The Man Utd boss has once again revealed how out of touch he is with fans
Thirteen months later, Ruben Amorim has relented.
Everyone else could see he didn’t have the players to make his beloved 3-4-3 system a lasting success many months ago. But on we went.
Until Monday night. Four-four-f\*\*\*ing- two. Amad Diallo pushed into an advanced position. Bruno Fernandes with some creative help in midfield. At times, the football was of the champagne variety, United’s swashbuckling forwards plundering another four goals. Only Manchester City have found the net more often this season.
The full picture, as always, is a less rosy one. In the same jaw-dropping encounter, Bournemouth became the first team in top-flight history to score three or more times in three successive trips to the decaying fortress that Old Trafford has become – literally and figuratively.
Both outputs can be attributed to Amorim and his attempts to shake things up. A perfect microcosm for his United tenure – a good idea, poorly executed.
“That is for you to discuss, not for me,” Amorim said when asked about his tactical climb down after the match.
“I will say the same thing, you can play with the same players, it looks like one thing, it is another thing. I know that you guys know that I trained this week the back four.”
The fact Amorim won’t even admit to switching things up tells you all you need to know. He talks like some form of spectacular conjurer, keen to preserve his ancient secrets. He doesn’t realise fans want him to admit he is capable of dropping his principles for the greater good. Another example of how out of touch with the fanbase Amorim remains.
Another Man Utd idea, poorly executed (Photo: Reuters)
The back four that started the match consisted of a right-back at left-back, a left-back at centre-back, and centre-back at right-back and a teenager, who Amorim himself is not totally convinced by, at the heart of the backline.
Further forward, the fluidity of a front five, who floated around the Old Trafford pitch like a yogi in an ashram, meant they were as dangerous as they were carefree.
The first half was one of the most vibrant United had played under Amorim. Amad was popping up all over the pitch and causing all manner of problems with his ubiquity, Matheus Cunha drove at defenders with gleeful frequency, while Fernandes actually had more than one option to aim at.
In the opening 45 minutes, United produced the second-highest non-penalty xG value, most shots and joint-most touches in the opposition’s box of any side in the Premier League this season.
Further back, the binfire at the circus was replenished with more fuel over and over again. Antoine Semenyo is a player of real interest to United, and he will fancy his chances in training should he join, if that’s all he is up against at Carrington.
It is no wonder United supporters are struggling to maintain any semblance of sanity. Progress one week. Regression the next. Now they have been treated to a microcosm of the past 13 months condensed into 90 minutes. A lesson in how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and back again.
After a riotous week, where the vitriolic arm of the fan base has mobilised after Amorim dared to question the only thing unblemished in the Sir Alex Ferguson wilderness years – United’s proud academy – the besieged rookie coach had no choice but try turn the tide of opinion back in his favour.
A commendable effort, but ultimately another unsuccessful one. Which, when you are manager of Manchester United, is not something he should be allowed to get away with for much longer.