Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has some big decisions to make
Ruben Amorim knew he was accepting a difficult task when he took over Manchester United, but the scale of the rebuild required might have surprised even him.
Amorim has now taken charge of nine matches as United boss and his record reads: won four, lost four, drawn one, with 17 goals scored and 17 conceded. A 4-0 thrashing of an Everton side who have since looked solid and a 2-1 derby comeback win over Manchester City have shown promise, but the inconsistencies of the Erik ten Hag era remain present.
The 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Bournemouth on Sunday showed how much work needs to be done by the Portuguese and his coaching staff. The January transfer window offers a possible solution, but is a notoriously difficult time to do business – especially when you are seeking £40million for Marcus Rashford.
When contacted by United, Amorim suggested taking over at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, when he would have time to shape the squad during a rigorous pre-season. He was forced to jump ship from Sporting straight away and now needs to fast-track his work.
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Firstly, he needs to whittle down his squad to find the core to build around. Who is good enough to learn his tactical system? And who needs to be moved on at the soonest opportunity? Mirror Football writers have their say – and there’s a clear consensus.
Jeremy Cross
The saying goes that Rome wasn't built in a day – and Ruben Amorim faces one heck of a challenge when it comes to rebuilding Manchester United into the footballing empire it once was.
He has too much dead wood to deal with, and will have to make significant changes in personnel in the coming transfer windows. The likes of Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Joshua Zirkzee, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are either too old or not good enough to fit into Amorim's future plans.
In fact, current evidence suggests the only players capable of still having a long term future at Old Trafford seem to be Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho. Amorim needs some world-class midfielders and a proven striker. And the task in hand has to start in next month's transfer window.
Casemiro is among those Manchester United should sell (
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Getty Images)
Mike Walters
Rip it up and start again. Losing 3-0 at home to Bournemouth once is careless – to do it two seasons in a row is hopeless.
Of the shower Amorim inherited, nobody deserves to be safe. Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League, with a negative goal difference, almost halfway through the season because they have a mediocre squad and there are few players Amorim can trust.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana still has a blooper in him but he is not the root cause of United's problems, so Amorim should stick with him. But of the rest? Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo – who will come good despite a disappointing season – should make the cut.
Amad has been one of the rare bright sparks for Manchester United of late (
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But if Uncle Jim finds £200million down the back of the sofa and can shift the forest of dead wood to balance the books, Jarrad Branthwaite, Viktor Gyokeres and Tyler Dibling can't arrive soon enough.
Andy Dunn
When it comes to his squad, Ruben Amorin has the same sort of dilemma that faces Sir Jim Ratcliffe when it comes to the stadium. Try and improve it and modernise it … or demolish it and build a new one.
And perhaps both Manchester United – as in the playing staff – and Old Trafford are currently beyond meaningful refurbishment. Unfortunately, though, Amorim cannot rip it up and start again but the changes have to be as wholesale as they can possibly be.
And that is why it is a lot easier to list the players Amorim should insist on keeping rather than those who should be allowed – sorry, encouraged – to leave. Amorim should be keeping Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund.
In other words, less than half the squad. So many United players have been responsible for the mediocrity that is now embedded in the squad that not enough of them can be shown the door.
Alejandro Garnacho has a future at Manchester United (
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Getty Images)
Sam Meade
For Amorim it is, unfortunately, slim pickings. Amad Diallo proved in the Manchester derby that his potential has no ceiling and he needs to become a guaranteed starter sooner rather than later.
At the other end of the pitch Leny Yoro has looked accomplished in a team that are very much finding their feet. He was an investment for the future and, in his limited appearances, looks to have what it takes to become one of the best defenders in the league.
Amorim needs to decide if Manuel Ugarte has what it takes to cut it in England. The advantage is the Uruguayan knows the 3-4-3 system and has enjoyed success in it with Sporting Lisbon. If he can transition to the Premier League then he can form some kind of spine with Yoro and Amad. Decisions need to be made over whether Alejandro Garnacho has the attitude, temperament and desire to excel in an Amorim system. Bruno Fernandes, despite his age, still has a lot to offer.
