing backs is a very attacking and fluid way to play football. I like it. We do need very good wing backs for that mind. I think Mazaroui could play the right WB role. If we could patch up Shaw, he could play the left WB role. Beyond that, we don't have the players. Much as I do actually like Dalot, his positioning and defending are very poor and his final ball not much better. Malacia not good or robust enough either. The back three should work, although am starting to think Maguire a better bet than de Ligt in the middle. Yoro looks the part as the right side of the three, hopefully Martinez just having a blip on the left. We should be able to fill the middle of the midfield with two of Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro. Eriksen till end of the season too. And we should be able to find a decent front three from Amad, Hojlund, Fernandes, Mount, Garnacho. Antony and Zirkzee, at a push, could also come in. I wouldn't blink if Rashford never plays another second for us again though. The keeper needs changing too, he costs too many goals.
It’s great to see Antony getting a chance. The changes made yesterday may also serve as clear indication of the way forward for the team without Rashford. Loved the response from Amorim when asked about Hojlund and Amad clash. The players to start showing character that they care.
As things stand, with City losing again at Villa, if we can win against Bournemouth we will be just one place behind the mighty Citeh in the table
It’s actually a measure of how poor we have been given at how many games they’ve lost. The only thing that matters is how far we are from the top of the table which is extremely damning.
Well I would say the only thing the matters is where we are at the end of the season tbh. If we continue to improve and chip away, be more than happy with a top six finish this season. We should pursue a cup as well, with Europe League being the obvious priority rarget.