Ben Husband
This problem is completely of the United hierarchy's making. Had they sacked Erik ten Hag when they should have, a new manager would have already had a summer to put their stamp on a terrible squad.
Instead, out of sheer incompetence they kept a manager already three quarters of the way down the plank. Now Amorim is left with a group of players, who other than some notable exceptions, are not fit for purpose.
Andre Onana is a good goalkeeper, Leny Yoro is one for the future, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are fine and for all of his criticisms Harry Maguire is still a good player to have in and around the XI. In midfield Kobbie Mainoo will be a star, but needs some help and Manuel Ugarte still needs time to settle in. In attacking areas, Amad, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund have all done enough to stick around.
Ruben Amorim has to settle on his preferred players (
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Simon Stacpoole/Getty Images) Don't Miss
Outside of that...I would be prepared to listen to offers for everyone. This is a club now 11 years into a cycle of mediocrity, with this current incarnation the nadir of years of gross mismanagement. Start again. And Amorim will hope INEOS start getting out of their own way.
Scott Trotter
Finding players to build a team around in a side that appears to be getting worse in recent seasons is no easy task. Of course, the likes of Kobbie Mainoo is an easy option and Rasmus Hojlund certainly has some potential, but selecting the correct figures to support such players is altogether more difficult.
Among senior stars, Andre Onana offers a solid foundation and his ability with the ball is probably suited to Ruben Amorim. Bruno Fernandes is a rare player of consistency in recent years and his absence would provide an immediate worry.
Amad Diallo appears to be thriving under his new coach and that should be harnessed, while Mason Mount seems a good fit under the ex-Sporting boss. The former Chelsea star's injury issues make it difficult to put an argument forward for him however.
Producing a list of stars who are not good enough is probably an easier task, you almost can't go wrong currently. With sales required to bring players in the opposite direction, it's just as well. Though finding a buyer may prove problematic.
Mason Mount, who looked a good fit for Ruben Amorim's system, will be out for several weeks
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Simon Stacpoole/Getty Images)
Tom Victor
We’ve already seen in the first few matches of the Ruben Amorim era that Amad appears to have a big role to play, but there’s far more uncertainty over the Ivorian’s Manchester United team-mates.
With Marcus Rashford seemingly on his way, there’s some onus on Alejandro Garnacho to prove he can offer something to the new boss, but for now it’s hard to see him being as effective at wing-back as he would be in a front three. He’s still young, though, and Amorim’s track record with young talents offers some optimism.
More encouraging is the way in which Manuel Ugarte has started to find his feet, while Harry Maguire is another who could thrive under Amorim despite not necessarily suiting Erik ten Hag’s system – if he can be convinced to extend his contract on wages more befitting a squad player.
Rashford appears free to go, while Antony still looks expendable and there’s little reason to think Christian Eriksen has a future as a starter in a midfield two. Amorim likes to rotate, though, and it may well be the case that the system of favourites and must-picks enjoyed by his predecessor is a thing of the past.
Harry Maguire has six months remaining on his Manchester United deal (
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Getty Images)
Thomas Wathen
There seems to be a common theme at Manchester United. New managers come and go, but the problems remain. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, some of the biggest names in European football have taken the poisoned chalice and been thrown to the side when things didn't go well.
Ruben Amorim clearly knows what he is doing, as his experience at Sporting speaks for itself, so the finger of blame needs to finally be pointed at United's below-standard playing squad. As a West Ham fan watching his team struggle this season, I still question which United players I'd take at London Stadium – and there aren't many.
Bruno Fernandes is likely to remain part of United's plans, although I have doubts over his leadership qualities as captain. Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot would be my only firm defenders to remain at Old Trafford, while Kobbie Mainoo is a talented midfielder with potential.
Up top, I think Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund can offer Amorim something special as part of his future plans. As for the rest, I'd be open to offers in the near future. However, unless a couple fancy a stay in Saudi Arabia, I wouldn't expect big transfer fees being offered anytime soon.
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